Not so much of a post today and more of a "hey lets share my research notes". Here are a list of blogs, many of which you all know, and some items they have posted over the last few years on witches. Some of these I use in game, others I have adapted to make them work better with my witches. But all I found interesting enough to save them in an unpublished till now post.
Do you know anymore? If you do share them! I love reading other people's takes on witches, magic and everything like that.
A Paladin in Citadel
Um, I was promised Witches?
http://apaladinincitadel.blogspot.com/2011/04/um-i-was-promised-witches.html
Alien Shores
Mirror Demon
http://knightsky-alienshores.blogspot.com/2013/10/monster-monday-mirror-demon.html
Asshat Paladins
Edith the Harpy Witch
http://asshatpaladins.blogspot.com/2010/01/labyrinth-lord-npc-edith-witch.html
Beyond the Black Gate
Baba Yaga's Hut
http://beyondtheblackgate.blogspot.com/2010/08/baba-yagas-hut.html
Hathras, City of Dreams
http://beyondtheblackgate.blogspot.com/2010/09/omegea-atlas-hathras-city-of-dreams.html
B/X Blackrazor
His B/X Witch Class
http://bxblackrazor.blogspot.com/2011/05/bx-witch.html
Cross Planes
Witch Doves
http://crossplanes.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-to-z-challenge-w-is-for-witch-dove.html
D&D Next Witches
Maiden, Mother, and Crone
Dangerous Brian
Zama: The Drune
http://dangerousbrian.blogspot.com/2011/04/z-of-zama-drune.html
The Houri, Part 1 and Part 2
http://dangerousbrian.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-osric-class-houri-part-i.html
http://dangerousbrian.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-character-class-houri-part-ii.html
Dreams of the Lich House
Mythic Monday: The Witch
http://dreamsinthelichhouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/mythic-monday-witch.html
Any of the Gothic Greyhawk posts
http://dreamsinthelichhouse.blogspot.com/search/label/Gothic%20Greyhawk
Elfmaids & Octopi
d100 Witches
http://elfmaidsandoctopi.blogspot.com/2014/01/d100-witches.html
Greyhawk Grognard
Darker Paths II: The Witch
http://greyhawkgrognard.blogspot.com/2011/10/now-available-witch.html
Witch Preview #3: Familiar Names
http://greyhawkgrognard.blogspot.com/2008/07/witch-preview-3-familiar-names.html
Witch Class Preview: Evil Eye
http://greyhawkgrognard.blogspot.com/2008/07/witch-class-preview-evil-eye.html
Jaron's RANTs and RAVEs
[DND] Character Concept - WAR D&D: Witch Elf
http://jaron95.blogspot.com/2010/03/dnd-character-concept-war-d-witch-elf.html
Based on the WoW Witch Elf, they a close to what I would call a War Witch.
Realms of Chirak
B/X D&D Month XIV: Terragia, the Witch of Galitath
http://realmsofchirak.blogspot.com/2014/04/bx-d-month-xiv-terragia-witch-of.html
Steve's Gamer Blog
Witches & Warlocks (4e)
http://stevesgamerblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/witches-warlocks.html
Scarecrows Part 1 and Part 2
Heroes of the Feywild Preview: Pixie and Witch
http://stevesgamerblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/heroes-of-feywild-preview-pixie-and.html
Strange Magic
Witch for B/X D&D
http://strangemagic.robertsongames.com/2012/03/witch-for-bx-d.html
Tower of the Archmage
New magic Item: Summoner's Candles
http://towerofthearchmage.blogspot.com/2014/03/new-magic-item-summoners-candles.html
New Monster: Fear Gorta
http://towerofthearchmage.blogspot.com/2014/03/new-monster-fear-gorta.html
Venger's old school gaming blog
D&D Ouija or RPG Witch-Board
http://vengersatanis.blogspot.com/2013/11/d-ouija-or-rpg-witch-board.html
Not really playing a witch, but a cool idea if you have a lot of supernatural characters in the mix.
What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse
Beast of the Week: Witch
http://lordgwydion.blogspot.com/2012/11/beast-of-week-witch.html
Updates:
Playing D&D With Porn Stars
D100 Witch Traits
http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/2014/08/d100-witch-traits.html
Rachel Bonuses
Fey-touched Background for 5e
http://rachelghoulgamestuff.blogspot.com/2014/08/in-which-5e-background-is-introduced.html
From the Sorcerer's Skull
Witches of Ix
http://sorcerersskull.blogspot.com/2014/08/witches-of-ix.html
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Of Dreams and Magic. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Of Dreams and Magic. Sort by date Show all posts
Friday, May 9, 2014
Sunday, October 25, 2020
October Horror Movie Challenge: Satanic Sunday
We are in the last week of October. I am sad to see it go. But we still have the whole week and I am going to watch as much as I can. I had some movies still on BluRay so I thought I'd make a theme weekend of it.
Another Mondo Macabro purchase. This is Paul Naschy's first directorial effort. The Blu Ray is quite nice, you could almost believe it was originally filmed in HD. The transfer is very good. Naschy is his best leering self and chews up scenery like no one's business.
It's the 16th century and witches, warlocks and the devil is everywhere. At least that is what Benard de Fossey thinks. One by one all the beautiful women in the village are accused of witchcraft and find themselves at the mercy of de Fossey.
It is largely an excuse to have a bunch of naked women getting tortured. Even so a lot of effort went into this one. There is the witchhunter's manual that is as nicely illustrated as any Monster Manual. I'd love to get some art like that for a monster book.
There is a witch, of sorts, and she recruits our star, Catherine (Daniela Giordano). The scenes of the witches' sabbat are trippy and Naschy pulls double duty as Satan. Triple duty really since he also plays the Grim Reaper.
The ending is not entirely unexpected but still, there is a nice twist ar the end.
Jess Franco is as notorious as Paul Naschy. But in some ways I like Franco better. It's nothing I can put my finger on, I have just seemed to like his movies a little more. This movie though is a touch sleazier than his others. This one also reunites Britt Nichols and Anne Libert with Jess Franco. Their last outing together was La fille de Dracula in 1972. Though this time Brit Nichols and Anne Libert play sisters and not cousins.
This one begins with the trial and burning of a suspected witch. She curses all who are there, by saying her daughters will avenge her.
We switch to a convent where two orphans have been raise. One Margaret (Carmen Yazalde appearing as Britt Nichols) is good and pure, but Kathleen (Anne Libert) daydreams (a sure sign of sin) and moans and writhes in her sleep at night. So she is obviously possessed by the devil. Sure enough, these two girls are the daughters of the witch. We are treated with not one, but two scenes of Katheleen being "seduced" by the devil.
Lady de Winter (Karin Field), an eyewitness to the execution of the witch arrives at the convent. We discover that Kathleen, unlike her good sister, is no longer a virgin. She is taken, strung up on a wrack, and tortured. Lady De Winter seems to get off on the torture. While Lord De Winter pities the poor girl. She is found guilty of witchcraft, of course, and sentenced to be burned. But Lord De Winter sets her free in the night. She finds the home of a painter where she stays.
While that is happening Margaret is back at the coven praying when she is visited by the ghost of her mother and then by a servant of Satan to "initiate" her. And no Margaret, putting your cross between your legs won't help. Now a full bride of Satan Margaret starts in on the convent. First by seducing another nun and then getting her to commit suicide. She soon finds Kiru "Satan's Favorite Wife."
Kathleen is recaptured, but her captor falls in love with her and wants to escape to England with her. But she manages to escape again and is recaptured.
Margaret finds her way to Lady De Winter's home where she seduces her. But now she has the cool power of being able to kill anyone she has sex with. I guess we see that again in American Horror Story Coven.
Margaret and Kathleen escape, but when Margaret uses her sex magic on Kathleen's lover (who had hunted their mother) she turns Margaret in.
On the pyre, Margret requests a last kiss from the Lord Justice and she kills him. She laughs while she burns. In the end, Kathleen finds Kiru.
Not a bad flick, but a little all over the place. The BluRay has a couple of nice features, but not a lot.
Britt Nichols and Anne Lipert would also later go on to be in A Virgin Among the Living Dead (1973), another Franco movie. Between 1972 and 1973 they would appear in six movies together. They stopped filming with Franco also at the same time that Lina Romay started. I am going to try not to read too much into that.
Also known as "Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält", or "Witches Tortured till They Bleed."
Bleed is appropriate here since this movie is overflowing with blood.
This features a young Udo Kier as a magistrate over the European Witch Trials in Austria. Naturally, he falls in love with a woman accused of witchcraft. There is some goings on with the local witch-finder and his gang and church appointed witchfinder. But honestly, it is just an excuse to make a torture-porn movie.
The torture is vivid and done well with the effects of the time, but after an hour or so it gets routine. Starting off the movie with the rape of some nuns sets the desensitizing dial pretty high, everything after is just more brutality. Or maybe since this is the third movie of roughly the same subject I am getting burned out.
I guess the film was fairly notorious back in the day. I have seen copies of this go for really ridiculous amounts. Not as much "sexploitation" in this as "tortureploitation" as some of the other movies about this time.
The highlight of this one is Udo Kier, who even then, showed a great talent for acting.
I looked for "Mark of the Devil Part II" since it featured Erika Blanc, but all I found was a really terrible copy on YouTube.
NIGHT SHIFT and Old-school Content: A few notes.
A tortured innocent will say many names, but a real witch will never reveal who her sisters are.
I also need more prophetic dreams for my witches.
Lady De Winter looks like she could be part of the Winters family of witches. She enjoys the torture of the other witches a little too much. But the deviousness with the blonde hair and blue eyes almost makes her a family member by defualt.
Margaret's death by sex is a cool Occult power (for one of my Old-School witches) but it has limited utility in a game.
Nuns and witch covens have a lot in common.
I also need more witch hunts in my games. Something for my witches to act against. Especially skeezy ones like from Mark of the Devil.
New: 32
Friday, January 9, 2015
New Monster: Urhag
She came to me in a dream.
I could tell by her voice that she was of regal bearing and intelligence, but at first I could not see her. I was looking out over a darkend grey and cold plain. In the far distance I saw mountains; mountains I know I had never beheld before with mortal eyes yet no less real. In the sky above flew beasts, for that was the only world for them. They appeared as mad paintings of Hieronymus Bosch, a mass of flying, winged semi-human creatures. Their appearance was as women, save shamefully unclothed, though it was difficult to see this from the filth that covered them. The smell was worse than any charnel house I could recall; the decay of death, the reek of excrement, and the sour odour of unwashed sweaty bodies. Their hair was wild. Their teeth were long, yellowed and many were broken. This is how I knew I was still in the dream. Such details would have escaped me given their distance. In truth, I wanted to be no closer to these hideous creatures. Their eyes burned red like coals of hellfire.
I watched as they flew and they attacked and ate other beasts in sky. They were aware of me and my companion, but made no move towards us.
"What are they?" I asked and I turned to meet my unseen companion. To my shock she appeared as they did, save she was not a filthy degenerate creature, but a woman of regal bearing. She had the same clawed hands, the same large bat-like wings and most horribly the same eyes.
"They are Ur-hags." she had said. "They are our sisters."
- From the Journal of Larina Nix
It is just as phantasmagorical as I recalled. Reading it now is also a treat that I have better understanding of the mythos and the creatures mentioned throughout are now well known to me.
But one creature captured my attention that I had not seen before and forgot. The Urhags.
That night I had a dream about Maleficent, so I knew I had something here.
I checked various games that cover Lovecraft-type monsters such as The Realms of Crawling Chaos, Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea and various Call of Cthulhu books but only found one mention of them in H.P. Lovecraft's Dreamlands. They are interesting, but I kinda liek what I came up with a little more. These urhags are released from their Dreamlands origins and brought closer to Ur-Hags.
"High over its jagged rim huge ravens flapped and croaked, and vague whirrings in the unseen depths told of bats or urhags or less mentionable presences haunting the endless blackness."
- H.P. Lovecraft, Dream-Quest Of Unknown Kadath
Here is my take on the urhag. In "Basic Era" format to use with The Witch.
The follow is considered Open under the terms of the Open Gaming License.
OGL Section 15: "Urhag" Copyright © 2015, Timothy S. Brannan
Urhag
| Degenerate | Noble | |
| Armor Class: | 3 [16] | 4 [15] |
| Hit Dice: | 5*+2 (25 hp) | 8*+13 (50 hp) |
| No. of Attacks: | 2 claw, 1 bite; stench | 2 claw or weapon, spell |
| Damage: | 1d4/1d4/1d6 | 1d4/1d4 or by weapon type |
| Special: | Stench, Magic, see below | Magic, Harmed by iron, see below |
| Movement: | 30' / 90' fly | 30' / 90' fly |
| No. Appearing: | 1 | 1 |
| Save As: | Witch 5 | Witch 8 |
| Morale: | 7 | 9 |
| Treasure Type: | Special | Special |
| Alignment: | Chaotic (Evil) | Chaotic (Evil) |
| XP: | by system | by system |
Scholars debate the relationship between the races of hags. While many look to the vile and evil Night Hags as their progenitor, scholars who have pierced the veil between Reality and Dream claim that such a progenitor race is known as the urhags.
The Urhags are found in two basic varieties, the Degenerate and the far less common Noble.
The Degenerate Urhag appears to be a hideously ugly humanoid woman. She appears naked, but covered in filth, with long clawed fingers, wild hair and inhumanly long feet and toes. What is the most curious feature of the urhag are her large bat-like wings. One is immediately reminded of a harpy; which scholars also claim are an offspring of this creature. The urhag does not speak, but only screams and shrieks. The urhag can attack with a claw/claw/bite routine which is their most typical attack. They are also surrounded by a horrible stench. Characters within 10' of the Urhag must save vs. Poison (Constitution, Fortitude) or suffer a -2 on all attacks against the creature. The urhag may also cast spells as a 3rd level witch. Spells that attack and due damage are preferred over all others.
Urhags are immune to all cold-based effects and are immune to cold and cold based spells. Dengerate urhags are carnivorous and their preferred source of meat is humanoid flesh. They are able to enter the dreams of people sleeping in their territories; usually within 300 yards. Through this special attack the urhag will Charm a sleeping male into breeding with them. Once complete the urhag will then wake thee male to kill and eat him. They prefer to wake their victims because they enjoy hear the sounds of their screams. Within 3 months the urhag will lay a leathery egg in which a juvenile urhag will emerge. The new urhag will not expect any care or succor from her mother; in fact the mother is just as likely to eat her offspring as she did her offspring's father.
The noble urhags can cast spells as a 7th level witch. She may also take the occult powers of a Malefic or Faerie tradition witch.
While the degenerate urhag is indiscriminate about her choice of mating partners, the noble urhag prefers only the finest quality human males. They do not care for elves since elves do not dream in the same manner as do men. Also noble urhags do not always eat the men the lay with. Some prefering to return to the same male time and time again as instinct drives them to reproduce.
Unlike common hags urhagss of either sort are not tied to a particular locale or environment. Degenerate urhags do prefer colder wastes and demon-haunted lands and the noble urhag prefers temperate forests there are no restrictions on either.
Unlike night hags, urhags are not interested in the transport of souls or the outer planes.
Urhags can, in theory form coveys as other hags do and maybe even with other hags, but none have been observed doing so.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
HEX
A quick one while I work on new material. Plus it helps set up some things I want post in the future.
HEX is a supernatural chiller from the UK taht aired for two seasons on SkyOne back in 2004-2005.
The story centers on Cassie Hughes, a shy and unassuming student at Medenham Hall, a 6th form College, with a mysterious past. Cassie longs to “dumb and popular” rather than shy and smart. She doesn’t know her father, her mother is in a mental hospital and the only one that truly loves her is her roommate and best friend Thelma.
Soon, with the discovery of an old artifact, Cassie learns the world is far different than she expected, and far more dangerous.
Cassie is begins to develop strange new powers. She can move things with her mind, she starts fires, she can see people that no one else can, and a strange man is stalking her. She reveals all of this to Thelma and thinks she is going crazy.
Cassie learns, in time, that her real name is Cassie McBain, and she a direct descendent of Rachel McBain, the former Mistress of the Medenham Estate. Rachel was obsessed with the religion of the African slaves on her estate. So with the sacrifice of her maid Jenny in 1743, she summoned Azazel, leader of the Nephilim to teach her witchcraft as he did in the days of old. Of course Azazeal, a 6,000 year old fallen angel, has his own plans, ones that now Cassie might be able to carry out. Cassie is a Medenham Witch.
Azazeal kidnaps Thelma after Thelma divulges her love for Cassie. Cassie confronts Azazeal, where he tells her he needs a new sacrifice, but it must be willing and it must be one of love. Cassie refuses to let Thelma be killed so she offers herself. Thelma rushes to save Cassie, but is killed in the process. As Thelma dies in Cassie’s arms, we see Azazeal take on his full fallen angel form.
At Thelma’s funeral, Cassie is devastated. It is called it a suicide, but only Cassie and Azazeal, who is watching in the distance, know the truth. Cassie is joined at the end by Thelma who comments about how everyone is getting off on her being dead and how she slept with the female minister presiding over the funeral.
Thelma (at her own funeral): They're bloody loving this, “Don't be a dyke or you’ll end up topping yourself.”
− Hex, Series 1, Episode 1
Thelma, now a ghost, and Cassie, a witch, are the only ones that know about Azazeal, though they don’t know of his plans or what to do about him. Yet.
Cassie (to Azazeal): You’re going to fuck me up aren’t you?
Azazeal (kissing her neck): Probably.
− Hex, Series 1, Episode 4
HEX was actually rather good. I'll go through Series (Season 1) here and hopefully get an update to Season 2 up soon.
Cassie sees ghosts that are links to her own past, but like Spider−man, just because she has powers she does not immediately know what to do. Also borrowing from Spider−man Cassie starts off by abusing her powers, moving things with mind because she can, getting back at guys that pissed her off. It is not until Thelma is killed, much like Uncle Ben, that Cassie learns that she has to stop Azazeal because she is the only that can.
Of course HEX would be rather pale if not for Thelma. Thelma is one of the few genuine characters in the show. While her death could have been a big cliché (I know I am for one tired of seeing lesbians getting killed in every show), the writers make it work. Thelma of course can’t touch anyone, but she makes up for it by invading the dreams of Cassie and some of the other girls. And she does find a nice ghost from the 1920’s to get cozy with, but Thelma is more than a comic element, she is Cassie’s guiding spirit, figuratively and literally. In the last episode of Series 1, Thelma doesn’t even tell Cassie that her actions, which are good for the world, will also cause Thelma to be permanently dead, because Thelma knows what must be done.
Some people watching the show on the net have complained that it moves a bit slow, and yes while it is slower than the BANG−BANG−BANG rapid fire of American fare, it moves at the pace it needs to. There is a mystery unfolding here, one that has to be played out. Plus there is real interaction between the characters. It actually feels like they could be going through the things they are. The dialog is real, not just some pop cultural references that so many use in place of intelligent writing. And that is a key element, while Hex takes place in 2004, it could easily be set any time with no change to the story, that is because the themantic elements are timeless; good and evil, love, desire and lust. When Thelma and Cassie have their first fight over their relationship, you honestly emphasize with Thelma. You want to like Cassie then, but it is too easy to see that Thelma is right and Cassie had been using her.
HEX in Your Game
To me, HEX just screams Unisystem. But which one? I had considered using Classic Unisystem since everything depicted on the show can be found in Armageddon, but there are some subtle differences. The Nephelim of HEX are the fallen 200 angels that fell in love with human women. In Armageddon the Nephilim are the children of the same angels. A minor quibble to be sure. Azazeal appears in Armageddon as Azazel, the High Archangel and leader of the Watchers.
Cassie could be a Gifted or Lesser Gifted, but in any case she has not come into her full powers yet, nor has she performed anything like an invocation. Thelma would work fine as a WitchCraft/Armageddon ghost.
In the end though I opted to go with Cinematic Unisystem. Cassie can have the “Witch” quality, and there are “Ghost” qualities (the new Cinematic Unisystem game “Ghosts of Albion” will deal with Ghosts, and the English, in greater detail). That leaves only Azazeal. For him I imported the Nephilim quality from Armageddon and kept it the same, much how I lifted the Kerubim quality to make the Cinematic Keribum (note the spelling differences) quality. In HEX they use the spelling “Nephelim”, so I’ll adopt that as the quality name for Cinematic Unisystem.
There is also the logic that as a television program, HEX would fit with the system used to mimic the non−reality reality of a TV show. HEX is a little more broader in it’s scope that some other TV shows, but it still follows a general established form. The combat and the tossing of flashy magics is on the light side, but Unisystem is great for cerebral style play as well.
HEX can be added to most games with little effort. Perhaps on a trip to England a wildly dressed ghost realizes that you can see her. She introduces you to her friend, Cassie, a bright young girl who is unfortunately loosing her mind. There is a cause of course, and maybe the Cast can help her.
HEX in Ghosts of Albion
HEX and Ghosts have quite a lot in common really. The ghosts of both shows seem to follow the same rules (they can touch inanimate object and each other, but not living things, only magically inclined people can see them), they are both English, so there is a shared mythology and feel. Amber Benson describes “Ghosts” as a supernatural mystery with horror added in. Hex creators Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy describe their show as a high concept supernatural chiller. This also ties in nice with Eden’s games.
There is a depth of history hinted at in HEX, not only at Medenham Hall, but dating back to ancient Egypt. What was Azazeal doing during the time of the Swifts? After all, the Protectors of Albion would certainly be interested in the machinations of a fallen angel in their lands. How would the Protectors react to the Medenham witches? Are they good or evil? A threat or potential ally? These are questions that you would have to decide.
Hex is a good choice for anyone gaming that has ever thought, “wow there are a lot of demons here, where are all the angels?” I also brings up some really interesting plot points, one for example is the conflict of who is more evil, a demon or a fallen angel. Especially a fallen angel that feels he is still doing the will of God. HEX has the darker side of Good, not just evil people trying to “redeem” themselves, or good people committing horrific acts. The differences are subtle and therein lies the potential for new games.
Cassie: My best friend is a lesbian ghost.
Thelma: Life sucks.
Cassie: Oh and there was one other thing. Apparently I am a witch.
Thelma: Well I could have told you that.
− Hex, Series 1, Episode 3
Drama Points 20
Life Points 30
Attributes
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 3
Constitution: 3
Intelligence: 4
Perception: 2
Willpower: 4
Useful Information
Initiative: 1d10 + 3
Perception: 1d10 + 6
Additional Actions: 1
Fear Modifier: 8
Survival: 7
Qualities
Artist
Attractiveness 3
Psychic Visions
Psychometry
Witch 2 (includes TK and PK at level 2)
Drawbacks
Addiction, Minor, Smoking
Adversary (Azazeal) 3
Cruelty, Minor
Dependent (Mother) 1
Haunted
Love, Platonic, Tragic (Thelma)
Love, Romantic (Troy) or at least in lust with him
Magical Family
Misfit
Potential Mental Problems (0 point Drawback)
Secret (witch, secretly smokes, mother is crazy, had an abortion) 1
Skills
Acrobatics 1
Art 4
Computers 2
Crime 0
Doctor 1
Driving 1
Getting Medieval 1
Gun Fu 0
Influence 1
Knowledge 3
Kung Fu 0
Languages 2
Mr. Fix−It 0
Notice 2
Occultism 3
Science 2
Sports 1
Wild Card
Combat
Maneuver Bonus Base Damage Notes
Punch +4 4 Bash
Kick +3 6 Bash
Dodge +4 — Defense action
Grapple +6 — Resisted by Dodge
Telekinesis +6
Pyrokinesis +6 4xSL Will x SL + Fire damage
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Hair: Blond
Eyes: Blue
Mother: Lilith Hughes
Father: David McBain
Allies: Thelma, Jo Watkins (teacher), David Tyrel (Head Master)
Loves: Troy, Thelma
Enemies: Azazeal, ghosts of the Medenham witches/sacrifices
Cassie Hughes is the latest in a line of witches descended from Rachel McBain. This gives her some magical powers, namely telekinesis and pyrokinesis, but it also makes her rather prone to madness. It also makes her a perfect vessel for the son of a fallen angel, something Azazeal has in mind.
Shy and introverted, until she is possessed by Azazeal then she becomes a “slutier version of Brittney Spears”, Cassie longs to be popular, longs to Troy’s girlfriend and just wishes her life could go back to normal.
As a Medenham Witch Cassie gets a number of ‘benfits’. First she can use telekinesis or pyrokinesis as she chooses. She also gets psychic flashes of memory and can read psychic impressions. These also have a tendency to drive the witch mad.
Roleplaying Cassie
Just because she can see things and has magic does not mean Cassie knows what is going on or how to stop it. She is only beginning to explore her powers and she is bound to make some mistakes.
− Hex, Series 1, Episode 1
Drama Points 20
Life Points 30
Attributes
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 2
Constitution: 3
Intelligence: 3
Perception: 3
Willpower: 5
Useful Information
Initiative: 1d10 + 2
Perception: 1d10 + 7
Additional Actions: +1
Fear Modifier: 10
Qualities
Artist
Attractiveness 1
Ghost*
Dreamer** 3
Drawabacks
Adversary (Azazeal) 2
Covetous, Lecherous
Love Tragic (Cassie)
Minority, Lesbian
Misfit
Skills
Acrobatics 1
Art 3
Computers 2
Crime 2 (always nicking crisps)
Doctor 1
Driving 1
Getting Medieval 2
Gun Fu 0
Influence 3
Knowledge 3
Kung Fu 1
Languages 2
Mr. Fix−It 3
Notice 4
Occultism 4 (a lot of Thelma’s new experience is considered Occult knowledge)
Science 1
Sports 2
Wild Card (Lucid Dreaming)** 3
Combat***
Maneuver Bonus Base Damage Notes
Punch +3 4 Bash
Kick +2 6 Bash
Dodge +3 — Defense action
Grapple +5 — Resisted by Dodge
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Hair: Brunette
Eyes: Hazel
Allies: Cassie, Peggy (another ghost)
Loves: Cassie
Enemies: Azazeal, ghosts of the Medenham witches
* Ghost quality is based on the Ghost qualities from Ghosts of Albion and the WitchCraft Mystery Codex
** The MindDream Metaphysics and Lucid Dreamer skill are from the WitchCraft Book of Hod. Here they are considered to be part of a new Quality (Dreamer), that grants powers similar per level to an equal level of Mind Dream, Art and Mind Dream, Strength.
*** Physical combat only against other Ghosts and select supernatural creatures.
Thelma, when alive, was so completely herself. She didn’t care if she was popular, or even liked for that matter, she knew who she was and what she wanted. The trouble was, she wanted Cassie. It was not some mere infatuation because Cassie was her roommate, Thelma knew Cassie loved her. But she never got the chance to find out. Thelma, because she loved Cassie, was sacrificed by Azazeal to give him more life on Earth.
Now Thelma is a ghost. Wearing the same clothes she had on the night she died, she tries to provide Cassie a sense of reason. Well that, stealing potato chips and entering (and manipulating) the dreams of her former female classmates. It is Thelma that discovers Cassie’s secrets, even the ones Cassie herself does not know about and it is Thelma (along with Peggy and ghost from the 1920’s) that discovers Azazeal’s plans.
Roleplaying Thelma
More than anything, Thelma loves Cassie, and she believes that Cassie loves her as well. This is not a delusion on her part, Cassie does love her. Thelma will do anything for Cassie, although watching her with Troy makes her very uncomfortable, she respects that it is what Cassie wants.
Thelma is little lecherous, she is not above watching Cassie shower or invading dreams of her former classmates, but this is harmless fun for her.
Azazeal
Cassie: Don’t you ever get bored?
Azazeal: What?
Cassie: Same game with different women over 300 years?
Azazeal: I find ways to amuse myself.
− Hex, Series 1, Episode 4
Drama Points 10
Life Points 30
Attributes
Strength: 4
Dexterity: 3
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 9
Perception: 4
Willpower: 8
Useful Information
Initiative: 1d10 + 3
Perception: 1d10 +11
Additional Actions: +1
Fear Modifier: 16
Qualities
Age 60 (6,000+ years old)
Attractiveness 3
Charisma
Nephilim****
Resources 6
Drawabacks
Addiction, Minor, Drinking
Addiction, Minor, Sex
Addiction, Minor, Smoking
Adversary (Cassie) 2
Love, Tragic (Hella (first wife), Rachel McBain, Ester McBain)
Love (Cassie, Lilith Hughes)
Mental Problems, Lecherous
Mental Problems, Covetous
Mental Problems, Obsession (have a son)
Skills
Acrobatics 2
Art 1
Computers 0
Crime 4
Doctor 2
Driving 0
Getting Medieval 6
Gun Fu 0
Influence 9
Knowledge 10
Kung Fu 6
Languages 10 (he could know even more)
Mr. Fix−It 3
Notice 7
Occultism 10
Science 2
Sports 6
Wild Card
Combat
Maneuver Bonus Base Damage Notes
Punch +9 8 Bash
Kick +8 10 Bash
Dodge +9 — Defense action
Grapple +11 — Resisted by Dodge
Age: 6,000+
Gender: Male
Hair: Brunette
Eyes: Blue
Allies: The 200 fallen Nephelim
Loves: Cassie
Enemies: Cassie, God
****Nephelim quality is derived from the Nephilim quality from Armageddon.
Azazeal was once one of the pride of the Heavenly Host. He was sent to Earth to watch over the humans. The trouble was that Azazeal, or Azazel as he is sometimes known, fell in love with a human woman. The “Watchers” as they were described in the Book of Enoch then taught their human lovers the art of witchcraft and taught their lovers’ husbands the art of war. Enraged, God, cast them to the Abyss where they were to remain till the final days.
In 1743 however, Rachel McBain discovered a way to release Azazeal. In thanks he taught her witchcraft and then drove her insane. He then preyed on Ehster McBain attempting to conceive a child with her that would allow the rest of the Nephelim to be released from the Abyss. She was killed by angry villagers that believed (and rightly so in this case) that she was a witch.
In 2004 Azazeal returned, but weakened. He needed a new sacrifice so that he may conceive a child with the McBain witches heir, Cassie. Thelma, in an attempt to prevent Cassie from being killed, sacrificed herself.
Azazeal, returned to full power intends on finishing his quest.
Roleplaying Azazeal
The thing to remember is Azazeal is ancient. He has seen everything and is never (or rarely) surprised. He plans ahead, not because he is some megalomaniacal genius, he might be but that is beside the point, but because he has had centuries to plan this out. He has seen it all and knows what and who to manipulate when. Everyone is normally two or three steps behind him if they are any good, most others are usually much further behind.
If Azazeal has a weakness, it is he has become too human. All the vices of humanity are temptation to him. Despite the level of his addiction his Willpower is always considered to be 2 lower when dealing with any addictive vice. He can be found drinking and smoking in seedy downtown London sex−clubs, that is when he is not sleeping with 17 year olds or their mothers and teachers.
Azazeal’s Powers
Azazeal has a true form, something like that of a twisted angel, or even a demon, but only witches like Cassie or ghosts like Thelma can see it, and then only when he desires it. His physical stats remain unchanged. It is possible that this is the form is always in and the ‘human’ one is nothing more than a Glamour.
Azazeal can also possess others to do his will or to lower their inhibitions. Victims are allowed a contested Will check. People possessed by Azazeal can be noticed on a Difficult Perception check by the blood pooling in the whites of their eyes.
HEX is a supernatural chiller from the UK taht aired for two seasons on SkyOne back in 2004-2005.
The story centers on Cassie Hughes, a shy and unassuming student at Medenham Hall, a 6th form College, with a mysterious past. Cassie longs to “dumb and popular” rather than shy and smart. She doesn’t know her father, her mother is in a mental hospital and the only one that truly loves her is her roommate and best friend Thelma.
Soon, with the discovery of an old artifact, Cassie learns the world is far different than she expected, and far more dangerous.
Cassie is begins to develop strange new powers. She can move things with her mind, she starts fires, she can see people that no one else can, and a strange man is stalking her. She reveals all of this to Thelma and thinks she is going crazy.
Cassie learns, in time, that her real name is Cassie McBain, and she a direct descendent of Rachel McBain, the former Mistress of the Medenham Estate. Rachel was obsessed with the religion of the African slaves on her estate. So with the sacrifice of her maid Jenny in 1743, she summoned Azazel, leader of the Nephilim to teach her witchcraft as he did in the days of old. Of course Azazeal, a 6,000 year old fallen angel, has his own plans, ones that now Cassie might be able to carry out. Cassie is a Medenham Witch.
Azazeal kidnaps Thelma after Thelma divulges her love for Cassie. Cassie confronts Azazeal, where he tells her he needs a new sacrifice, but it must be willing and it must be one of love. Cassie refuses to let Thelma be killed so she offers herself. Thelma rushes to save Cassie, but is killed in the process. As Thelma dies in Cassie’s arms, we see Azazeal take on his full fallen angel form.
At Thelma’s funeral, Cassie is devastated. It is called it a suicide, but only Cassie and Azazeal, who is watching in the distance, know the truth. Cassie is joined at the end by Thelma who comments about how everyone is getting off on her being dead and how she slept with the female minister presiding over the funeral.
Thelma (at her own funeral): They're bloody loving this, “Don't be a dyke or you’ll end up topping yourself.”
− Hex, Series 1, Episode 1
Thelma, now a ghost, and Cassie, a witch, are the only ones that know about Azazeal, though they don’t know of his plans or what to do about him. Yet.
Cassie (to Azazeal): You’re going to fuck me up aren’t you?
Azazeal (kissing her neck): Probably.
− Hex, Series 1, Episode 4
HEX was actually rather good. I'll go through Series (Season 1) here and hopefully get an update to Season 2 up soon.
Cassie sees ghosts that are links to her own past, but like Spider−man, just because she has powers she does not immediately know what to do. Also borrowing from Spider−man Cassie starts off by abusing her powers, moving things with mind because she can, getting back at guys that pissed her off. It is not until Thelma is killed, much like Uncle Ben, that Cassie learns that she has to stop Azazeal because she is the only that can.
Of course HEX would be rather pale if not for Thelma. Thelma is one of the few genuine characters in the show. While her death could have been a big cliché (I know I am for one tired of seeing lesbians getting killed in every show), the writers make it work. Thelma of course can’t touch anyone, but she makes up for it by invading the dreams of Cassie and some of the other girls. And she does find a nice ghost from the 1920’s to get cozy with, but Thelma is more than a comic element, she is Cassie’s guiding spirit, figuratively and literally. In the last episode of Series 1, Thelma doesn’t even tell Cassie that her actions, which are good for the world, will also cause Thelma to be permanently dead, because Thelma knows what must be done.
Some people watching the show on the net have complained that it moves a bit slow, and yes while it is slower than the BANG−BANG−BANG rapid fire of American fare, it moves at the pace it needs to. There is a mystery unfolding here, one that has to be played out. Plus there is real interaction between the characters. It actually feels like they could be going through the things they are. The dialog is real, not just some pop cultural references that so many use in place of intelligent writing. And that is a key element, while Hex takes place in 2004, it could easily be set any time with no change to the story, that is because the themantic elements are timeless; good and evil, love, desire and lust. When Thelma and Cassie have their first fight over their relationship, you honestly emphasize with Thelma. You want to like Cassie then, but it is too easy to see that Thelma is right and Cassie had been using her.
HEX in Your Game
To me, HEX just screams Unisystem. But which one? I had considered using Classic Unisystem since everything depicted on the show can be found in Armageddon, but there are some subtle differences. The Nephelim of HEX are the fallen 200 angels that fell in love with human women. In Armageddon the Nephilim are the children of the same angels. A minor quibble to be sure. Azazeal appears in Armageddon as Azazel, the High Archangel and leader of the Watchers.
In the end though I opted to go with Cinematic Unisystem. Cassie can have the “Witch” quality, and there are “Ghost” qualities (the new Cinematic Unisystem game “Ghosts of Albion” will deal with Ghosts, and the English, in greater detail). That leaves only Azazeal. For him I imported the Nephilim quality from Armageddon and kept it the same, much how I lifted the Kerubim quality to make the Cinematic Keribum (note the spelling differences) quality. In HEX they use the spelling “Nephelim”, so I’ll adopt that as the quality name for Cinematic Unisystem.
There is also the logic that as a television program, HEX would fit with the system used to mimic the non−reality reality of a TV show. HEX is a little more broader in it’s scope that some other TV shows, but it still follows a general established form. The combat and the tossing of flashy magics is on the light side, but Unisystem is great for cerebral style play as well.
HEX can be added to most games with little effort. Perhaps on a trip to England a wildly dressed ghost realizes that you can see her. She introduces you to her friend, Cassie, a bright young girl who is unfortunately loosing her mind. There is a cause of course, and maybe the Cast can help her.
HEX in Ghosts of Albion
HEX and Ghosts have quite a lot in common really. The ghosts of both shows seem to follow the same rules (they can touch inanimate object and each other, but not living things, only magically inclined people can see them), they are both English, so there is a shared mythology and feel. Amber Benson describes “Ghosts” as a supernatural mystery with horror added in. Hex creators Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy describe their show as a high concept supernatural chiller. This also ties in nice with Eden’s games.
There is a depth of history hinted at in HEX, not only at Medenham Hall, but dating back to ancient Egypt. What was Azazeal doing during the time of the Swifts? After all, the Protectors of Albion would certainly be interested in the machinations of a fallen angel in their lands. How would the Protectors react to the Medenham witches? Are they good or evil? A threat or potential ally? These are questions that you would have to decide.
Hex is a good choice for anyone gaming that has ever thought, “wow there are a lot of demons here, where are all the angels?” I also brings up some really interesting plot points, one for example is the conflict of who is more evil, a demon or a fallen angel. Especially a fallen angel that feels he is still doing the will of God. HEX has the darker side of Good, not just evil people trying to “redeem” themselves, or good people committing horrific acts. The differences are subtle and therein lies the potential for new games.
Cassie Hughes/McBain
Thelma: You have a rough deal Cassie McBain. Your dad has disappeared. Your mom’s a nutter.Cassie: My best friend is a lesbian ghost.
Thelma: Life sucks.
Cassie: Oh and there was one other thing. Apparently I am a witch.
Thelma: Well I could have told you that.
− Hex, Series 1, Episode 3
Drama Points 20
Life Points 30
Attributes
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 3
Constitution: 3
Intelligence: 4
Perception: 2
Willpower: 4
Useful Information
Initiative: 1d10 + 3
Perception: 1d10 + 6
Additional Actions: 1
Fear Modifier: 8
Survival: 7
Qualities
Artist
Attractiveness 3
Psychic Visions
Psychometry
Witch 2 (includes TK and PK at level 2)
Drawbacks
Addiction, Minor, Smoking
Adversary (Azazeal) 3
Cruelty, Minor
Dependent (Mother) 1
Haunted
Love, Platonic, Tragic (Thelma)
Love, Romantic (Troy) or at least in lust with him
Magical Family
Misfit
Potential Mental Problems (0 point Drawback)
Secret (witch, secretly smokes, mother is crazy, had an abortion) 1
Skills
Acrobatics 1
Art 4
Computers 2
Crime 0
Doctor 1
Driving 1
Getting Medieval 1
Gun Fu 0
Influence 1
Knowledge 3
Kung Fu 0
Languages 2
Mr. Fix−It 0
Notice 2
Occultism 3
Science 2
Sports 1
Wild Card
Combat
Maneuver Bonus Base Damage Notes
Punch +4 4 Bash
Kick +3 6 Bash
Dodge +4 — Defense action
Grapple +6 — Resisted by Dodge
Telekinesis +6
Pyrokinesis +6 4xSL Will x SL + Fire damage
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Hair: Blond
Eyes: Blue
Mother: Lilith Hughes
Father: David McBain
Allies: Thelma, Jo Watkins (teacher), David Tyrel (Head Master)
Loves: Troy, Thelma
Enemies: Azazeal, ghosts of the Medenham witches/sacrifices
Cassie Hughes is the latest in a line of witches descended from Rachel McBain. This gives her some magical powers, namely telekinesis and pyrokinesis, but it also makes her rather prone to madness. It also makes her a perfect vessel for the son of a fallen angel, something Azazeal has in mind.
Shy and introverted, until she is possessed by Azazeal then she becomes a “slutier version of Brittney Spears”, Cassie longs to be popular, longs to Troy’s girlfriend and just wishes her life could go back to normal.
As a Medenham Witch Cassie gets a number of ‘benfits’. First she can use telekinesis or pyrokinesis as she chooses. She also gets psychic flashes of memory and can read psychic impressions. These also have a tendency to drive the witch mad.
Roleplaying Cassie
Just because she can see things and has magic does not mean Cassie knows what is going on or how to stop it. She is only beginning to explore her powers and she is bound to make some mistakes.
Thelma Bates
Thelma: Beneath this fluffy exterior beats the heart of a bull dyke.− Hex, Series 1, Episode 1
Drama Points 20
Life Points 30
Attributes
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 2
Constitution: 3
Intelligence: 3
Perception: 3
Willpower: 5
Useful Information
Initiative: 1d10 + 2
Perception: 1d10 + 7
Additional Actions: +1
Fear Modifier: 10
Qualities
Artist
Attractiveness 1
Ghost*
Dreamer** 3
Drawabacks
Adversary (Azazeal) 2
Covetous, Lecherous
Love Tragic (Cassie)
Minority, Lesbian
Misfit
Skills
Acrobatics 1
Art 3
Computers 2
Crime 2 (always nicking crisps)
Doctor 1
Driving 1
Getting Medieval 2
Gun Fu 0
Influence 3
Knowledge 3
Kung Fu 1
Languages 2
Mr. Fix−It 3
Notice 4
Occultism 4 (a lot of Thelma’s new experience is considered Occult knowledge)
Science 1
Sports 2
Wild Card (Lucid Dreaming)** 3
Combat***
Maneuver Bonus Base Damage Notes
Punch +3 4 Bash
Kick +2 6 Bash
Dodge +3 — Defense action
Grapple +5 — Resisted by Dodge
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Hair: Brunette
Eyes: Hazel
Allies: Cassie, Peggy (another ghost)
Loves: Cassie
Enemies: Azazeal, ghosts of the Medenham witches
* Ghost quality is based on the Ghost qualities from Ghosts of Albion and the WitchCraft Mystery Codex
** The MindDream Metaphysics and Lucid Dreamer skill are from the WitchCraft Book of Hod. Here they are considered to be part of a new Quality (Dreamer), that grants powers similar per level to an equal level of Mind Dream, Art and Mind Dream, Strength.
*** Physical combat only against other Ghosts and select supernatural creatures.
Thelma, when alive, was so completely herself. She didn’t care if she was popular, or even liked for that matter, she knew who she was and what she wanted. The trouble was, she wanted Cassie. It was not some mere infatuation because Cassie was her roommate, Thelma knew Cassie loved her. But she never got the chance to find out. Thelma, because she loved Cassie, was sacrificed by Azazeal to give him more life on Earth.
Now Thelma is a ghost. Wearing the same clothes she had on the night she died, she tries to provide Cassie a sense of reason. Well that, stealing potato chips and entering (and manipulating) the dreams of her former female classmates. It is Thelma that discovers Cassie’s secrets, even the ones Cassie herself does not know about and it is Thelma (along with Peggy and ghost from the 1920’s) that discovers Azazeal’s plans.
Roleplaying Thelma
More than anything, Thelma loves Cassie, and she believes that Cassie loves her as well. This is not a delusion on her part, Cassie does love her. Thelma will do anything for Cassie, although watching her with Troy makes her very uncomfortable, she respects that it is what Cassie wants.
Thelma is little lecherous, she is not above watching Cassie shower or invading dreams of her former classmates, but this is harmless fun for her.
Cassie: Don’t you ever get bored?
Azazeal: What?
Cassie: Same game with different women over 300 years?
Azazeal: I find ways to amuse myself.
− Hex, Series 1, Episode 4
Drama Points 10
Life Points 30
Attributes
Strength: 4
Dexterity: 3
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 9
Perception: 4
Willpower: 8
Useful Information
Initiative: 1d10 + 3
Perception: 1d10 +11
Additional Actions: +1
Fear Modifier: 16
Qualities
Age 60 (6,000+ years old)
Attractiveness 3
Charisma
Nephilim****
Resources 6
Drawabacks
Addiction, Minor, Drinking
Addiction, Minor, Sex
Addiction, Minor, Smoking
Adversary (Cassie) 2
Love, Tragic (Hella (first wife), Rachel McBain, Ester McBain)
Love (Cassie, Lilith Hughes)
Mental Problems, Lecherous
Mental Problems, Covetous
Mental Problems, Obsession (have a son)
Skills
Acrobatics 2
Art 1
Computers 0
Crime 4
Doctor 2
Driving 0
Getting Medieval 6
Gun Fu 0
Influence 9
Knowledge 10
Kung Fu 6
Languages 10 (he could know even more)
Mr. Fix−It 3
Notice 7
Occultism 10
Science 2
Sports 6
Wild Card
Combat
Maneuver Bonus Base Damage Notes
Punch +9 8 Bash
Kick +8 10 Bash
Dodge +9 — Defense action
Grapple +11 — Resisted by Dodge
Age: 6,000+
Gender: Male
Hair: Brunette
Eyes: Blue
Allies: The 200 fallen Nephelim
Loves: Cassie
Enemies: Cassie, God
****Nephelim quality is derived from the Nephilim quality from Armageddon.
In 1743 however, Rachel McBain discovered a way to release Azazeal. In thanks he taught her witchcraft and then drove her insane. He then preyed on Ehster McBain attempting to conceive a child with her that would allow the rest of the Nephelim to be released from the Abyss. She was killed by angry villagers that believed (and rightly so in this case) that she was a witch.
In 2004 Azazeal returned, but weakened. He needed a new sacrifice so that he may conceive a child with the McBain witches heir, Cassie. Thelma, in an attempt to prevent Cassie from being killed, sacrificed herself.
Azazeal, returned to full power intends on finishing his quest.
Roleplaying Azazeal
The thing to remember is Azazeal is ancient. He has seen everything and is never (or rarely) surprised. He plans ahead, not because he is some megalomaniacal genius, he might be but that is beside the point, but because he has had centuries to plan this out. He has seen it all and knows what and who to manipulate when. Everyone is normally two or three steps behind him if they are any good, most others are usually much further behind.
If Azazeal has a weakness, it is he has become too human. All the vices of humanity are temptation to him. Despite the level of his addiction his Willpower is always considered to be 2 lower when dealing with any addictive vice. He can be found drinking and smoking in seedy downtown London sex−clubs, that is when he is not sleeping with 17 year olds or their mothers and teachers.
Azazeal’s Powers
Azazeal has a true form, something like that of a twisted angel, or even a demon, but only witches like Cassie or ghosts like Thelma can see it, and then only when he desires it. His physical stats remain unchanged. It is possible that this is the form is always in and the ‘human’ one is nothing more than a Glamour.
Azazeal can also possess others to do his will or to lower their inhibitions. Victims are allowed a contested Will check. People possessed by Azazeal can be noticed on a Difficult Perception check by the blood pooling in the whites of their eyes.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Willow & Tara: Macho Women with Guns
Note: Ok, this is a recycled one. I had done these in the past and wanted something for Friday. Continuing in my "can I convert a d20 game to play more like the modern horror/supernatural game of my dreams" I chose...well I chose a game I thought would be a joke, but found I liked the way it worked.
Plus it is a good excuse to post pictures of hot witches in their underwear.
These flow from my d20 Modern and d20 BESM stats. There are few ideas here. I like the Professions in MWWG d20 (which really work like the ones in CoC d20) and I used the Bat Winged Bimbos in other places. These do sorta, kinda flow from the Anime d20 stuff. A lot of the things you find in MWWG are also Anime tropes (gun bunnies, naughty school girls, succubi).
Macho Women With Guns
The original Macho Women With Guns (MWWG) was a bit of RPG silliness from the late 80's from the minds at BTRC (who would later go on to produce some really cool games). They figured with all the games out there that featured men killing things and taking things from other things and women mostly as ornaments or eye candy that something radical should be done. So this is a game about women killing things and taking things from other things. But that is not all. There is also a whole lot of blowing things up real good and looking good while doing it.
Ok, so not the cutting edge game you would expect, but hey, it was the 80's.
Of course in the 2000s Mongoose had opted to give us a new set of d20 based rules for MWWG, but that is sort of missing the point. Yes, it has lots of ways to kill, maim and blow things up while wearing a chain-mail bikini or halter top. Yes you can still kill scores of drunk fratboys, rednecks and sleazy televangelists. And yes there are pages and pages of scantily clad women that would make Larry Flint proud, but that was not really the point of the game. MWWG worked because it was parody. It took an established cliche and turned it on it's head. Course, later it became a parody of itself indulging in the same said cliché it used to send up. So where does that leave us?
Well. Dont pick it up thinking you can use it as a supplement to Spycraft or even d20 CoC. But as an afternoon diversion, you can do a lot worse. As a game with some fun ideas and a reminder that not every single game session is supposed to serious, then it is perfect.
What Does MWWG d20 have to Offer?
For starters MWWG d20 is mostly just the d20 Modern Rules. But it does have some interesting differences. First is the Witch profession. This gives 1st level characters a magic using option. It is similar in many ways to the Hedge Wizard profession of Urban Arcana. The other is a Mana point option, which is like a poor man's Essence system. What I did like is as out of the box rules with no modifications I got similar proportions of Mana as I did with Essence in WitchCraft for Willow and Tara.
The Professions in MWWGs can be used as a poor-mans Qualities (none should be more than 5 points). Nearly all the Heinous Drawbacks can be used in Unisystem in one way or the other. The Advanced Classes are closer to Qualities and can be used as such. Such get your Directors approval first. Assassin is fine, as are Relic Raiders and Criminal Masterminds. Questionable are Holly Rollers (Renegade Nuns on Wheels) and Infernal Mistresses (though they are like an advanced version of Bat Wing Bimbos). I dont even know what to say about the Busty Vampire Layer.
Besides, you have to like a game with a Naughty School Girl profession. Might have to port that over to BESM d20. And I have to admit the Occult knowledge analogue, "Things Man Was Not Meant to Know (but are ok for women)" just HAS to find a way into one of my games.
New Quality/Feat/Advantage
Here is a new advantage I wrote for the original MWWG rules, converted for d20 and Unisystem.
Large with the Butch (5 per level) (BRTC)
Anytime her girlfriend is attacked or threatened the character can add the number of levels of this to her attacks and Take Charge rolls.
Large with the Butch (Combat Feat, multiple) (d20)
Anytime her girlfriend is attacked or threatened the character can add twice the number of levels of this feat to her attack, defense and Intimidate rolls.(1 feat = +2, 2 feats = +4).
Large with the Butch (1 point per level Quality) (Unisystem)
Pre-requisite: Love (romantic), Must be a woman in love with another woman
Anytime her girlfriend is attacked or threatened the character can add twice the number of levels of this Quality to her attack, defense and Influence rolls.
Willow and Tara
Of course I'll include my two favorite witches. These stats are mostly the same as the d20 Modern ones. I have made some changes to accommodate the world. Namely their professions start out as Naughty School Girls and then they become Witches. Again, I am looking for out of the box solutions here, sure I could make up new rules, but that is not the point at the moment.
Interesting additions are rules for Things Man Was Not Meant To Know which are ok for women to know. Its adds to their Occultism/Knowledge (Arcana/Magic). Would I adopt that for a Unisystem game? Not likely, but here it is fun.
Note they do get the Heinous Drawback for being conservative dressers in the MWWG world, but drop the minority bit about being a lesbian witches.
Willow Rosenberg, Hot Witch (d20 MMWGs stats)
Female Human, Dedicated Heroine 6, Mystic 6 (level 12). Medium Humanoid. Naughty School Girl/Witch, hp 49, DC 12, Init -1, BAB +4 (+5 melee, +3 ranged), Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +9, Reputation +2, Wealth +1 Action Points 41.
Strength 12 (+1), Dexterity 9 (-1), Constitution 12 (+1), Intelligence 16 (+3), Wisdom 18 (+4), Charisma 16 (+3)
Height 55, Weight 125lbs, Eyes Blue, Hair Blond, Date of Birth Nov 7, 1980 (25 in 2006)
Skills: Bluff +4, Computer +7, Concentration +6, Craft (Chemical) +3, Decipher Script +9, Diplomacy +10, Gamble +7, Gather Information +3, Handle Animal +7, Hide +3, Investigate +7, Knowledge (Arcana) +12, Knowledge (Philosophy) +11, Knowledge (Theology) +11, Listen +10, Navigate +3, Perform (Dancing) +8, Perform (Painting) +8, Perform (Ritual) +7, Perform (Singing) +8, Read/Write Languages (Latin, Greek, French, Japanese) +2, Repair +3, Research +12, Sense Motive +13, Speak Languages (Latin, French, Japanese) +2, Spellcraft +12, Survival +9, Use Magical Devices +8.
Feats: Archaic Weapons Proficiency, Cautious, Creative, Educated (Humanities), Focused, Iron Will, Low Profile, Simple Weapons Proficiency, Meticulous.
Talents/Special Abilities: Magic (free), Things Man Was Not Meant To Know, Mana Boost, Mana Battery, Large With the Butch
Heinous Drawbacks: Conservative (odd) Dresser
Mana Boost and Mana Battery correspond roughly to Increased Essence Pool.
Tara Maclay (BRTC MWWGs stats)
Vitals
Age: 20, Ht: 5'5", Wt: 110#, Hair: Blonde, Eyes: Blue
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 12
Looks: 15
Macho: 17
Health: 15
Intelligence: 18
HTH damage: 0
Skills
Throw things (+1), Hit Things (+1), Hit Things with other things (+2), Cavort about (+3), Seduce Creature (+3), Fly Things (brooms only) (+3), Drive Things (+2), Do Technical Stuff (+3), Know it All (+4), Take Charge (+3).
Advantages
Large with the Butch* (10), Pet (10), Run Like Hell (10), Scriptwriter (5), Witch
Disadvantages
Awful Family (5), Conservative Dresser (20), Fairness, Loves to Read, Secret Love (Kittens, Girls, books) (10)
Links
Plus it is a good excuse to post pictures of hot witches in their underwear.
These flow from my d20 Modern and d20 BESM stats. There are few ideas here. I like the Professions in MWWG d20 (which really work like the ones in CoC d20) and I used the Bat Winged Bimbos in other places. These do sorta, kinda flow from the Anime d20 stuff. A lot of the things you find in MWWG are also Anime tropes (gun bunnies, naughty school girls, succubi).
Macho Women With Guns
Ok, so not the cutting edge game you would expect, but hey, it was the 80's.
Of course in the 2000s Mongoose had opted to give us a new set of d20 based rules for MWWG, but that is sort of missing the point. Yes, it has lots of ways to kill, maim and blow things up while wearing a chain-mail bikini or halter top. Yes you can still kill scores of drunk fratboys, rednecks and sleazy televangelists. And yes there are pages and pages of scantily clad women that would make Larry Flint proud, but that was not really the point of the game. MWWG worked because it was parody. It took an established cliche and turned it on it's head. Course, later it became a parody of itself indulging in the same said cliché it used to send up. So where does that leave us?
Well. Dont pick it up thinking you can use it as a supplement to Spycraft or even d20 CoC. But as an afternoon diversion, you can do a lot worse. As a game with some fun ideas and a reminder that not every single game session is supposed to serious, then it is perfect.
What Does MWWG d20 have to Offer?
The Professions in MWWGs can be used as a poor-mans Qualities (none should be more than 5 points). Nearly all the Heinous Drawbacks can be used in Unisystem in one way or the other. The Advanced Classes are closer to Qualities and can be used as such. Such get your Directors approval first. Assassin is fine, as are Relic Raiders and Criminal Masterminds. Questionable are Holly Rollers (Renegade Nuns on Wheels) and Infernal Mistresses (though they are like an advanced version of Bat Wing Bimbos). I dont even know what to say about the Busty Vampire Layer.
Besides, you have to like a game with a Naughty School Girl profession. Might have to port that over to BESM d20. And I have to admit the Occult knowledge analogue, "Things Man Was Not Meant to Know (but are ok for women)" just HAS to find a way into one of my games.
New Quality/Feat/Advantage
Here is a new advantage I wrote for the original MWWG rules, converted for d20 and Unisystem.
Large with the Butch (5 per level) (BRTC)
Anytime her girlfriend is attacked or threatened the character can add the number of levels of this to her attacks and Take Charge rolls.
Large with the Butch (Combat Feat, multiple) (d20)
Anytime her girlfriend is attacked or threatened the character can add twice the number of levels of this feat to her attack, defense and Intimidate rolls.(1 feat = +2, 2 feats = +4).
Large with the Butch (1 point per level Quality) (Unisystem)
Pre-requisite: Love (romantic), Must be a woman in love with another woman
Anytime her girlfriend is attacked or threatened the character can add twice the number of levels of this Quality to her attack, defense and Influence rolls.
Willow and Tara
Of course I'll include my two favorite witches. These stats are mostly the same as the d20 Modern ones. I have made some changes to accommodate the world. Namely their professions start out as Naughty School Girls and then they become Witches. Again, I am looking for out of the box solutions here, sure I could make up new rules, but that is not the point at the moment.
Interesting additions are rules for Things Man Was Not Meant To Know which are ok for women to know. Its adds to their Occultism/Knowledge (Arcana/Magic). Would I adopt that for a Unisystem game? Not likely, but here it is fun.
Note they do get the Heinous Drawback for being conservative dressers in the MWWG world, but drop the minority bit about being a lesbian witches.
Willow Rosenberg, Hot Witch (d20 MMWGs stats)
Female Human, Smart Heroine 5, Occultist 1, Mage 7 (level 13). Medium Humanoid. Naughty Schoolgirl/Witch, hp 45, DC 14, Init +0, BAB +3 (+2 melee, +3 ranged), Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +7, Reputation +3, Wealth +1 Action Points 75.
Strength 9 (-1), Dexterity 11 (0), Constitution 11 (0), Intelligence 18 (+4), Wisdom 16 (+3), Charisma 17 (+3)
Height 53, Weight 110lbs, Eyes Green, Hair Red, Date of Birth August 1, 1981 (25 in 2006)
Skills: Bluff +4, Computer +19, Concentration +10, Craft (Chemical) +10, Craft (Electronics) +8, Craft (Mechanical) +7, Decipher Script +14, Diplomacy +4, Disable Device +9, Drive +2, Escape Artist +2, Gather Information +8, Handle Animal +4, Hide +1, Investigate +9, Knowledge (Arcana) +18, Knowledge (Earth Sciences) +8, Knowledge (Physical Sciences) +8, Knowledge (Theology) +9, Listen +5, Navigate +5, Perform (Ritual) +7, Read/Write Languages (Latin, French, Hebrew) +2, Repair +8, Research +20, Sense Motive +4, Speak Languages (Latin, French, Hebrew) +2, Spellcraft +14, Survival +5, Use Magical Devices +9.
Feats: Archaic Weapons Proficiency, Educated (Arcana and Computer), Focused, Gearhead, Magical Affinity, Meticulous, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Studious, Toughness, Ambidextrous.
Talents/Special Abilities: Magic (free), Things Man Was Not Meant To Know, Mana Boost, Mana Battery
Heinous Drawbacks: Conservative (odd) Dresser, Vengeful
Willow Rosenberg (BRTC MWWGs stats)
Vitals
Age: 20, Ht: 5'3", Wt: 104#, Hair: Red, Eyes: Green
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 9
Looks: 15
Macho: 16
Health: 13
Intelligence: 19
HTH damage: 0
Skills
Throw things (+2), Hit Things (+1), Hit Things with other things (+2), Cavort about (+3), Seduce Creature (+2), Fly Things (brooms only) (+2), Drive Things (+1), Do Technical Stuff (+5), Know it All (+6), Take Charge (+4).
Advantages
Pet (10), Run Like Hell (10), Scriptwriter (5), Witch
(Remember Willow said she was not "Large With the Butch").
Disadvantages
Conservative Dresser (20), Secret Love (Kittens, Girls, computers) (10)
Possesions
Laptop, books on magic, spell compontents.
Tara Maclay, Hot Witch (d20 MMWGs stats)Willow Rosenberg (BRTC MWWGs stats)
Vitals
Age: 20, Ht: 5'3", Wt: 104#, Hair: Red, Eyes: Green
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 9
Looks: 15
Macho: 16
Health: 13
Intelligence: 19
HTH damage: 0
Skills
Throw things (+2), Hit Things (+1), Hit Things with other things (+2), Cavort about (+3), Seduce Creature (+2), Fly Things (brooms only) (+2), Drive Things (+1), Do Technical Stuff (+5), Know it All (+6), Take Charge (+4).
Advantages
Pet (10), Run Like Hell (10), Scriptwriter (5), Witch
(Remember Willow said she was not "Large With the Butch").
Disadvantages
Conservative Dresser (20), Secret Love (Kittens, Girls, computers) (10)
Possesions
Laptop, books on magic, spell compontents.
Female Human, Dedicated Heroine 6, Mystic 6 (level 12). Medium Humanoid. Naughty School Girl/Witch, hp 49, DC 12, Init -1, BAB +4 (+5 melee, +3 ranged), Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +9, Reputation +2, Wealth +1 Action Points 41.
Strength 12 (+1), Dexterity 9 (-1), Constitution 12 (+1), Intelligence 16 (+3), Wisdom 18 (+4), Charisma 16 (+3)
Height 55, Weight 125lbs, Eyes Blue, Hair Blond, Date of Birth Nov 7, 1980 (25 in 2006)
Skills: Bluff +4, Computer +7, Concentration +6, Craft (Chemical) +3, Decipher Script +9, Diplomacy +10, Gamble +7, Gather Information +3, Handle Animal +7, Hide +3, Investigate +7, Knowledge (Arcana) +12, Knowledge (Philosophy) +11, Knowledge (Theology) +11, Listen +10, Navigate +3, Perform (Dancing) +8, Perform (Painting) +8, Perform (Ritual) +7, Perform (Singing) +8, Read/Write Languages (Latin, Greek, French, Japanese) +2, Repair +3, Research +12, Sense Motive +13, Speak Languages (Latin, French, Japanese) +2, Spellcraft +12, Survival +9, Use Magical Devices +8.
Feats: Archaic Weapons Proficiency, Cautious, Creative, Educated (Humanities), Focused, Iron Will, Low Profile, Simple Weapons Proficiency, Meticulous.
Talents/Special Abilities: Magic (free), Things Man Was Not Meant To Know, Mana Boost, Mana Battery, Large With the Butch
Heinous Drawbacks: Conservative (odd) Dresser
Mana Boost and Mana Battery correspond roughly to Increased Essence Pool.
Tara Maclay (BRTC MWWGs stats)
Vitals
Age: 20, Ht: 5'5", Wt: 110#, Hair: Blonde, Eyes: Blue
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 12
Looks: 15
Macho: 17
Health: 15
Intelligence: 18
HTH damage: 0
Skills
Throw things (+1), Hit Things (+1), Hit Things with other things (+2), Cavort about (+3), Seduce Creature (+3), Fly Things (brooms only) (+3), Drive Things (+2), Do Technical Stuff (+3), Know it All (+4), Take Charge (+3).
Advantages
Large with the Butch* (10), Pet (10), Run Like Hell (10), Scriptwriter (5), Witch
Disadvantages
Awful Family (5), Conservative Dresser (20), Fairness, Loves to Read, Secret Love (Kittens, Girls, books) (10)
Links
- BRTC's Macho Women with Guns page. http://www.btrc.net/html/catmain.html#MWWG
- Mongoose's d20 version, Full and Diet Editions.
- Facebook Page
Friday, October 14, 2022
October Horror Movie Challenge: Night of The Necromancers
.png "The Necromancer (2018)")
The Necromancer (2018)
A group of British soldiers gathers after a particularly bloody battle where they learn they are being sent to Waterloo where they will certainly be killed. So they all decide to become deserters and leave for England. To do so they have to cross into Germany and through the BlackForest.
Along the way the tensions rise and get higher as they all begin to think about what they had left behind in England. Logan for example thinks about his wife on his estate. As they move through the forest though Logan begins to hear voices and sometimes the voices sound like his wife. While searching he sees a naked woman with horns running through the forest. He follows her but can't find her.
They stumble on another British soldier who appears to be shell-shocked. Unsure what to do with him they take him along. Deeper in Logan hears the woman more. We learn in flashbacks that he argued with his wife before leaving. He accused her of cheating on him with another man. As he gets deeper and deeper into the forest he sees more and more of this mystery woman. As we learn more about Logan and how he beat and eventually killed his wife before he left for war. He encounters the woman who calls herself a "dark elf" or a "Moriquendi" (ok more on that later). She convinces him to eat berries, which are really stones, and this kills him. We soon see two other dark elves who also tempt the other men, but they don't get the same level of detail that Logan did. But basically, all of them have dark secrets. One had sex with a woman he was not supposed to (couldn't tell why), and one had a prostitute kill herself, things like that.
The movie doesn't really get going till about the last 20 minutes. The soldiers, once they see the dark elves and remember their horrible deeds, begin to kill themselves in horrible, but imaginative ways. We learn that the injured soldier is in fact The Necromancer. He had been a child living in the Black Forrest when he and his family were all killed by Vikings a 1,000 years before. He claims he came back by drinking the blood of unicorns (sounds oddly familiar) and now he feeds on the pain of people that come into the forest.
There are some issues with this movie. I love the idea of strange forgotten creatures living in dark places like the Black Forest. And I love the idea of karmic payback. Even the dark elves looked cool. The biggest issues with this film are they spent too long to get to the interesting bits and too long on just Logan's backstory and so little on everyone else's. Honestly, they were all mostly interchangeable.
I mean really all really old forests should have something like this in them. Reminded me of driving through the Appalachian mountains last year.
So, Moriquendi. I knew I knew the word but could not recall where. So I looked it up. Yes, it means "Dark Elf" but in Sindarin in Tolkien's Legendarium. I am pretty sure they Googled "Dark Elf" and they got "Moriquendi."
It was an early night so I popped this one on. I remember it from the late 80s and thought, hey let's do a a Necromancer night.
So this is a Rape-and-Revenge movie with a supernatural twist. College student Julie (Elizabeth Kaitan/Clayton) is working late in her professor/lover's office when some dudes break in to steal a test. They find her and one of the dudes, Paul, rapes her.
Naturally upset she tells her friend (but not her boyfriend because is a self-absorbed prick) who convinces her to see a psychic who is advertised in the local campus paper. They see her, the weird magic/psychic chick Linda, (though sometimes the actors screw up and call her by her real name, Lisa) casts a spell raising the Demon of Vengence. They think it is a joke until the special effects department gets their say and Julie and her friend run out.
Soon the guys that rapped Julie begin seeing her naked form (coming out of water for some reason) trying to seduce them (they are college guys, this is not a lot of work) in their embrace the form turns into a demon and kills them. Julie seems to be somewhat aware of what the demon is doing, seeing it in her dreams. Oh and much like poor old Susan from Mausoleum, her eyes glow green before she goes all evil. Must be an 80s thing.
Though soon the demon begins to go after other men in her life. Like her boyfriend (though her professing her love for him stops the attack before it happens) and creepy professor (played by usually better than this Russ Tamblyn) a murder the real Julie gets to witness and we get our first good look at the demon in its true form.
Waide Aaron Riddle plays Earnest who...well, I am not sure what he adds to this other than keep calling Linda Lisa and looking like Patrick Wilson ordered from Wish. I guess he keeps trying to cast protection spells on Julie himself. He does try to give her an athame but it turns out to be the demon/Linda/Lisa again. She gets him to kill himself.
Julie has another "fight" with her boyfriend Eric. Well, she is trying to explain herself and ask for help and he is being a dick. And the demon shows up in his room. At this point, I am rooting for the demon. Though Lisa/Linda seems to be somewhere else summoning something from the "bowels of Diva" and the demon is in Eric's room. But then she turns from Demon Julie to Linda/Lisa again. So Julie and Demon Julie are wrestling each other with a knife. And one of them gets killed with a knife to the eye. We assume it is real Julie, but we later see Linda/Lisa laughing in her home.
Yeah this one was not good.
While both movies share a name, Necromancer, they also share a theme; vengeance on men that have wronged women. Which of course next to nothing to do with a Necromancer.
BUT I do love the idea of a vengeful spirit that a witch in particular can call on. I did this a bit with The Dirae, but a demon of vengeance would also be nice. The idea from this movie was later "used" in the Buffy series, but I think I could do better than either, to be honest. The Erinyes are a good choice, but they have a lot of baggage of their own.
What ever I decide the demon needs to have glowing green eyes.
October Horror Movie Challenge 2022
Viewed: 19
First Time Views: 14
Monday, October 25, 2010
Ailuromancy: Metaphysics of the Bast for WitchCraft
Ailuromancy: Metaphysics of the Bast
Similar to invocations, Ailuromancy is the metaphysical philosophy of the Bast. They have remained undiscovered because the Bast do not write down their formulae or teachings, nor do they share these with humans except under the rarest of circumstances. These can only be learned from master to student and are almost all exclusive to the Bast.
Casting Ailuromancy is the same as an invocation. Bast can gather in groups for group castings, they can use places and times of power, use rituals to tap ambient essence and are subject to crowd effects.
Where humans typically need hands free or be able to speak, the Bast must be able to see or otherwise sense what is around them. For example to Steal Breath, the Bast must be able to see the creature they are stealing from. They must also have their tails free. In some Ailuromancy intricate tail movements replace human hand gestures.
Number 9
For Bast nine, not seven, is the more potent magical number. So Bast covens and group castings are some multiple of nine, or at least three. Three groups of three is a very powerful magical grouping. Treat nine Bast as seven in castings. Seven is still powerful, but not as much as it is to humans.
Group Magic Essence Table: Bast
Size of Group Increased Essence
3 54
5 50
6 81
7 70
9 135
11 110
13 132
If Bast are in a group of humans then the standard rules apply. These are only for Bast casting Ailuromancy.
Names
Very important to Ailuromancy are the names (plural) of the Bast using it. While not related to Ailuromancy itself (other than both being unique to the Bast), the importance of names is in the casting.
All Bast have three names. First is his human or common name, the one that he usually goes by and will answer to from anyone. There is his Bast name, the name he is given by his family or ancestors. Even Bast born and removed from their family at a very young age will still always know his Bast name. These names are often unique since they include a personal identifier and a family name. They can be one used in by another Bast in the same family, but the other family member must have died years ago before that name can be used again.
Lastly, and most important to the topic at hand, is his magical name, his very personal name that he shares with no one. Each name is unique and is passed down throughout the Basts multiple lives. The Bast must sit in deep, deep concentration in order to retrieve his own name. Once this is done then the Bast may use Ailuromancy.
The Essence imprints of Ailuromancy have a particular smell to Bast. Humans must always pass a Difficult Perception test in order to detect it, even if they have experienced it before. While they never share this information with others, the Essence pattern is like a signature of their one true personal name.
The Invocations
Ailuromancy has three basic powers.
Spiritual
The spiritual ailuromancy are ones that effects spirits or essence patterns. Unlike humans, Bast have spirits and not souls. This gives them a different outlook on how essence is used and manipulated.
Bad Luck
2 Essence Points per -1 penalty given (up to -5 max)
One of the most classic ailuromancies used. The Bast must actually cross the path of the victim to impose a -1 penalty to any one task or test per 2 Essence points spent. Gifted can easily notice this sort of ailuromancy, given its similarity to Good Luck. So only a simple Perception task is required. Many Bast are unwilling to use this for that very reason; it instantly brings attention to themselves.
Whisker Bane
Same as Warding WC p. 224
Caterwaul
2 Essence Points
The Bast lets out a discordant wail that can cause irritation or damage depending on their mood.
At level 1 the Caterwaul is merely annoying. It causes no damage.
At level 2-3 the Caterwaul cause d4(2) points per level of LP damage to any that can hear it.
At levels 4-5 the Caterwaul can do d6(3) points per level of LP and causes a Fear reaction to anyone that fails a Willpower (doubled) roll.
Steal Breath
5 Essence Points
A Bast can come close to a person a literally steal their life force away. By inhaling the victims breath (and thus being in close proximity to do so) and spending five (5) Essence points the Bast causes the victims life foce to leave their body for the duration of the breath. This inflicts D6(3) Life Points of damage (undead are not affected) and D6(3) Essence and Endurance loss. The victim also needs to make a Constitution check (doubled) or be rendered unconscious for the next 1 to 4 turns. Sleeping victims do not wake up till this is over.
The Bast must be close enough to be able to steal the victims breath so this is most often done while the victim is prone or asleep.
The Essence stolen is actually lost. Bast can only perform this three times per victim or they themselves also begin to lose life points and essence equal to what is stolen.
Favor of Ra
Same as Essence Shield
Physical (effects the body)
The physical powers maybe purchased in levels where every level usually confers extra time or amount the power may be used. For example a Bast with Monkey Hands level 5 can use the power for 5 minutes for each Essence point spent.
Monkey Hands
1 Essence Point per minute per level
This invocation allows the Bast to manipulate objects while in Bast form that normally would be restricted to humans. Their dexterity does not change as this is a mild and directed form of Telekinesis.
Got Your Tongue
1 Essence Point per minute per level
The Bast can speak like a human while in cat form. This is useful on occasions where telepathic conversation is not desired or possible. In order to this the Bast must borrow a voice. They target a nearby human and use their voice. Once the initial contact is made (the Bast must be able to see the human) then the human can not speak for a matter of seconds. The voice the Bast uses is not exactly like the humans voice, it is often higher pitched and cannot be used to fool friends or voice recognition software.
Lick Wounds (Pashts Cure)
10 Essence Point per 10 LP per level healed
Similar to the Healing invocations the Bast can lick a wound to heal life point damage or remove poisons and toxins (at levels greater than 3), or cure disease (at levels greater than 5). The Bast must state what sort of cure it is performing, damage, removing poisons or curing disease.
Claws of Sekhmet
1 Essence Point per combat turn
The Bast invokes the name of Ras protector Sekhmet to lengthen and strengthen their own claws. Damage then becomes d6(3) x Strength+1 LP of damage.
Cait Sidhe
5 Essence Points per 5 minutes per level
The Bast can increase in size to about the size of a mountain lion. Strength and Constitution increase by 2 each, with Dexterity decreasing by 1. One level of Hard to kill is also added. Life Points are increased accordingly.
A Bast with Cait Sidhe at level 4 can spend 5 Essence points to remain this size for upto 20 minutes. The Bast may switch back at any time but to use this power again will cost another 5 Essence points.
Travel/Time
Cats and Bast are not bound by the same laws of time and space. They are believed to be able to enter dreams, travel to far away planets or simply be right underfoot when it is most inconvenient for them to do so.
Level 1: Disappear / Reappear
1 Essence Point
By spending a single point of Essence a Bast can seemingly disappear or reappear in any spot within eyesight. This is most often used for short hops of less than 10 feet. To use this Ailuromancy the bast must concentrate on the spot they are traveling too. This makes ill-suited for combat applications since the Bast would spend their attack moving; it is useful to avoid being hit.
Level 2: Return
3 Essence Points
This power allows the Bast to return to any spot she once visited. The spot is marked by the Bast in their minds. The travel to this spot can mundane or magical, but regardless of the spot, the time past, or reincarnation, the Bast can return to it.
Level 3: Moonjump
7 Essence points per 10 yards
The relationship between cats and the moon is a long standing one. With this power the Bast can move great physical distances during the light of the moon. Typically it can used from moving from roof top to roof top, or cross great physical distances. A Bast could also use this power to prevent damage from a great fall by simply moonjumping to a lower point in the fall. For example, someone pushes poor Mojo off of a 95 ft. tower. By spending 15 Essence points he moonjumps 90 ft (30 yards) and only falls 5 ft, something any Bast can survive.
Level 4: Dream Dance
14 Essence Points for 10 minutes
Bast are natural, but untrained Dreamers. Bu means of this Ailuromancy and 10 Essence points the Bast may enter the Dreamscape of a sleeper. The Bast can read the dream (understanding requires a Intelligence doubled roll) or very subtly influence it (Willpower doubled roll to plant a small, 10 words or less, suggestion). The Bast can attack other creatures sharing the Dreamscape (Mara, Vampires using Nightmare) but can not harm the dreamer himself.
(See WitchCraft: Book of Hod, Mindream)
Level 5: Greymalkin
21 Essence Points
The Bast can move from one place of Power to any Place power by walking through them as if they were a gate. Unlike Return, the Bast need not have been to their destination before, simply knows that it exists. To the Bast, different places of Power exist in addition to ones known. Nearly any Bast coven is built on a place of power, or as near as they can be. Most cities have a place or two hiding away.
Friday, April 17, 2020
PWWO: Calidar, Part 2
A while back I a did a "Plays Well With Others" for Calidar. It's pretty to do, there are a lot of great ideas and it has a system that lends itself well to easy conversion. After doing a series of reviews I thought another go at another PWWO.
The Reviews
Given the various conversion guides and the rules presented in the books, mathematical style conversions are less of an issue, the big factor is more how do I replicate the same feel of Calidar in a different game while still preserving what I liked about the original game.
Calidar and "New" D&D
These are the easiest of course. The level limits for both D&D 5 and Pathfinder are a set 20. So follow along with the rules for 20 levels. D&D 5 and Pathfinder characters tend to be more powerful than their same-level counterparts in older editions. Cantrips really boost what a Wizard can do every round even at the lowest levels. Plus the addition of cantrips can become an interesting element to the wizard school. 1st level wizards/magic-users have a lot more they can do.
Retro-Clones
These conversions are handled by various current products and upcoming products from Calidar. Plus these mimic the games played by most of the people involved with the Calidar lines.
Calidar and Glantri
Let's address the obvious mix here. Bruce Heard is fairly well known for his work on the Mystara lines and Glantri in particular. You can use details from one mage school for the other, they are roughly compatible in style, and it makes either product a little more robust. You do lose a little of the unique feel of Calidar this way if you set it all in Glantri. Though what I have been doing is considering setting the caldera on the north pole. The whole area is hidden away from the rest of the world. Still playing with this idea.
I am using the "Mystoerth" map for this. I made a globe, and see there is some room up on top. Enough for Calidar? I have not done the math yet, but it looks right. I still to play around with it.
That is if my next idea doesn't take over.
Mage: The Sorcerer's Crusade
This idea has grabbed my imagination. Calidar has a great early Renaissance feel to it. So somewhere between Dark Ages Mage and Mage the Sorcerer's Crusade is a perfect time. In this case I would use Calidar as is, but the game system would be White Wolf's Mage.
What I have not decided yet is if the various schools represent Spheres (which means Mages would need to attend to multiple schools) or Traditions (which would make the rivalries more intense).
So everyone in "How to Train Your Wizard" would be part of the Euthatoi. I think just to have some fun I would keep the Verbena out of it unless I work in the Glantri Wokani.
There is a lot I would love to do with that idea. D&D backdrop, Calidar setting, Mage/White Wolf rules. The possibilities are staggering, to be honest.
Conversion though is a bigger issue. The Calidar system is pretty flexible, but it is level-based to a large degree. Mage uses the White Wolf Storyteller system which is a dice pool system. So the conversion books won't be much help here save to figure out some guidelines. Still maybe if I can dig up a copy of Monte Cook's d20 World of Darkness it might give me some ideas.
WitchCraft
Nothing specific yet. But if I can convert Mage I can convert this a lot easier.
Most likely I would combine a lot of these ideas to make the schools in Calidar a little less D&D and little more Scholomance if possible.
Blue Rose AGE
Ah. Now here is something that would be a lot of fun.
I would need to make some changes to what kinds of magics could be taught at the schools, but AGE is level-based and so should convert well. Green Ronin already did some of the heavy lifting for me with their converting for Fantasy AGE.
The bottom line is that Calidar gives me a great magic school that I really want to drop anywhere.
Plus it gives a Fantasy-era Breakbills and an excuse to do this:
And any excuse to put more Brakebills into my games is a good one.
- Calidar, In Stranger Skies
- Calidar, Beyond the Skies
- Calidar Dreams of Aerie
- Calidar On Wings of Darkness
- Conversion Guides to Caldwen
- Calidar Guides for Players
- Calidar How to Train Your Wizard
Given the various conversion guides and the rules presented in the books, mathematical style conversions are less of an issue, the big factor is more how do I replicate the same feel of Calidar in a different game while still preserving what I liked about the original game.
Calidar and "New" D&D
These are the easiest of course. The level limits for both D&D 5 and Pathfinder are a set 20. So follow along with the rules for 20 levels. D&D 5 and Pathfinder characters tend to be more powerful than their same-level counterparts in older editions. Cantrips really boost what a Wizard can do every round even at the lowest levels. Plus the addition of cantrips can become an interesting element to the wizard school. 1st level wizards/magic-users have a lot more they can do.
Retro-Clones
These conversions are handled by various current products and upcoming products from Calidar. Plus these mimic the games played by most of the people involved with the Calidar lines.
Calidar and Glantri
Let's address the obvious mix here. Bruce Heard is fairly well known for his work on the Mystara lines and Glantri in particular. You can use details from one mage school for the other, they are roughly compatible in style, and it makes either product a little more robust. You do lose a little of the unique feel of Calidar this way if you set it all in Glantri. Though what I have been doing is considering setting the caldera on the north pole. The whole area is hidden away from the rest of the world. Still playing with this idea.
I am using the "Mystoerth" map for this. I made a globe, and see there is some room up on top. Enough for Calidar? I have not done the math yet, but it looks right. I still to play around with it.
That is if my next idea doesn't take over.
Mage: The Sorcerer's Crusade
This idea has grabbed my imagination. Calidar has a great early Renaissance feel to it. So somewhere between Dark Ages Mage and Mage the Sorcerer's Crusade is a perfect time. In this case I would use Calidar as is, but the game system would be White Wolf's Mage.
What I have not decided yet is if the various schools represent Spheres (which means Mages would need to attend to multiple schools) or Traditions (which would make the rivalries more intense).
So everyone in "How to Train Your Wizard" would be part of the Euthatoi. I think just to have some fun I would keep the Verbena out of it unless I work in the Glantri Wokani.
There is a lot I would love to do with that idea. D&D backdrop, Calidar setting, Mage/White Wolf rules. The possibilities are staggering, to be honest.
Conversion though is a bigger issue. The Calidar system is pretty flexible, but it is level-based to a large degree. Mage uses the White Wolf Storyteller system which is a dice pool system. So the conversion books won't be much help here save to figure out some guidelines. Still maybe if I can dig up a copy of Monte Cook's d20 World of Darkness it might give me some ideas.
WitchCraft
Nothing specific yet. But if I can convert Mage I can convert this a lot easier.
Most likely I would combine a lot of these ideas to make the schools in Calidar a little less D&D and little more Scholomance if possible.
Blue Rose AGE
Ah. Now here is something that would be a lot of fun.
I would need to make some changes to what kinds of magics could be taught at the schools, but AGE is level-based and so should convert well. Green Ronin already did some of the heavy lifting for me with their converting for Fantasy AGE.
The bottom line is that Calidar gives me a great magic school that I really want to drop anywhere.
Plus it gives a Fantasy-era Breakbills and an excuse to do this:
And any excuse to put more Brakebills into my games is a good one.
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