I was digging through my hard drive the other day. Just looking through files after files of things I have written spanning 3 decades, 6 different computers, 8 different OSes and countless game systems.
I have a huge desire to get these out of my hands and into yours. Either as free, purchase or whatever books.
So here are the statuses of my various "Works in Progress", or in this case "Witches in Progress".
The Witch (for Basic Era Games) is off to an editor for final edits. Art has been purchased and then I can wrap-up the layout.
Eldritch Witchery for Spellcraft & Swordplay is off to a different editor. Art has been purchased for that one as well. That one will need some tweaks according to my editor, but that is expected to be honest.
The Complete Book of Witches & Warlocks (working title) is a Pathfinder update to my Liber Mysterium book. It is a collection of everything I have done for d20/OGL witches. Significant edits and rewrites to bring my witches in line with the Pathfinder one.
Here There Be Dragons... my son's old school (OSRIC/LL Advanced) book on various new dragons. Written, needs edits and stat revisions.
On other fronts I have:
The Vampire Queen adventure. Needs maps. For Spellcraft & Swordplay.
Darwin's Guide. A collection of monsters for Gaslight. Writing.
And some Ghosts of Albion adventures: (various stages of completion)
GoA: Obsession - who keeps killing singer Miriam White?
GoA: Blight - the Protector of Ireland is dead and you are prime suspect.
GoA: Wilderness - the Industrial Revolution is on hold when the Wood fights back.
GoA: Dinosauria! - You are invited to a most unusual New Year's Eve party.
GoA: Angst - strange goings on at a local school for girls. Ran once. needs edits.
GoA: Underground - The new London underground train has unearthed something horrible.
GoA: Pygmalion - an artist is surround by death.
GoA: Synchronicity - what threat is so horrible that it takes the combined casts of Ghosts of Albion and Buffy the Vampire Slayer to stop?
Some of these would work for other systems.
Anyway. Lots of stuff. I'll need more time to sort it out, but no sense is letting it languish any more.
I get these moods every so often. The desire to clean house. Normally it takes the shape of me packing up a bunch of my books and games and unloading them at the local game auction. But the last time I did that I so regretted it that I vowed never to do it again. So this time I'll create new books to unload.
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query blight. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query blight. Sort by date Show all posts
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
#RPGaDay2023 Favourite Con MODULE / ONE-SHOT
My favorite Con Module or One Shot? Well, there are two, but that one I'll save for later this week.
The first one was when I ran Ghosts of Albion: Blight at ENWorld's Chicago Game Day at Games Plus a few years ago. I had a player who was WAY into his role-playing the ghost of Lord Byron. He really made the adventure come alive for everyone.
 |
| I am a lot grayer but also a LOT thinner now. |
We all really had a great time, and I loved how well the adventure came together and how much fun everyone seemed to have had.
Thinking about this makes me realize how much I miss playing Ghosts of Albion and Victorian Era games.
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Motherland: Fort Salem Season 2 and NIGHTSHIFT
Last year's big surprise hit for me was Motherland Fort Salem and Season 2 starts tonight!
And I can't wait!
The show gave us a very different sort of Army and a different sort of witches. Now with Season 2 we have two different witch factions (the Army and the Spree) and an ancient group of Witch Hunters called The Camarilla. I am also looking forward to learning more about the "Mother Language" that witches can speak called Méníshè. Reminds me of what was trying to be done with Inha as a witch language.
If this all sounds like a great RPG setting, you are right! This is a fantastic setting for NIGHT SHIFT.
I am stating up the characters up to the end of Season 1, but not including the game-changing season finale.
Raelle Collar(Taylor Hickson)
5th level Witch
Base Abilities
Strength: 12 (0)
Dexterity: 13 (+1)
Constitution: 15 (+1) s
Intelligence: 12 (0) s
Wisdom: 13 (+1) P
Charisma: 15 (+1)
HP: 19 (5d4) +5
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10
Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+2/+1
Melee bonus: +1 Ranged bonus: +2
Saves: +4 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch)
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue
Spells
1st level: Cure Light Wounds, Sleep, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: Continual Flame, Levitate
3rd level: Cure Disease
Raelle lived in the part of American known as the Chippewa Cession where the Indigenous Tribal Federations are. She is a healer of great power like her mother was. Her mother was reported dead by the Army and Raelle blames the Army and Gen. Bellweather in particular. She doesn't want to be there and her plan was to get enlisted in the infantry and get killed as soon as possible. Her attitude earned her the nickname "shitbird" from Abby.
Raelle attitude changed when she met and fell in love with fellow cadet Scylla Ramshorn.
Abigail Bellweather(Ashley Williams)
5th level Witch
Base Abilities
Strength: 12 (0) s
Dexterity: 11 (0)
Constitution: 13 (+1)
Intelligence: 14 (+1) s
Wisdom: 11 (0)
Charisma: 17 (+2) P
HP: 18 (5d4) +5
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10
Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+2/+1
Melee bonus: +1 Ranged bonus: +1
Saves: +4 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch)
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Brown
Spells
1st level: Detect Snares & Pits, Obscurement, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: Levitate, Suggestion
3rd level: Curse
Abigail "Abby" Bellweather, of the East Coast Bellweathers, is the leader of the Bellweather Unit. She starts out in the show as an arrogant, if even spoiled, girl of privilege. By the end of the series, she is the leader she was born to be. Even her rivalries with Raelle and fellow East Coast witch Libba Swythe become something different as she accepts the responsibility of what being a soldier-witch means.
Tally Craven(Jessica Sutton)
5th level Witch
Base Abilities
Strength: 11 (0)
Dexterity: 13 (+1)
Constitution: 14 (+1)
Intelligence: 13 (+1) s
Wisdom: 14 (+1) P
Charisma: 16 (+2) s
HP: 18 (5d4) +5
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10
Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+2/+1
Melee bonus: +1 Ranged bonus: +2
Saves: +4 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch)
Hair: Red
Eyes: Brown
Spells
1st level: Detect Evil, Detect Magic, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: Knock, Levitate
3rd level: Clairvoyance
Tally comes from the depleted Craven line. All her aunts had gone to fight in the Army and they all died. She is the last of her line. She lived in the Matrifocal Allotment near Sacramento, California. She had not even seen a male until she answered her call of duty, an action her mother strongly wished her not to do. Her power is to "see." She can detect disguised and hidden objects or people and might be one of the most powerful seers to come up in the ranks in a long time.
Tally is a sweet girl who loves with all her heart because that is what she knows. She is fiercely loyal to her Unit.
Scylla Ramshorn(Amalia Holm)
6th level Witch
Base Abilities
Strength: 11 (0)
Dexterity: 13 (+1)
Constitution: 16 (+2)
Intelligence: 14 (+1) s
Wisdom: 13 (+1) s
Charisma: 18 (+3) P
HP: 27 (6d4) +12
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10
Check Bonus (P/S/T): +4/+2/+1
Melee bonus: +1 Ranged bonus: +2
Saves: +4 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch)
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Blue
Spells
1st level: Deathwatch, Obscurement, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: Levitate, Phantasmal Image, Suggestion
3rd level: Animate Dead, Speak with Dead
Scylla is a "Necro" or a Necromancer. Because their power makes others uneasy they are quartered in a different part of the base. We learn that Scylla's parents were killed when she was young. She meets and falls in love with Raelle. Later we find out she is part of the terrorist organization known as The Spree, responsible for hundreds of deaths across the country. Her job was to recruit Raelle, but she actually fell in love with her.
General Sarah Alder(Lyne Renee)
20th level Witch
Base Abilities
Strength: 13 (+1)
Dexterity: 14 (+1)
Constitution: 20 (+4)
Intelligence: 17 (+2) s
Wisdom: 16 (+2) s
Charisma: 20 (+4) P
HP: 123 (10d4+18) +80
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10
Check Bonus (P/S/T): +8/+5/+3
Melee bonus: +7 Ranged bonus: +7
Saves: +8 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch), Telepathic Transmission, Arcane Bonds (Biddies)
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue
Spells
1st level: Command, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Magic, Inflict Light Wounds, Protection from Evil, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: Cause Fear, Continual Flame, Lesser Restoration, Levitate, Suggestion
3rd level: Clairvoyance, Curse, Haste, Protection from Evil 10', Unholy Blight
4th level: Arcane Eye, Confusion, Hallucinatory Terrain, Phantasmal Killer, Restoration.
5th level: Cloudkill, Commune, Domination, Telekinesis
6th level: Control Weather, Disintegrate, Feeblemind, Slay Living
7th level: Death Aura, Veneration, Wave of Mutilation, Windershins Dance
8th level: Antipathy/Sympathy, Damning Stare, Discern Location, Wail of the Banshee
9th level: Astral Projection, Breath of the Goddess, Mystic Barrier
"Honor me, make a place for me and my kind and we will win your wars."
- General Sarah Alder to Massachusetts Bay Militia, Say the Words.
Sarah Alder was a survivor of the witch hunts of the 16th and 17th Centuries. She rallied her fellow witches at Salem, Massachusetts and presented the new government with a deal. Save us and we will fight your wars. The US Government and the Witches have been allies ever since.
Sarah maintains her youth with her select group of "biddies" or women that have sacrificed their own youth so she may remain forever young. The biddies and Alder are all connected, much in the way a witch and familiar might be. Thus Sarah can call on greater magics than her already high level has access to.
Sergeant Anacostia Quartermain(Demetria McKinney)
10th level Witch
Base Abilities
Strength: 16 (+2) s
Dexterity: 17 (+2)
Constitution: 16 (+2)
Intelligence: 13 (+1)
Wisdom: 15 (+1) P
Charisma: 16 (+2) s
HP: 45 (10d4) +20
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10
Check Bonus (P/S/T): +5/+3/+2
Melee bonus: +4 Ranged bonus: +4
Saves: +5 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch), Telepathic Transmission
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Spells
1st level: Command, Inflict Light Wounds, Sleep, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: ESP, Levitate, Phantasmal Image, Suggestion
3rd level: Clairvoyance, Dispel Magic, Protection from Evil 10'
4th level: Arcane Eye, Phantasmal Killer, Produce Fire
5th level: Harm, Telekinesis
Staff Sergeant Anacostia Quartermain serves as the sergeant for the Bellweather Unit. She is absolutely loyal to General Alder but also cares a great deal for the girls in her unit.
She is a highly trained combat witch.
--
Motherland: Fort Salem would be an excellent setting, aka "Night World" for NIGHT SHIFT. I am hoping to learn more about the witch hunters in the Camarilla this season and I hope Tally will be OK, and what ever happened to Rae and Abby.
Get NIGHT SHIFT here:
Monday, October 31, 2011
Spellcraft & Swordplay: The Necromancer
The Necromancer
One of the most oft created sub class, new class or alternate class is the Necromancer.
Gamers in good campaigns look to them as the penultimate foe. Gamers in evil campaigns dream of controlling scores of undead.
The Monstrous Mayhem book for Spellcraft & Swordplay introduced the Necromancer Elite Path. He is also featured in the Deluxe Core Rule book.
The Necromancer
Level 8
HD: 6+4 (36 hp)
Attacks: 5+3 (Staff, spells)
S: 10 D: 12: Con: 13 Int: 18 Wis: 16 Cha: 13
Bane of the Dead, Enhanced Undead, Skeletal Minion, Undead Apotheosis: +3
Spells:
First Level: Bane, Chill Ray, Detect Evil, Inflict Light Wounds
Second Level: Cause Fear, Death Knell, Hold Person, Protection from Good
Third Level: Curse, Speak with Dead, Unholy Blight
Fourth Level: Death Ward, Vampiric Killer
Fifth Level: Shadow Armor
The Necromancer prowls the night looking for crypts to raid or fresh corpses to use in his unholy experiments of the dead.
He is armed with a Skull Staff that gives him a +1 on his spellcasting rolls.
One of the most oft created sub class, new class or alternate class is the Necromancer.
Gamers in good campaigns look to them as the penultimate foe. Gamers in evil campaigns dream of controlling scores of undead.
The Monstrous Mayhem book for Spellcraft & Swordplay introduced the Necromancer Elite Path. He is also featured in the Deluxe Core Rule book.
The Necromancer
HD: 6+4 (36 hp)
Attacks: 5+3 (Staff, spells)
S: 10 D: 12: Con: 13 Int: 18 Wis: 16 Cha: 13
Bane of the Dead, Enhanced Undead, Skeletal Minion, Undead Apotheosis: +3
Spells:
First Level: Bane, Chill Ray, Detect Evil, Inflict Light Wounds
Second Level: Cause Fear, Death Knell, Hold Person, Protection from Good
Third Level: Curse, Speak with Dead, Unholy Blight
Fourth Level: Death Ward, Vampiric Killer
Fifth Level: Shadow Armor
The Necromancer prowls the night looking for crypts to raid or fresh corpses to use in his unholy experiments of the dead.
He is armed with a Skull Staff that gives him a +1 on his spellcasting rolls.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Post-Game Day
It was "mini-con" this past weekend at the Brannan household.
Saturday my oldest son played old school Traveller and had some of the crappiest dices rolls in the history of dice. He was disappointed, but not in the rolls themselves but he was looking forward to playing rather than rolling up characters.
Saturday evening was Ghosts of Albion at EN World Game day. I didn't have a full roster so I invited him to come along (my youngest had a friend spending the night). He played William Swift, Protector of Albion. He did a great job. He thought I had made the character especially for him! Everyone else had a great time and it was great to run Blight one last time. It dis give me some ideas for new adventures and maybe even a hook to bring my boys into this game.
Sunday was D&D 4: Keep on the Shadowfell with the kid's group. The group agreed to take out the Kobold lair for the nice price of 100gp each. The got past the kobold ambush and the kobolds outside the lair, but they have not gone it yet. The kids did great really. They are learning to work together more and that is a good thing. I have a couple of players that want to retrain or swap out some feats. It is a generally accepted house rule here (and at the games my son and three of the other players play at) that you can make "free" modifications to your character to better suit you, the party or whatever. My youngest is playing a Bard, he is thinking he wants to add a little bit of warlock to that and maybe rearrange his stats for a better Dex. My oldest is playing a Paladin multiclassed with Warlord, which works, but he did this thinking we would not have any "Leader" types. With my youngest now playing a Bard (instead of his usual ranger) and one of the others playing a cleric, he wants to drop the Warlord in favor of Sorcerer, his other favorite class. So the idea is that he had some military training (was Warlord, now it will be more of a background) and during his adventures the stress of combat has awakened the Celestial Dragon blood in his veins and now he can call on Dragon magic. It works. I still need to talk to the other players too to see if they want to make any alterations.
The kids' 4e Group still doesn't have a name of their own yet. In the game they are called the Heroes of Winterhaven. Though in the arc a better name for them would be Death's Champions; though that sounds darker than it is supposed too (they will be making sure that that Death and Life are saved from Orcus). They have an unknown ally in the form of a mysterious girl named Nera and one of the Arch Dukes of Hell will offer his aid as well. 'Enemy of my Enemy" and all. Should be a great time!
Saturday my oldest son played old school Traveller and had some of the crappiest dices rolls in the history of dice. He was disappointed, but not in the rolls themselves but he was looking forward to playing rather than rolling up characters.
Saturday evening was Ghosts of Albion at EN World Game day. I didn't have a full roster so I invited him to come along (my youngest had a friend spending the night). He played William Swift, Protector of Albion. He did a great job. He thought I had made the character especially for him! Everyone else had a great time and it was great to run Blight one last time. It dis give me some ideas for new adventures and maybe even a hook to bring my boys into this game.
Sunday was D&D 4: Keep on the Shadowfell with the kid's group. The group agreed to take out the Kobold lair for the nice price of 100gp each. The got past the kobold ambush and the kobolds outside the lair, but they have not gone it yet. The kids did great really. They are learning to work together more and that is a good thing. I have a couple of players that want to retrain or swap out some feats. It is a generally accepted house rule here (and at the games my son and three of the other players play at) that you can make "free" modifications to your character to better suit you, the party or whatever. My youngest is playing a Bard, he is thinking he wants to add a little bit of warlock to that and maybe rearrange his stats for a better Dex. My oldest is playing a Paladin multiclassed with Warlord, which works, but he did this thinking we would not have any "Leader" types. With my youngest now playing a Bard (instead of his usual ranger) and one of the others playing a cleric, he wants to drop the Warlord in favor of Sorcerer, his other favorite class. So the idea is that he had some military training (was Warlord, now it will be more of a background) and during his adventures the stress of combat has awakened the Celestial Dragon blood in his veins and now he can call on Dragon magic. It works. I still need to talk to the other players too to see if they want to make any alterations.
The kids' 4e Group still doesn't have a name of their own yet. In the game they are called the Heroes of Winterhaven. Though in the arc a better name for them would be Death's Champions; though that sounds darker than it is supposed too (they will be making sure that that Death and Life are saved from Orcus). They have an unknown ally in the form of a mysterious girl named Nera and one of the Arch Dukes of Hell will offer his aid as well. 'Enemy of my Enemy" and all. Should be a great time!
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Character Creation Challenge: Castles & Crusades
The Game: Castles & Crusades
Moreso than Pathfinder or any other retro-clone, Castles & Crusades feels like classic D&D. If you ever played any version of D&D then you can pick up C&C with ease. So much so that I have converted games back forth from C&C to AD&D and back with ease. D&D5 might be the successor to AD&D, but C&C is the spiritual successor.
For whatever reason this happened there is a strong Celtic vibe to many of the C&C books I buy. The Codex Celtarum (1st and 2nd Printings), the Haunted Highlands, and more might give me this impression, but it is one I gladly stick with. So naturally, the character for today has to fit this.
I have written so much over the years on Castles & Crusades it is hard to put anything new here. So check out all my C&C posts.
The Character: Fear Dorich
Fear Dorich is "The Dark Druid" of my campaign worlds. He is a notorious bad guy and evil druid. He wants to become truly immortal and not this half-life he has now.
Long time readers might recognize this guy as the enemy of Fion MacCumhail. I featured him in a Buffy the Vampire Slayer adventure naturally titled "The Dark Druid." Later he made another appearance in the "prequel" adventure "Blight" for Ghosts of Albion. Here he was known as "The Necromancer" so I could make it either part of my Dark Druid Cycle or as part of the official Ghosts of Albion line. Eventually, I wanted to make yet another prequel to all of those set in Celtic Ireland where Fionn and his band of heroes first fight the Dark Druid. I was calling it "All Souls Night" but I never quite got it into the shape I wanted. There have been a couple of good adventures to give me ideas like Robert J. Kuntz's Dark Druids and Night of the Sprits for Castles & Crusades. It was these two adventures along with my two Dark Druid ones that gave me the idea for War of the Witch Queens.
If I ever finish All Souls Night I might redo the Dark Druid Cycle to use Castles & Crusades. Replace Ghosts of Albion with Victorious and Buffy with Amazing Adventures.
Fear Dorich
Fear Dorich
Human 1st level Druid, Neutral (Evil)
STR: 10 (0)
DEX: 11 (0)
CON: 14 (+1) P
INT: 14 (+1) P
WIS: 18 (+3) P
CHA: 11 (0)
AC: 13, Leather Armor
HP: 7 (d8)
BtH: +0
Staff +0, 1d6
Scimitar +0, 1d6
Druidic Language, Nature Lore
Druid Spells
0 (3): Create Water, First Aid, Know Direction
1st (1+1): Entangle, Magic Stones
This is Fear Dorich at the start of his career. He is already showing signs of being evil too.
For this character, I would let him take spells from the Codex Celtarum and also the Black Libram of Naratus.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
The 30 Greatest D&D Adventures of All Time
Been kinda of obsessed with lists lately. But this one does have a point for me. A while back (2004 in fact) the Pazio run of Dungeon Magazine listed their top 30 adventures of all time.
I have been going through what I call the "Classical Canon" of D&D. Not just so I have the experience of running them all, but so my kids can also enjoy these great adventures. I also am looking for what makes a truly great D&D adventure; something that people still talk about years later.
Anyway here is the list with my thoughts.
30. The Ghost Tower of Inverness, 1980 (C2)
This is great one, but an odd one to run with a party in an ongoing campaign. So I used it in my Doctor Who Adventures in Time and Space playtest and ran it as "The Ghost Tower of Inverness, Illinois". I used this as the location of the "Ghost Tower" which is actually a malfunctioning Time Beacon.
29. The Assassin’s Knot, 1983 (L2)
Personally I prefer L1, Secret of Bone Hill, but this is a great sequel and I can see why many people like it more than Bone Hill. Assassin's Knot works well as a murder mystery, but not great if your players are wanting to go in a bust skulls.
28. The Lost City, 1982 (B4)
I played this one in 8th Grade when it was new and had a blast. I ran it again for my kids a few years back and still had a blast. There were so many things in it I had forgotten and I spent most of the module smiling to myself in memory. It is a Moldvay classic really and really has the feel of early 80s Basic D&D.
27. The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh, 1981 (U1)
This was one I played back in the day but I have yet to run. I have it all ready to go with my 3rd Ed. conversion notes. Of course at the time I thought this was great because I was deep into my Anglophilia and I thought ANYTHING from England was perfect. Given that it was written (in part) by Don Turnbull then it was bound to be good. If I remember right I played this one after Lost City. I loved the tenor and mood of the module. It inspired an adventure I wrote in 88 called "Home by the Sea". Parts of that adventure were then later used in my Ghosts of Albion adventure Blight, which took place in Ireland. So it all came full circle.
26. City of Skulls, 1993 (WGR6)
This is an odd one. I never played it, never ran it and never really heard anything about it. This was near the end of my Ravenloft games and very, very close to the time where I took a huge break from D&D. I will check it out sometime, but doubt if I'll ever run it.
25. Dragons of Despair, 1984 (DL1)
I never played or ran any of the Dragonlance modules. I enjoyed the books when they came out and I liked the idea that everyone playing was going through it all at the same time. Hey, maybe someone should revive this for the next D&D Encounters! I loved the idea and I loved the new design of the modules, but even then it felt a little railroady to me. Plus I wanted to use my own characters.
24. City of the Spider Queen, 2002
I am not a good judge of this one. I don't like Drizzt. I don't like R.A. Salvatore. I never really cared for the Forgotten Realms till about 4th Edition. I don't really know anything about this module. I suspect it was added to the list because there was a dearth of "modern" adventures and most of the others were "Greyhawk" related.
23. The Forgotten Temple of Tharzidun, 1982 (WG4)
Now this adventure...This one I can get behind. I never played this one, but I have run it twice. It's a death dealer and a peak into what might have been coming as a narrative arc if Gygax had been into such things. This module is one of out first peeks into the horror that is Tharzidun, a god that is part Cthulhu and part Satan in my game. I am weaving material from this module into my larger campaign.
22. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, 1982 (S4)
The same is true for this module. I remember buying it as soon as it came out and I begged my DM to run me through it. I have run it myself twice since, the most recent time with my Dragonslayers group. This is one of my most favorite modules. It has a vampire, Iggwilv, tons of new demons (many that later became part of the Monster Manual II) and just enough puzzles to keep the players on their toes. Running it this last time was a lot of fun.
21. Dark Tower, 1979 from Judge’s Guild (JG 0088)
While I would argue that this is an obligatory JG entry, this one is actually a lot of fun. I never played it myself and it is so rare on eBay that it has been cost prohibative. Thankfully we have PDFs of the Original and of the 3.5 update.
20. Scourge of the Slave Lords, 1986 (A1-4)
Another classic getting the reprint treatment. I remember playing this one in 8th grade as well. My DM at the time folded the Lost City into the A series to make a campaign out of them. Also he had a copy of Grimtooth's Traps which made everything deadlier. Or as he said "better". I still have a thief stuck somewhere in a pit trap.
19. Against the Cult of the Reptile God, 1982 (N1)
I have never played or run this one. I have though always wanted to use it as a start of a "Second" campaign, After running the Classical Canon, I would start with a new campaign focusing on reptiles as the enemy. Work in some modern "Reptoids" and have a go at it. Maybe someday I will still do this. But this is a fun adventure to read.
18. The Hidden Shrine of Tamochan, 1980 (C1)
Another great old module I never played, but read many times. Like N1 I always hoped that I could use this one as part of a second campaign. Though given some of the elements I would not be amiss using it in my "Come Endless Darkness" campaign. I already have too many modules/adventures for the 5-7 level range.
17. Ruins of Undermountain, 1991
Ah. This is one that I have always known about but never really bothered with. It was Forgotten Realms so I never gave it much thought. Though I always thought this was more of a campaign expansion, ie part of the the whole Underdark deal so I never considered it an adventure.
16. Isle of Dread, 1980 (X1)
Oh the hours I spent pouring over this map. This was Tom Moldvay's love letter to the pulp era and to such classic horror movies as King Kong. This also included the first full map of the Known World. I ran it many times as a kid and it was one of the first modules I ran for my son. He wanted to go an island of monsters, "like in Godzilla". This did not disappoint him or me. More so than any other adventure, the Dragonslayers were born here.
15. Castle Amber, 1981 (X2)
Another great. Again Moldvay's pulp horror influences are showing here, in particular his love for the works of Clark Ashton Smith. This time we enter an old house full of crazy characters and plenty of dangers. This could have come off as a "fun house" dungeon, but something in the presentation is different. Maybe it is the undertones of horror and dread. My players in our 5e game are going through this one now. I have dropped the first hints of the "coming darkness" to them here.
This is one of my personal favorites. Certainly part of my top 5.
14. Dead Gods, 1997
Dead Gods is not an adventure I have ever run or been in, but it is one I have used quite a bit. There are a number of elements in it that I use for my "Rise of Orcus" plot. Especially back in the 4e days and the rise of Orcus adventures. Honestly there are enough adventures out there that you could build a universe (and edition) spanning mega campaign on nothing more than stopping the machinations of Orcus. One day I should give that a try.
13. Dwellers of the Forbidden City, 1981 (I1)
This is a great adventure and part of my "Second Campaign" (AGGHHH too many adventures to play!) it is also at the 4th-7th level sweet spot. This one is a key part of that idea since it introduced the Yuan-ti, a monster I have used repeatedly; often calling them Ophidians. It has elements that would fit in nicely with my 5th edition group, but I have too many adventures for this level.
12. The Forge of Fury, 2000
So this is our obligatory 3e adventure I think. I never played it or ran it, thought I have read it. Personally I think The Sunless Citadel was better and should have been on this list. It was the first and introduced a generation to Meepo. Sure he was no Aleena, but you could also say that Aleena was no Meepo!
11. The Gates of Firestorm Peak, 1996
Ugh. Sorry, but there is a lot about this module I just don't like. I don't care for the shoehorn plot for starters and I hated the Skills & Powers books. Som much that it threw me off of D&D till 3e came out. It was "Lovecraftian" and I did like that. I suspect that is why it is on this list to be honest. Though many of the ideas in this module came into sharper focus during the 3e years.
10. Return to the Tomb of Horrors, 1998
You have to admit. This is a total cheat. I have it, I enjoyed it and I like the idea that the Tomb is something that people can keep going back too (whatever the edition). As a sequel there is a lot to like. As a stand alone and on it's own merits though it might be passable.
9. White Plume Mountain, 1979 (S2)
I am inordinately fond of the S series of modules. This one is no different. It of course makes 0 sense, but works great as an epic D&D adventure. Plus it gave us Wave, Whelm and Blackrazor.
8. Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, 2001
In many ways I like this one better than the original. I like the idea of returning to the Temple I also like the idea of talking in game about adventures that came before. Gives me a sense of continuity. This is one of my favorite 3.x era modules to be honest.
7. The Keep on the Borderlands, 1979 (B1)
What can I honestly say about this one? The Cave of Chaos were as well traveled as a local Mall in the 1980s. When I think "Classic Canon" this is the first thing that comes to mind.
6. The Desert of Desolation, 1987 (I3-5)
Another total cheat this "super" module is made up of Pharoah (I3), Oasis of the White Palm (I4) and Lost Tomb of Martek (I5). Though to be totally fair they are linked together. Another really great set of adventures I would LOVE to play or run (read them many times) but not likely to. Maybe if I do my "Second Campaign". There is a lot in these I have used elsewhere though.
5. Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, 1980 (S3)
"You know what AD&D needs? Freaking laser guns! Lasers and killer robots!" Seriously. Has there ever been a module to encapsulate everything the late 70s and early 80s was all about more than this one? It even has a karate instructor robot. I am going to add in a break-dancing robot that moves to a funky Herbie Hancock beat when I run this next. Which should be soon. I am going totally gonzo with it too. I am grabbing bits of Gamma World and Metamorphosis Alpha too. In fact since the characters are higher level than the module requires I am doing a sort of "Return to the Barrier Peaks" spin on it. I am going to add some material from The Illithiad as well.
4. The Temple of Elemental Evil, 1985 (T1-4)
Another of the classic canon. If you didn't start your adventure in the keep, then chances are you started it here. I have always wanted to run this one and never have. I have used pieces of it before.
I suppose if I do my "second campaign" I will start with this and change the temple a bit.
3. Tomb of Horrors, 1978 (S1)
We just finished this one and it was every bit the meat grinder it was rumored to be. I had gone through back in the day, but running it was a completely different experience. Now I might be branded as a heretic here but it is not really that good of an adventure. Really it isn't. There are lot things in the adventure that don't make sense except in a D&D world. That being said it is a rite of passage and everyone should try it at least once under their favorite edition or at least once under 1st ed as Gary intended it to be.
2. Ravenloft, 1983 (I6)
Here we go. This is my favorite module on the list. I just love it; warts and all. Yeah there are some real leaps in logic in this one and there are plenty of reasons NOT to like it, but I don't care. I think it is great. It's a Hammer Horror film in D&D form right down to the small "Hammer Hamlet" village with terrified peasants. There are vampires, gypsies, werewolves, really strong zombies, gargoyles. Even a huge pipe organ played by the vampire. You can almost hear Toccata and Fugue in D minor while running it. I have played through this once and I have ran it three or four times. I would love to try it sometime under the Ghosts of Albion rules. I am going to take my 5e group through it when they complete Castle Amber.
1. Queen of Spiders, 1986 (G1-3, D1-3, Q1)
The first AD&D campaign arc. We talk alot about being "plot free" in our adventures but when it get right down to it we love a good story arc and the GDQ was that. I am not 100% sure that Q1 lived up the promise of the G and D series, but damn was it fun.
This super module was made up of:
Back in the day EVERYONE was going through this. It was the D&D Encounters of it's time. The only problem was no one was doing it at exactly the same time or way. So I know dozens of stories about how these turned out. I have dozens of my own. Plus that Bill Willingham cover of the Giants is one of the most iconic covers of the age I think.
There you are. The 30 greatest adventures as ranked by Dungeon Magazine.
Do you agree or disagree? What is missing?
Here are my honorable mentions.
In Search of the Unknown, 1978 (B1)
Every adventure starts somewhere. Mine usually start here. This is my go to module for a quick a easy sandbox style dungeon crawl. I have run it half a dozen times or more with new groups and it is always a thrill.
Palace of the Silver Princess, 1981 (B3)
Yes it is a rather silly adventure, but I really enjoy it. Plus the backstory on it makes it a lot more fun.
Palace of the Vampire Queen, 1976 from WeeWarriors (V2)
The first ever published adventure or "DM's Kit" as it was called then. What it lacks detail it makes up for in style. I have ran this one twice now under various systems. It works with everything to be honest; it is that sandboxy.
I have been going through what I call the "Classical Canon" of D&D. Not just so I have the experience of running them all, but so my kids can also enjoy these great adventures. I also am looking for what makes a truly great D&D adventure; something that people still talk about years later.
Anyway here is the list with my thoughts.
This is great one, but an odd one to run with a party in an ongoing campaign. So I used it in my Doctor Who Adventures in Time and Space playtest and ran it as "The Ghost Tower of Inverness, Illinois". I used this as the location of the "Ghost Tower" which is actually a malfunctioning Time Beacon.
29. The Assassin’s Knot, 1983 (L2)
Personally I prefer L1, Secret of Bone Hill, but this is a great sequel and I can see why many people like it more than Bone Hill. Assassin's Knot works well as a murder mystery, but not great if your players are wanting to go in a bust skulls.
28. The Lost City, 1982 (B4)
I played this one in 8th Grade when it was new and had a blast. I ran it again for my kids a few years back and still had a blast. There were so many things in it I had forgotten and I spent most of the module smiling to myself in memory. It is a Moldvay classic really and really has the feel of early 80s Basic D&D.
This was one I played back in the day but I have yet to run. I have it all ready to go with my 3rd Ed. conversion notes. Of course at the time I thought this was great because I was deep into my Anglophilia and I thought ANYTHING from England was perfect. Given that it was written (in part) by Don Turnbull then it was bound to be good. If I remember right I played this one after Lost City. I loved the tenor and mood of the module. It inspired an adventure I wrote in 88 called "Home by the Sea". Parts of that adventure were then later used in my Ghosts of Albion adventure Blight, which took place in Ireland. So it all came full circle.
26. City of Skulls, 1993 (WGR6)
This is an odd one. I never played it, never ran it and never really heard anything about it. This was near the end of my Ravenloft games and very, very close to the time where I took a huge break from D&D. I will check it out sometime, but doubt if I'll ever run it.
25. Dragons of Despair, 1984 (DL1)
I never played or ran any of the Dragonlance modules. I enjoyed the books when they came out and I liked the idea that everyone playing was going through it all at the same time. Hey, maybe someone should revive this for the next D&D Encounters! I loved the idea and I loved the new design of the modules, but even then it felt a little railroady to me. Plus I wanted to use my own characters.
24. City of the Spider Queen, 2002
I am not a good judge of this one. I don't like Drizzt. I don't like R.A. Salvatore. I never really cared for the Forgotten Realms till about 4th Edition. I don't really know anything about this module. I suspect it was added to the list because there was a dearth of "modern" adventures and most of the others were "Greyhawk" related.
Now this adventure...This one I can get behind. I never played this one, but I have run it twice. It's a death dealer and a peak into what might have been coming as a narrative arc if Gygax had been into such things. This module is one of out first peeks into the horror that is Tharzidun, a god that is part Cthulhu and part Satan in my game. I am weaving material from this module into my larger campaign.
22. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, 1982 (S4)
The same is true for this module. I remember buying it as soon as it came out and I begged my DM to run me through it. I have run it myself twice since, the most recent time with my Dragonslayers group. This is one of my most favorite modules. It has a vampire, Iggwilv, tons of new demons (many that later became part of the Monster Manual II) and just enough puzzles to keep the players on their toes. Running it this last time was a lot of fun.
21. Dark Tower, 1979 from Judge’s Guild (JG 0088)
While I would argue that this is an obligatory JG entry, this one is actually a lot of fun. I never played it myself and it is so rare on eBay that it has been cost prohibative. Thankfully we have PDFs of the Original and of the 3.5 update.
20. Scourge of the Slave Lords, 1986 (A1-4)
Another classic getting the reprint treatment. I remember playing this one in 8th grade as well. My DM at the time folded the Lost City into the A series to make a campaign out of them. Also he had a copy of Grimtooth's Traps which made everything deadlier. Or as he said "better". I still have a thief stuck somewhere in a pit trap.
I have never played or run this one. I have though always wanted to use it as a start of a "Second" campaign, After running the Classical Canon, I would start with a new campaign focusing on reptiles as the enemy. Work in some modern "Reptoids" and have a go at it. Maybe someday I will still do this. But this is a fun adventure to read.
18. The Hidden Shrine of Tamochan, 1980 (C1)
Another great old module I never played, but read many times. Like N1 I always hoped that I could use this one as part of a second campaign. Though given some of the elements I would not be amiss using it in my "Come Endless Darkness" campaign. I already have too many modules/adventures for the 5-7 level range.
17. Ruins of Undermountain, 1991
Ah. This is one that I have always known about but never really bothered with. It was Forgotten Realms so I never gave it much thought. Though I always thought this was more of a campaign expansion, ie part of the the whole Underdark deal so I never considered it an adventure.
16. Isle of Dread, 1980 (X1)
Oh the hours I spent pouring over this map. This was Tom Moldvay's love letter to the pulp era and to such classic horror movies as King Kong. This also included the first full map of the Known World. I ran it many times as a kid and it was one of the first modules I ran for my son. He wanted to go an island of monsters, "like in Godzilla". This did not disappoint him or me. More so than any other adventure, the Dragonslayers were born here.
Another great. Again Moldvay's pulp horror influences are showing here, in particular his love for the works of Clark Ashton Smith. This time we enter an old house full of crazy characters and plenty of dangers. This could have come off as a "fun house" dungeon, but something in the presentation is different. Maybe it is the undertones of horror and dread. My players in our 5e game are going through this one now. I have dropped the first hints of the "coming darkness" to them here.
This is one of my personal favorites. Certainly part of my top 5.
14. Dead Gods, 1997
Dead Gods is not an adventure I have ever run or been in, but it is one I have used quite a bit. There are a number of elements in it that I use for my "Rise of Orcus" plot. Especially back in the 4e days and the rise of Orcus adventures. Honestly there are enough adventures out there that you could build a universe (and edition) spanning mega campaign on nothing more than stopping the machinations of Orcus. One day I should give that a try.
This is a great adventure and part of my "Second Campaign" (AGGHHH too many adventures to play!) it is also at the 4th-7th level sweet spot. This one is a key part of that idea since it introduced the Yuan-ti, a monster I have used repeatedly; often calling them Ophidians. It has elements that would fit in nicely with my 5th edition group, but I have too many adventures for this level.
12. The Forge of Fury, 2000
So this is our obligatory 3e adventure I think. I never played it or ran it, thought I have read it. Personally I think The Sunless Citadel was better and should have been on this list. It was the first and introduced a generation to Meepo. Sure he was no Aleena, but you could also say that Aleena was no Meepo!
11. The Gates of Firestorm Peak, 1996
Ugh. Sorry, but there is a lot about this module I just don't like. I don't care for the shoehorn plot for starters and I hated the Skills & Powers books. Som much that it threw me off of D&D till 3e came out. It was "Lovecraftian" and I did like that. I suspect that is why it is on this list to be honest. Though many of the ideas in this module came into sharper focus during the 3e years.
10. Return to the Tomb of Horrors, 1998
You have to admit. This is a total cheat. I have it, I enjoyed it and I like the idea that the Tomb is something that people can keep going back too (whatever the edition). As a sequel there is a lot to like. As a stand alone and on it's own merits though it might be passable.
9. White Plume Mountain, 1979 (S2)
I am inordinately fond of the S series of modules. This one is no different. It of course makes 0 sense, but works great as an epic D&D adventure. Plus it gave us Wave, Whelm and Blackrazor.
In many ways I like this one better than the original. I like the idea of returning to the Temple I also like the idea of talking in game about adventures that came before. Gives me a sense of continuity. This is one of my favorite 3.x era modules to be honest.
7. The Keep on the Borderlands, 1979 (B1)
What can I honestly say about this one? The Cave of Chaos were as well traveled as a local Mall in the 1980s. When I think "Classic Canon" this is the first thing that comes to mind.
6. The Desert of Desolation, 1987 (I3-5)
Another total cheat this "super" module is made up of Pharoah (I3), Oasis of the White Palm (I4) and Lost Tomb of Martek (I5). Though to be totally fair they are linked together. Another really great set of adventures I would LOVE to play or run (read them many times) but not likely to. Maybe if I do my "Second Campaign". There is a lot in these I have used elsewhere though.
5. Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, 1980 (S3)
"You know what AD&D needs? Freaking laser guns! Lasers and killer robots!" Seriously. Has there ever been a module to encapsulate everything the late 70s and early 80s was all about more than this one? It even has a karate instructor robot. I am going to add in a break-dancing robot that moves to a funky Herbie Hancock beat when I run this next. Which should be soon. I am going totally gonzo with it too. I am grabbing bits of Gamma World and Metamorphosis Alpha too. In fact since the characters are higher level than the module requires I am doing a sort of "Return to the Barrier Peaks" spin on it. I am going to add some material from The Illithiad as well.
Another of the classic canon. If you didn't start your adventure in the keep, then chances are you started it here. I have always wanted to run this one and never have. I have used pieces of it before.
I suppose if I do my "second campaign" I will start with this and change the temple a bit.
3. Tomb of Horrors, 1978 (S1)
We just finished this one and it was every bit the meat grinder it was rumored to be. I had gone through back in the day, but running it was a completely different experience. Now I might be branded as a heretic here but it is not really that good of an adventure. Really it isn't. There are lot things in the adventure that don't make sense except in a D&D world. That being said it is a rite of passage and everyone should try it at least once under their favorite edition or at least once under 1st ed as Gary intended it to be.
Here we go. This is my favorite module on the list. I just love it; warts and all. Yeah there are some real leaps in logic in this one and there are plenty of reasons NOT to like it, but I don't care. I think it is great. It's a Hammer Horror film in D&D form right down to the small "Hammer Hamlet" village with terrified peasants. There are vampires, gypsies, werewolves, really strong zombies, gargoyles. Even a huge pipe organ played by the vampire. You can almost hear Toccata and Fugue in D minor while running it. I have played through this once and I have ran it three or four times. I would love to try it sometime under the Ghosts of Albion rules. I am going to take my 5e group through it when they complete Castle Amber.
1. Queen of Spiders, 1986 (G1-3, D1-3, Q1)
The first AD&D campaign arc. We talk alot about being "plot free" in our adventures but when it get right down to it we love a good story arc and the GDQ was that. I am not 100% sure that Q1 lived up the promise of the G and D series, but damn was it fun.
This super module was made up of:
- Against the Giants (G1-3)
- Descent into the Depths of the Earth (D1-2)
- Vault of the Drow (D3)
- Queen of the Demonweb Pits (Q1)
Back in the day EVERYONE was going through this. It was the D&D Encounters of it's time. The only problem was no one was doing it at exactly the same time or way. So I know dozens of stories about how these turned out. I have dozens of my own. Plus that Bill Willingham cover of the Giants is one of the most iconic covers of the age I think.
There you are. The 30 greatest adventures as ranked by Dungeon Magazine.
Do you agree or disagree? What is missing?
Here are my honorable mentions.
Every adventure starts somewhere. Mine usually start here. This is my go to module for a quick a easy sandbox style dungeon crawl. I have run it half a dozen times or more with new groups and it is always a thrill.
Palace of the Silver Princess, 1981 (B3)
Yes it is a rather silly adventure, but I really enjoy it. Plus the backstory on it makes it a lot more fun.
Palace of the Vampire Queen, 1976 from WeeWarriors (V2)
The first ever published adventure or "DM's Kit" as it was called then. What it lacks detail it makes up for in style. I have ran this one twice now under various systems. It works with everything to be honest; it is that sandboxy.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Don't Forget!
EN World Game Day Chicago is this weekend!
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by coming to the the aid of Ireland in her darkest hour.
Ghosts of Albion: Blight
Ireland is dying.
Her Protector has been murdered and you are the primary suspects. Can you clear your name, regain your magic and stop whatever necromancies befoul the land? Time is short, yours and one million lives hang in the balance. Set in 1847 this is an adventure for the Ghosts of Albion RPG.
Game System: Cinematic Unisystem
Rules Edition: Ghosts of Albion
Players: Minimum 5, Max 8.
Minimum Age: Teen (13+) (PG for some violence, and problem solving)
Experience Required: None (never played before), some knowledge of "Ghosts of Albion" is helpful.
Materials Provided: Yes, materials are provided for this game. You do not need to bring your own. One d10 is needed.
There is a sign-up thread over at EN World, http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/319338-chicago-gameday-31-3-17-sign-up-play.html
And because I can.
One of my favorite Irish "rebel" songs.
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by coming to the the aid of Ireland in her darkest hour.
Ghosts of Albion: Blight
Her Protector has been murdered and you are the primary suspects. Can you clear your name, regain your magic and stop whatever necromancies befoul the land? Time is short, yours and one million lives hang in the balance. Set in 1847 this is an adventure for the Ghosts of Albion RPG.
Game System: Cinematic Unisystem
Rules Edition: Ghosts of Albion
Players: Minimum 5, Max 8.
Minimum Age: Teen (13+) (PG for some violence, and problem solving)
Experience Required: None (never played before), some knowledge of "Ghosts of Albion" is helpful.
Materials Provided: Yes, materials are provided for this game. You do not need to bring your own. One d10 is needed.
There is a sign-up thread over at EN World, http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/319338-chicago-gameday-31-3-17-sign-up-play.html
And because I can.
One of my favorite Irish "rebel" songs.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
This Old Dragon: Issue #119
But once I grabbed it I also noticed how it was a really nice companion to my own Green Witch that was published yesterday. So nice in fact I put the magazine down until today! I didn't want anything in it unduly influencing me. Though in re-re-reading it now I can see there were some things there in 1987 that did stick with me over the years, including some more Doctor Who references.
So set your TARDIS back to March 1987, put on U2's With Or Without You, and get ready for This Old Dragon Issue #119.
Letters cover a guy just discovering the Chainmail rules. Interesting to read, to be honest. We forget that in this day and age nearly every shred of information is literally at our fingertips. I just got another copy of Chainmail for my birthday from my old Jr. High DM. It is different than the one I had by a couple of pages. I am going to need to investigate that.
The big feature of this issue is the section on Druids. I can't help but see the "Spinal Tap" Stonehenge every time I see the standing stones and lintel that works as the header for these articles.
That aside this was one of my favorite series. I had by this time already written my first copy of the witch class. It was though lacking in some historical oomph. This series gave me a lot of inspiration on what can be done with the class AND what not to do. Not in terms of things being bad in these articles (far from it) but in terms of making my witches different from the druids. In fact I put these articles as "Must Reads" for anyone wanting to play a druid.
Carl Sargent is up first with Underestimating Druids (is a bad practice). It's a look into the strengths of the class and giving them their due. Several tips and bits of advice are given for using the Druid in and out of the dungeon setting, but most telling (and also the most interesting to me) was a break-down of the XP per level and the amount of spell-power all the AD&D1 spell-casting classes had. The Druid comes out looking the best. Plus let's be honest, Flame Strike is a MUCH cooler spell than Fireball.
Up next is an article covering the Druid in his role as a healer. We are warned that John Warren's "Is There a Doctor In the Forest?" is unofficial material. It is also closer to what we think we know about druids in real life; that they were the healers of their society. There is a ton of great ideas here for herbal and natural healing in AD&D. Unofficial or not there is a lot great rules here. The crunch is the same level as AD&D, so more than I want for an OSR or even a 5e game, but worth looking into the next time I play AD&D1 proper.
On cue another ad for the Time-Life Enchanted World books!
Next up is an article I had re-read a lot back in the Summer of 1987. From by William Volkart and Robin Jenkins we get On Becoming The Great Druid. It dealt with that little remembered now artifact of the Druid class that at higher levels you needed to defeat the druid whose level you wanted to take. I have to admit that at the time I was not fond of the idea, though now I see as a great plot and role-playing device. I was trying to come up with a way to add this all to my then current game. I never really did to be honest since I figured I needed to come up with my world-wide Druid religion. Of course, nothing in the history of the Druids supports the idea that would or even could do this (I was also reading some Margaret Murry, so I am excusing myself) but I got fixated on the idea I needed to figure out their complete religious structure first. I made some head-way and a lot of that was actually added to my Witch class with the "Court of Witches". I just replaced Great Druid with Witch Queen. The Grand Coven of the Earth Mother in The Green Witch also comes from those notes way back then.
Rick Reid is up and has Cantrips for Druids - Naturally. Makes me REALLY glad I kept this to the side while working on the Green Witch and that I didn't put cantrips in that book. They will appear in the "The White Witch" later this summer.
Ah. Now here is an old friend. Ed Greenwood (who's early Dragon writing I am really enjoying again) has the Beastmaster NPC class. It is such an overkill class. Hell, I would not be surprised to discover that Drizzt didn't start out as a beastmaster. Though to be 100% fair it is described as an NPC only class...yup. Just like the witch was. ;)
I talked about a lot of Beastmaster classes in an early version of Class Struggles. At that time I had forgotten all about this one though in re-reading it now I see that my DM's homebrew Beastmaster was based on this one.
While not a part of the official Druid feature, Calle Lindstrand has the write up for The Uldra a new character race. The article is the type of "anything worth doing is worth doing to excess" type that I really love. We get a new race, a monster entry, and some gods. The Uldra themselves seem to be a cross between a gnome and a dwarf. I really hope that wherever Calle Lindstrand is that Uldras as written here are still part of their game. There is too much, well, love here to ignore. Uldras would later go on to be upgraded to a full offical D&D race.
It is also one of the reasons while I like to include a new race in a book overtly about a class. The Green Witch, for example, has another take on Gnomes for Swords & Wizardry.
Ed is back with Ecology of the Korred. Given that it follows right behind the article on the Uldra I often conflated the two into one race. Not really fair to either to be honest. My then DM really enjoyed this article and it was the inspiration to the only "Dance off in D&D" I have ever done. I later stole his idea and had another Dance Off in Ghosts of Albion: Blight. Only this time it was against the Sidhe. This article also gives us a new god.
Dragon's Bestiary features some sylvan monsters for your game. Again, not exactly part of the Druid feature, but close enough that it fits really well.
We get some fairly interesting creatures too. The Wild Halflings are great and I think I detect a bit of what would later develop in Dark Sun. The Luposphinx is a winged wolf/lion hybrid that doesn't seem out of place at all. The Leshy is based on some older fairy tales. There is another take on the Wendigo (none have every truly been "right" as far as I am concerned). The Wood Giant, which has since been promoted to the ranks of "official D&D monster". There is a Wood Golem here too. A bit about that. This wood golem never really stuck a cord with me. It was neat and all, but wood? Through flaming oil at it. It was not till I read the Doctor Who story Lungbarrow and their "Drudges" that gave me the idea for something new. I remember reading a story about an old witch that used to always say "If I'd had my druthers, I have my wooden druthers too." The Wooden Druther became my new Wood Golem. Wood Golems have also been promoted, but they will always take a back seat to my Druthers.
Not bad. Half the magazine and all of it quality or really, really fun materials.
In fact, if I had stopped here, 50 some odd pages in (minus ads) I would have considered it money well spent. I suppose it is also no surprise then that I like to include a lot of these same things in my own books; a class, races, alternate classes, monsters, and spells. 1987 was a turning point year for me really.
Charles Olsen is back with an article about NPCs; Henchmen and Hirelings. Five pages of material that looks liek it should work with any version of the game.
Jeff Grub has Dinner With Elminster. The article is a bit silly to be honest but I tend to forget that 1987 was the year of the Forgotten Realms. While everyone else was falling in love with that my years-long game was about to hit its final Act. How long does it take to roleplay a massive war? Two years, give or take.
Let's see what's left here... Some fiction...
Some Sage Advice...
The Gamma World article has some cryptic alliances in Politics Amid the Rubble. Just another reminder to me that I REALLY need to a Gamma World game going again some day.
The Marvel-Phile (actually in this issue!) has Psylocke in her pink outfit. Just as an FYI Oliva Munn, the future movie Psylocke is only 6-years old at the publication of this issue.
TSR Previews covers the new and hot items of April and May 1987. Make sure you get your copy of the Lazer TagTM rules. I did!
In May we get the first of GAZ series for Mystara and the Known World, GAZ1 The Grand Duchy of Karameikos.
Lots of Cons advertised and some small ads. Finally, we get Snarf Quest and Wormy.
Little did I know that Trampier and I would be heading to the same town to live more or less around the same time.
Really a great issue.
I see the seeds of ideas here that later germinated in games I played then and later in college and now in the stuff, I put up here.
What are your memories of this issue?
Want to know what I was saying about White Dwarf magazine during the same month? Check out my White Dwarf Wednesday for issue #87.
--
The Green Witch is now out!
Pick up a copy today for Swords & Wizardry.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Review: Adventures Dark & Deep The Darker Paths
Nearing the end of my delve into Adventures Dark and Deep so here are two older products. In fact I picked them up about a two years ago and reviewed them then.
These two classes appeared under the subtitle "Darker Paths" and they are two favorite classes of mine.
Darker Paths 1: The Necromancer
The Necromancer is the first in a set of alternate classes for the Adventures Dark and Deep RPG.
The Necromancer is one of the more popular "alternate classes" developed for any fantasy RPG. Almost always an alternate class and never a core one, the necromancer is the ultimate foe in many games or the ultimate PC in others. But as long as horror and undead are popular in game, then the necromancer is right there with them.
Darker Paths 1: The Necromancer packs a lot of punch in a small book. At only 24 pages, we get a new class, a "new" race and 75 new spells. No small feat really. The material is for the Adventures Dark and Deep game, but it certainly can be used with any retro-clone, near-clone or any other game that emulate AD&D 1st ed or Basic D&D. The art is mixed, but very evocative of the era. Some new pieces and some public domain works (and it looks like the editor did his research too).
If you like Necromancers and play an older edition of the game, whether an honest older edition or a newer clone, then this is a good choice.
Darker Paths 2: The Witch
I am always a bit hesitant to review other peoples work on witch-related classes since I have products of my own out there. I fear of being too critical or too lax, each to out weigh the other. In the end I think I just need to review the product as is. Like DP1: The Necromancer this product is for the "Adventures Dark and Deep" RPG, OR any other near-clone of AD&D. Also like the first Darker Path book this presents the witch as an evil character class; not the Earth loving priestess of old faiths or even the spiritual seeking witches of modern tales. This must be recalled when reading the rest of this book. These witches are more Baba Yaga and not Circe for example. There is the obligatory disclaimer on Contemporary Witches and how this game is not that. (As an aside, as someone that has written these myself this one does seem more of a disclaimer of "don't email me" rather than a "I am not trying to offend", but that could just be me. EDITED: I did get an email clarification on this and the author was very much in the "I am not trying to offend, but these are different things" camp, which is cool by me.)
Witches in this game are all evil and their main ability is Wisdom. Their Charisma must start high, but it degrades as the witch rises in level. Interesting. I am not sure I like that since it seems here that Charisma is used as an "Appearance" proxy and not as a "Force of Personality" one. It would make it hard to make a character like Circe, who was evil, attractive and had a lot of force of personality, as a witch in these rules. That is fine, she would have to be something else, but I do want to point it out.
Witches advance to 13th level; so reminiscent of the druid. She has a nice variety of spells to choose from (more on this) and there are rules for her brewing potions and poisons. Like other witches of folklore, this witch can also have multiple familiars. A nice touch in my mind.
The spells are the real gem of this book. Nearly 50 new spells there are a lot of classics here. There are spells on Candle Magic (and done differently than my own) and nearly every base is covered (curses, storm summoning, afflicting others).
Like with DP1, the art is a mix of new and public domain art, but all of it is appropriate to the feel of the book. In the end this is a very good evil witch class.
One thing that is nice about these classes is they are sub-classes of the Mage and Cleric respectively. So you multi-class them. Well...it's not in the rules per se but you should be able to. Of course I have teh perfect test character for this. My latest acquisition, Light Core Hex!
Hex
CE Female Dark Elf
Witch 5 / Necromancer 5
Abilities
STR: 10
INT: 15
WIS: 18
DEX: 9
CON: 10
CHA: 13
Saving Throws
Paralyzation, Poison, Death: 9
Petrification, Polymorph: 12
Rod, Staff, Wand: 11
Breath Weapon: 15
Spells: 12
Special Abilities (class)
Magic bonus: +6 to magical saves
Spell casting
Create Magic Items
Affect Undead
Bell, Book & Candle
Brew Poison
Call Familiar
Limited to 13th level in Witch
Charisma degradation
Special Abilities (race)
Infravision 120'
Speed 150'
Bonus Spells
Sunlight Vulnerability
HP: 13
AC: 6 (Bracers)
Experience: 38,050 (19,025 each)
Spells
Witch
Blue Flame, Ghostly Hands, Witch's Mark, Blight Field, Fascinate, Magic Broom, Fear, Hand of Glory, Spit Poison
Necromancer
Chattering Skull, Death Mask, Detect Bones, Ectenic Blast, Eyes of the Dead, Animate Dead
Bonus (race)
Faerie Fire, Dancing Lights, Darkness 5' radius, Detect Magic, Know Alignment, Levitation, Clairvoyance, Detect Lie, Suggestion, Dispel Magic
Bonus (wisdom)
Detect Good, Ears of a Bat, Charm Monster, Misfortune, Magic Missile, Sleep
That's a lot of magic!
I have done Skylander's Hex before for other systems:
So +Joseph Bloch, if I ever play Adventures Dark & Deep with you at a convention can I use this character?!
These two classes appeared under the subtitle "Darker Paths" and they are two favorite classes of mine.
Darker Paths 1: The Necromancer
The Necromancer is the first in a set of alternate classes for the Adventures Dark and Deep RPG.
The Necromancer is one of the more popular "alternate classes" developed for any fantasy RPG. Almost always an alternate class and never a core one, the necromancer is the ultimate foe in many games or the ultimate PC in others. But as long as horror and undead are popular in game, then the necromancer is right there with them.
Darker Paths 1: The Necromancer packs a lot of punch in a small book. At only 24 pages, we get a new class, a "new" race and 75 new spells. No small feat really. The material is for the Adventures Dark and Deep game, but it certainly can be used with any retro-clone, near-clone or any other game that emulate AD&D 1st ed or Basic D&D. The art is mixed, but very evocative of the era. Some new pieces and some public domain works (and it looks like the editor did his research too).
If you like Necromancers and play an older edition of the game, whether an honest older edition or a newer clone, then this is a good choice.
Darker Paths 2: The Witch
I am always a bit hesitant to review other peoples work on witch-related classes since I have products of my own out there. I fear of being too critical or too lax, each to out weigh the other. In the end I think I just need to review the product as is. Like DP1: The Necromancer this product is for the "Adventures Dark and Deep" RPG, OR any other near-clone of AD&D. Also like the first Darker Path book this presents the witch as an evil character class; not the Earth loving priestess of old faiths or even the spiritual seeking witches of modern tales. This must be recalled when reading the rest of this book. These witches are more Baba Yaga and not Circe for example. There is the obligatory disclaimer on Contemporary Witches and how this game is not that. (As an aside, as someone that has written these myself this one does seem more of a disclaimer of "don't email me" rather than a "I am not trying to offend", but that could just be me. EDITED: I did get an email clarification on this and the author was very much in the "I am not trying to offend, but these are different things" camp, which is cool by me.)
Witches in this game are all evil and their main ability is Wisdom. Their Charisma must start high, but it degrades as the witch rises in level. Interesting. I am not sure I like that since it seems here that Charisma is used as an "Appearance" proxy and not as a "Force of Personality" one. It would make it hard to make a character like Circe, who was evil, attractive and had a lot of force of personality, as a witch in these rules. That is fine, she would have to be something else, but I do want to point it out.
Witches advance to 13th level; so reminiscent of the druid. She has a nice variety of spells to choose from (more on this) and there are rules for her brewing potions and poisons. Like other witches of folklore, this witch can also have multiple familiars. A nice touch in my mind.
The spells are the real gem of this book. Nearly 50 new spells there are a lot of classics here. There are spells on Candle Magic (and done differently than my own) and nearly every base is covered (curses, storm summoning, afflicting others).
Like with DP1, the art is a mix of new and public domain art, but all of it is appropriate to the feel of the book. In the end this is a very good evil witch class.
One thing that is nice about these classes is they are sub-classes of the Mage and Cleric respectively. So you multi-class them. Well...it's not in the rules per se but you should be able to. Of course I have teh perfect test character for this. My latest acquisition, Light Core Hex!
CE Female Dark Elf
Witch 5 / Necromancer 5
Abilities
STR: 10
INT: 15
WIS: 18
DEX: 9
CON: 10
CHA: 13
Saving Throws
Paralyzation, Poison, Death: 9
Petrification, Polymorph: 12
Rod, Staff, Wand: 11
Breath Weapon: 15
Spells: 12
Special Abilities (class)
Magic bonus: +6 to magical saves
Spell casting
Create Magic Items
Affect Undead
Bell, Book & Candle
Brew Poison
Call Familiar
Limited to 13th level in Witch
Charisma degradation
Special Abilities (race)
Infravision 120'
Speed 150'
Bonus Spells
Sunlight Vulnerability
HP: 13
AC: 6 (Bracers)
Experience: 38,050 (19,025 each)
Spells
Witch
Blue Flame, Ghostly Hands, Witch's Mark, Blight Field, Fascinate, Magic Broom, Fear, Hand of Glory, Spit Poison
Necromancer
Chattering Skull, Death Mask, Detect Bones, Ectenic Blast, Eyes of the Dead, Animate Dead
Bonus (race)
Faerie Fire, Dancing Lights, Darkness 5' radius, Detect Magic, Know Alignment, Levitation, Clairvoyance, Detect Lie, Suggestion, Dispel Magic
Bonus (wisdom)
Detect Good, Ears of a Bat, Charm Monster, Misfortune, Magic Missile, Sleep
That's a lot of magic!
I have done Skylander's Hex before for other systems:
- 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons (witch class)
- Pathfinder (witch class)
- Spellcraft & Swordplay (warlock class)
- Basic Era, The Witch (witch class)
So +Joseph Bloch, if I ever play Adventures Dark & Deep with you at a convention can I use this character?!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Ghosts of Albion and Gen Con
Good News, Bad News.
Let's do the bad first.
There will not be any copies of the Ghosts of Albion core rulebook at Gen Con afterall.
To say I am disapointed is putting it rather mildly. I am going to withhold my frustration about this, well, because I should.
I wish there was more to say on that, but there isn't.
Ok. Lets do the good news now.
I would LOVE to run another pickup game of Ghosts of Albion: Obession or even Blight if anyone wants to join me. I am not sure what my bandwidth is going to be like, but I really would like to do this.
So. If you are going to Gen Con and want to play and didn't get into the scheduled times, please email me at timothy.brannan@gmail.com and put "Ghosts" in your subject. If I get enough people I'll run it.
Frankly. I am not sure I will be running Ghosts at Gen Con after this. So this might be your last chance.
Let's do the bad first.
There will not be any copies of the Ghosts of Albion core rulebook at Gen Con afterall.
To say I am disapointed is putting it rather mildly. I am going to withhold my frustration about this, well, because I should.
I wish there was more to say on that, but there isn't.
Ok. Lets do the good news now.
I would LOVE to run another pickup game of Ghosts of Albion: Obession or even Blight if anyone wants to join me. I am not sure what my bandwidth is going to be like, but I really would like to do this.
So. If you are going to Gen Con and want to play and didn't get into the scheduled times, please email me at timothy.brannan@gmail.com and put "Ghosts" in your subject. If I get enough people I'll run it.
Frankly. I am not sure I will be running Ghosts at Gen Con after this. So this might be your last chance.
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Larina Nichols for Amazing Adventures
I have some projects going on right now that I am trying to get organized for my big Christmas break this year. I am planning on burying myself in writing. So I am finding bits of text here, and some ideas there, and I have not even gone through my bookmarks* yet.
(*I scribble ideas on bookmarks while I read. Habit from my undergrad days.)
A couple came to me more or less at the same time. The first was more details on what I am doing with the various incarnations of my iconic witch Larina. The other was some notes about an Amazing Adventures street-level supers game I keep batting around in my notes. Since the new printing of Amazing Adventures (well, new printing and reorganized material) is now up on Indiegogo I thought, let's clean up one stack of notes with a post.
I have always been rather fond of Amazing Adventures. It is a modern version of Castles & Crusades and with the 2nd printing, the rules cleave much closer to the C&C SIEGE Engine rules. My understanding is that this new printing (a bit like a 2.5) is even closer. So close that the three books of Castles & Crusades are called "The Three Sisters" and the new three books for Amazing Adventures are called "The Three Brothers." Three brothers and three sisters? That sounds like my family.
If you like modern games then this is a great time to get into Amazing Adventures. Especially if you are a fan of Castles & Crusades.
One thing that I do with my Larina is to have different versions of her in different games. These are truly different versions of the same character in the multiverse but connected a bit like the Eternal Champion. These are my worlds, I get to do these things. The GREAT thing about Amazing Adventures is that it IS so much like Castles & Crusades I can make moving between a modern world and a fantasy world much easier. If I can do that with her, you can do it with any character.
Also for me, there is this notion of adventures connected by places or people and displaced in time. This would be my trilogy of adventures "All Souls Night," "Blight," and "The Dark Druid" dealing with D&D-like fantasy, Victorian-age Gothic horror, and modern supernatural respectively. Larina, or someone like her, would be there in all three, reincarnated each time to deal with the threat of the Dark Druid.
But before I can do that right, I have to make sure I can move characters, or their other incarnations, to each time. Here is my Drosophila melanogaster for these experiments.
Race: Human
Strength: 10 (0)
Dexterity: 11 (0)
Constitution: 13 (+1) P
Intelligence: 17 (+2)
Wisdom: 17 (+2) P
Charisma: 18 (+3) P
Hit Points: 79
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
AC: 10
BtH: +4
MEP: 226
Primary Spellcasting Attribute: Charisma
Sanity (SAN): 90 (Max), 75 (Current)
Fate Points: 6
Fate Die: 1d12
Languages: English, Latin, Gaelic, Greek, Russian (native language is English)
Background: Scholar (Librarian)
Skills: Mythology (Celtic, Norse)
Languages: English, Latin, Gaelic, Greek, Russian (native language is English)
Background: Scholar (Librarian)
Skills: Mythology (Celtic, Norse)
Traits: Spellgifted (Enchantments/Charms)
Powers
Familiar: Cotton Ball
Spellcasting
Spells
Cantrips: (9) Arcane Mark, Dancing Lights, Detect Illusion, Detect Magic, Light, Magical Aura, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Stun
First: (5+1) Color Spray, Command, Darkness, Identity, Shield, Sleep
Second: (5+1) Alter Self, Blur, Burning Hands, Hold Person, Pyrotechnics, Scare
Third: (4+1) Aid, Blink, Nondetection, Remove Curse, Tongues
Fourth: (4) Dispel Magic, Emotion, Phantasmal Killer, Seeming
Fifth: (4) Feeblemind, Mass Suggestion, Projection, True Seeing
Sixth: (3) Mislead, Veil, Wind Walk
Seventh: (3) Prismatic Spray, Teleport without Error, Word of Recall
Eighth: (3) Antipathy, Prismatic Wall
Ninth: (2) Astral Projection
Powers
Familiar: Cotton Ball
Spellcasting
Spells
Cantrips: (9) Arcane Mark, Dancing Lights, Detect Illusion, Detect Magic, Light, Magical Aura, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Stun
First: (5+1) Color Spray, Command, Darkness, Identity, Shield, Sleep
Second: (5+1) Alter Self, Blur, Burning Hands, Hold Person, Pyrotechnics, Scare
Third: (4+1) Aid, Blink, Nondetection, Remove Curse, Tongues
Fourth: (4) Dispel Magic, Emotion, Phantasmal Killer, Seeming
Fifth: (4) Feeblemind, Mass Suggestion, Projection, True Seeing
Sixth: (3) Mislead, Veil, Wind Walk
Seventh: (3) Prismatic Spray, Teleport without Error, Word of Recall
Eighth: (3) Antipathy, Prismatic Wall
Ninth: (2) Astral Projection
That went pretty fast really. Like creating an AD&D 1st Character. In fact, that should really be the main reason to check this game out; how close it is to AD&D.
In truth, that was a LOT of fun to do. Makes me realize how much I miss playing C&C and AD&D too.
So everyone get in on that Indiegogo campaign so others can see just how much fun this game really is.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Once upon there was Irish ways and Irish laws.
One of my WIPs that is very close to my heart is a game of playing mythic Ireland.
Éire (also sometimes called Ériu in my notes) has been in my notes for many, many years and the system has changed based on what I have felt best suited it. Presently, and likely to be the final version, uses the ORCS system seen in Jason Vey's Spellcraft and Swordplay game. I chose that over say straight OD&D or some other clone because I like the feel of the game and it has some DNA in it that I really like.
Well the game has languished in the hell of my hard drive since the dawn of the d20 system. But last night I got inspiration from an unexpected source.
I was working with my son last night on his research paper on Ireland. We talked about the the Blight, the Troubles and even went back a bit to talk about St. Patrick and my personal favorite Finn MacCool. After telling him the story of the Salmon of Knowledge my son (whose name is Liam by the way) looked at me and said "this would make an awesome D&D game."
So I am rereading all my notes. Marveling at some, and wondering what the hell I was thinking with others.
No idea when I'll have it done. But I feel I should get it done soon. If for nothing else for my boys Liam and Connor, so they can learn a bit of their own heritage too.
Éire (also sometimes called Ériu in my notes) has been in my notes for many, many years and the system has changed based on what I have felt best suited it. Presently, and likely to be the final version, uses the ORCS system seen in Jason Vey's Spellcraft and Swordplay game. I chose that over say straight OD&D or some other clone because I like the feel of the game and it has some DNA in it that I really like.
Well the game has languished in the hell of my hard drive since the dawn of the d20 system. But last night I got inspiration from an unexpected source.
I was working with my son last night on his research paper on Ireland. We talked about the the Blight, the Troubles and even went back a bit to talk about St. Patrick and my personal favorite Finn MacCool. After telling him the story of the Salmon of Knowledge my son (whose name is Liam by the way) looked at me and said "this would make an awesome D&D game."
So I am rereading all my notes. Marveling at some, and wondering what the hell I was thinking with others.
No idea when I'll have it done. But I feel I should get it done soon. If for nothing else for my boys Liam and Connor, so they can learn a bit of their own heritage too.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Live, from Gen Con
Well sorta. It's almost 1:00am here.
The day is ending on Gen Con Day 2.
I just finished running a marathon day of Ghosts of Albion: Obsession today.
Both groups were fantastic and I had a lot of fun. Both group also managed to save a few of the NPCs before the demonic janitor did them in.
So my purchases have been non-existent. I stopped by many booths today to say. Talked to George, Derrik and Alex at Eden. The new Hack/Slash game looks like it could be fun. Got to say hi Matt McElroy from DriveThruRPG. Stopped by to see the guys at Cubicle 7. Andrew was in a my afternoon Ghosts game so that was awesome. Nice parity since I was in one his early Victoriana games.
Said hi to Cam Banks at the Margret Weis Game booth. Love to write a new magic system for Cortex, something awesome and cool and something people will want to buy and enjoy playing.
Kurt Wiegel of Game Geeks was in my night Ghosts game. That was a blast.
Tomorrow is costume day and Day 3 of Gen Con; AKA the busiest of the whole con. I have no major plans. I had considered running some Ghosts games, but I am hoping to get some emails back on that.
Need to come up with a new Ghosts of Albion adventure I think. Blight and Obsession were an absolute blast, but I don't think I can talk about Miriam White anymore.
The day is ending on Gen Con Day 2.
I just finished running a marathon day of Ghosts of Albion: Obsession today.
Both groups were fantastic and I had a lot of fun. Both group also managed to save a few of the NPCs before the demonic janitor did them in.
So my purchases have been non-existent. I stopped by many booths today to say. Talked to George, Derrik and Alex at Eden. The new Hack/Slash game looks like it could be fun. Got to say hi Matt McElroy from DriveThruRPG. Stopped by to see the guys at Cubicle 7. Andrew was in a my afternoon Ghosts game so that was awesome. Nice parity since I was in one his early Victoriana games.
Said hi to Cam Banks at the Margret Weis Game booth. Love to write a new magic system for Cortex, something awesome and cool and something people will want to buy and enjoy playing.
Kurt Wiegel of Game Geeks was in my night Ghosts game. That was a blast.
Tomorrow is costume day and Day 3 of Gen Con; AKA the busiest of the whole con. I have no major plans. I had considered running some Ghosts games, but I am hoping to get some emails back on that.
Need to come up with a new Ghosts of Albion adventure I think. Blight and Obsession were an absolute blast, but I don't think I can talk about Miriam White anymore.
Friday, June 20, 2014
Skylla: Adventures Dark & Deep witch
I had planned on doing a Skylla write-up today, but for a different system. But given that +Joseph Bloch is running a sale this weekend, I think it would be better to use his witch.
I reviewed his witch a while back and I enjoyed it even if there are couple things I didn't like about it. But it is still a fun class and I have enjoyed it.
So here is Skylla using The Darker Paths 2: The Witch and the Adventures Dark and Deep RPG.
Skylla
CE Female Human
Witch 7
Abilities
STR: 9
INT: 11
WIS: 15
DEX: 11
CON: 10
CHA: 12* (initial)/5 current
Saving Throws
Paralyzation, Poison, Death: 7
Petrification, Polymorph: 10
Rod, Staff, Wand: 11
Breath Weapon: 13
Spells: 12
+1 to Magical attack saves
Special Abilities (class)
Spell casting
Create Magic Items
Bell, Book & Candle
Brew Poison
Call Familiar (Quasit)
Charisma degradation
Limited to 13th level
Wisdom Bonus Spells (2 1st, 1 2nd)
Secondary Skills
Alchemy
HP: 13
AC: 6 (Bracers)
Spells
1st: Charm Person or Mammal, Detect Magic, Infravision, Protection from Good, Witch Shot, Wither
2nd: Blight Field, Command, Magic Broom, Misfortune, Wizard Lock
3rd: Bestow Curse, Hand of Glory, Magic Missile
4th: Polymorph Self, Sleep
5th: Season of the Witch
Skylla is a good fit for his style of witch i think. I would have to play more to be sure. Limiting her to 13th level might the fit the narrative I have for her. She would later go on to take more mage classes.
I reviewed his witch a while back and I enjoyed it even if there are couple things I didn't like about it. But it is still a fun class and I have enjoyed it.
So here is Skylla using The Darker Paths 2: The Witch and the Adventures Dark and Deep RPG.
CE Female Human
Witch 7
Abilities
STR: 9
INT: 11
WIS: 15
DEX: 11
CON: 10
CHA: 12* (initial)/5 current
Saving Throws
Paralyzation, Poison, Death: 7
Petrification, Polymorph: 10
Rod, Staff, Wand: 11
Breath Weapon: 13
Spells: 12
+1 to Magical attack saves
Special Abilities (class)
Spell casting
Create Magic Items
Bell, Book & Candle
Brew Poison
Call Familiar (Quasit)
Charisma degradation
Limited to 13th level
Wisdom Bonus Spells (2 1st, 1 2nd)
Secondary Skills
Alchemy
HP: 13
AC: 6 (Bracers)
Spells
1st: Charm Person or Mammal, Detect Magic, Infravision, Protection from Good, Witch Shot, Wither
2nd: Blight Field, Command, Magic Broom, Misfortune, Wizard Lock
3rd: Bestow Curse, Hand of Glory, Magic Missile
4th: Polymorph Self, Sleep
5th: Season of the Witch
Skylla is a good fit for his style of witch i think. I would have to play more to be sure. Limiting her to 13th level might the fit the narrative I have for her. She would later go on to take more mage classes.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
GenCon 2009 & Ghosts of Albion, Part 2
I am running three Gen Con events this year for Ghosts of Albion.
This are the official times and places from Gen Con. Registration is closed now, so you can register for these at the con or use the generic tickets.
I will repost this when I have more information
Here are the details.
Ghosts of Albion: Blight
RPG0906270 - 08/13/2009 07:00:00 PM (Thursday) Crowne Plaza, Grand Central Ballroom B, Table 3
RPG0906268 - 08/14/2009 07:00:00 PM (Friday) Crowne Plaza, Grand Central Ballroom B, Table 3
Ireland is dying. Her Protector has been murdered and you are the primary suspects. Can you clear your name, regain your magic and stop whatever necromancies befoul the land? Time is short, yours and one million lives hang in the balance. Set in 1847 this is an adventure for the Ghosts of Albion RPG.
Ghosts of Albion: Obsession
RPG0906269 - 08/15/2009 07:00:00 PM (Saturday) Crowne Plaza, Grand Central Ballroom B, Table 3
There is trouble at the Plough Street Theatre. The Times reports that authorities have found the strangled body of prominent actress and performer, Miriam White. However Miss White has herself commented to The Times that she is in fact alive and well and has been seen not only on stage, but having lunch with her manager just outside the theatre. You are requested by James V. Harold, esq., owner of the Plough Street Theatre to discreetly investigate this matter.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Protectors of Éire for the Ghosts of Albion RPG
Tá an chumhacht agaibh. Cosnaímis mé, a Chosantóirí na hÉireann!
The Protectors of Éire
Like it's neighbor, Albion, Éire (the mystical name for Ireland) has also had her Protectors.
At the time of Swifts (1839 on) the Protector of Éire is Tadgh O’Braohain and he is detailed in the upcoming adventure "Ghosts of Albion: Blight", which can be played this 2010 Gen Con.
Though until then here are some of the more famous Protectors of Ireland's shores.
Fionn Mac Cumhail (Finn Mac Cool)
Protector of Éire
Fionn Mac Cumhail was believed to have lived sometime around the Fifth to Second Century BCE. Fionn lost his father, Cumhail, when he was killed by a rival clan. Muirne, his mother, called her son Fionn which means fair-haired. Knowing that the Clan Morna would seek him out as well she took him to be raised by the wise Ban-drui Bodhmal and her anamchara the warrior woman Liath. They taught Finn to be both a warrior and a druid. He was taught magic, poetry, and the arts of survival.
Fionn learned also from druid Finegas. Finegas captured the Salmon of Knowledge and Fionn cooked it. He burned his thumb on the fish and sucked on it, giving him the gift of wisdom. When Fionn wanted to gain insight to a problem he would put his thumb into his mouth, behind his molars and contemplate.
Fionn later went on to become captain of the Finana, an army of men loyal to the High King Fiachadh (fee-a-kuh). Fionn implemented a code of honor among them, changing the Fianna from an unruly band to a group of champions of the people. The Fianna became models of chivalry and justice. Some claim that the tales of the Fianna formed the basis of the legends of the Knights of the Round Table.
Fionn is also the ancient Protector of Éire, the mystical name of Ireland. Fionn was the father of the Irish hero Oisín, by the goddess Sadb. Fionn battled many mundane and supernatural foes including a Scottish giant and his greatest enemy of all, the Dark Druid. Details of his death are sketchy and many contradict each other. Some say he is not dead at all but merely waits for Ireland to need him. When Éire is in its greatest need he will return.
Special Notes: Fionn generally avoids overt magical use. He knows some spells (as needed by the Director) and performs them when he must through the use of poem or song, though he is not as powerful in this respect as his son Oisín, considered to be one of Ireland’s greatest Occult Poets. Fionn prefers to use his magic in a more passive role, for healing or discovery. This however does not make him a pacifist, far from it, Fionn enjoys to defeat his enemies in combat either by weapon or hand to hand.
As a protector Fionn is allowed to use Magical Flourishes and may use any Magical Defence maneuver.
Name: Fionn Mac Cumhail
Protector of Éire
Character Type: Hero
Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 4, Constitution 5, Intelligence 3, Perception 3, Willpower 4
Ability Scores: Muscle 14, Combat 17, Brains 12
Life Points: 64
Drama Points: 5
Qualities: Attractiveness +1, Fast Reaction Time, Hard to Kill 6, Honorable (Rigid), Magic 6, Nerves of Steel, Occult Poet, Protector of Éire (Ireland)
Drawbacks: Adversary (Dark Druid and others) 5, Archaic (in 20th Century)
Skills: Use Brains Score for Occultism and Wild Card (Herbal Remedies)
Maneuvers
Name Score Damage Notes
Dodge 17 Defense action
Grapple 19 Resisted by Dodge
Kick 16 14 Bash
Punch 17 13 Bash
Big Sword 17 29 Stab/slash; two-handed
Notes: Fionn appeared in the first published Buffy RPG Adventure, the Dark Druid. He has been updated to the Ghosts of Albion RPG here.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fionn_mac_Cumhaill
Cú Chulainn
Hero of the Ulster Cycle (The Red Branch, The Cattle Raid of Cooley), the Hound of Chulainn
Protector of Éire, Manx and Alba
Known as in his early childhood as Sétanta, the boy who would be Cú Chulainn was already the fairest and strongest in the land. Even at the age of seven Sétanta would enter into battle and invoke his ríastrad to defeat enemies three times his age and twice his size. Tutored by the bard and occult poet Amerigan as well as the druid Cathbad, it was predicted that he would be Ulsters greatest warrior. It was also foretold that his life would be a short one and that its beginning and ending would be marked by the death of a dog.
The first dog was one of the great hounds of the blacksmith Chulainn. Stanta was visiting the smith on the invite of his fosterer King Conchobar MacNessa. Conchobar though forgot to let Chulainn know and he released his guard hounds. Stanta was attacked, but he managed to kill it with a hurley ball. Devestated at the loss of his prized hounds, Chulainn demanded retribution. Sétanta, already honorable beyond his years offered to rear a new hound for him and until such time the hound was ready he himself would be his guard dog. From that point on he was known as Cú Chulainn, the Hound of Chulainn.
Worried that Cú Chulainn will steal their wives and daughters now that he is of marring age, the elders of Ulster decide that he should be sent to train with the fierce warrior woman of Alba, Scáthach, the Shadowy-one. In Alba Cú Chulainn learns not only the skills to become a master warrior, he also impregnates Scáthach, her daughter and Alfie, Scáthach’s mortal enemy and sister. Each bare him a son in due course.
Cú Chulainn returns to Ulster and has many more battles and adventures (and sons).
For more see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%BAchulainn
Cú Chulainn first was called by Éire at age seven to become her Protector. Though mostly associated with Ulster (Northern Ireland) his adventures took him all over. His training by, and his command over, Scáthach earned him the Protector of Alba (Scotland) as well. His defeat of Alfie gained him the Protectorship of Manx.
Like Fionn, Cú Chulainn learned his magic from bards, ovates and druids. He often sings his spells when going into battle. Again, like Fionn, Cú Chulainn prefers to be more physical.
His greatest weapon is the Gáe Bolg, or great spear. The skill to use this devastating weapon is only know to Scáthach. She at first refused to teach it, but was overcome with Cú Chulainns resolve to learn it. He had also by this time impregnated her daughter so she demanded he stay. The Gáe Bolg is a heavy spear that can be used as a melee weapon (min STR 4) or a throwing weapon (min STR 5). What makes this weapon so awful is the spear blade is formed with many barbs so that removing the spear causes even more damage, represented by the number of Success Levels from the attack.
Name: Cú Chulainn
Protector of Éire, Manx and Alba
Character Type: Master
Attributes: Strength 6/9*, Dexterity 4, Constitution 3/6*, Intelligence 4, Perception 3, Willpower 5
Life Points: 64/94
Drama Points: 5
Qualities: Attractiveness +4, Fast Reaction Time, Gáe Sidhe, Hard to Kill 6/8*, Honorable (Rigid), Magic 7, Nerves of Steel, Protector of Éire (Ireland), Manx and Alba (Scotland), Ríastrad*
Drawbacks: Adversary 5, Geas (the death of a dog will end his life, 5), Geas (must accept any dinner invitation offered to him, 5)
Skills: Armed Mayhem 9
Maneuvers
Name Score Damage Notes
Gáe Bolg 13 28/40* Removing spear causes an extra 12+SL points
Damage
(thrown) 12 21/30
Dodge 13 - Defense action
Grapple 15 - Resisted by Dodge
New Quality
Ríastrad
5 Point Quality
Ríastrad, or Warp Spasm, is a type of supernatural attack in which the attack can go into a berserk sort of rage. During a ríastrad the attackers Strength and Constitution are increased by 3 each, with an additional 2 levels of Hard to Kill (with corresponding increase in Life Points). Attractiveness though drops to -3 regardless of what the previous level was. In addition the ríastrad will cause the attacker to attack everyone, friend and foe alike.
To enter ríastrad the attacker must be excited, that is to see blood or an army massing. A failed fear check might be enough to push someone into a ríastrad against their will.
Once in the throws of the ríastrad the attacker’s body twists and bloats. Arms and legs become huge with tendons and veins visible under the skin. Their hair sticks out in chaotic directions, eyes bulge an pop out while their tongues look engorged with blood. The scene is frightful enough that friends and foes alike must make a fear check.
The attacker then my attack, usually running into the direction they were facing and randomly attacking all. Only a difficult Will test can calm the attacker down.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warp_spasm
Gáe Sidhe is detailed in the Ghosts of Albion corebook.
New Drawback
Geas
1-5 point Drawback
A Geas (Gesa) is a magical taboo that has it roots in the Celtic tradition. A cast member must always follow his Geas or a calamity will occur. The nature of this calamity should be up to the Director, but it should never personally be life threatening. Unlike a curse the Geased person can violate the taboo by force of will, but must pay the price.
A Geas of 1 point is something the character is never likely to break or has minor consequences, such as never owning a black cat or violate it to be overcome with a fit of coughing. A 5 point should be something that the cast member cannot avoid, such as always accepting any invitation to dinner offered, or something life threatening.
The player and the director can work out the details of the Geas. How did the cast member become Geased? Is it magical taint? Karmic debt? They must also figure out how the Geas needs to be paid off. The director should not allow the player to buy off the Geas with points, they must actually do something; like lay the bones of a long dead relative to rest, or travel to some distant land and bring back some water from a sacred stream. Or maybe there is a time limit, such as when they reach their 30th birthday.
In the case of C Chulainn he could not avoid his Geas and it did end up killing him in the end. He is offered dinner by his enemy Lugaid who feeds him dog meat. This breaking of his Gesa manifests by removing the power of the Protector from him. He is then defeated in battle by Lugaid.
Brigit of Kildare
Protector of Éire
"A Bhrigid, scar os mo chionn, do bhrat fionn dom anacal."
- Traditional prayer to Brighid
The Goddess Brighid is one of the most beloved by the Celtic people. Every year they celebrated her feast day, Imbolc, to celebrate the return of spring.
Brighid, also known as Brigit, Brigantia, Bridget, or Bride, is the Celtic Goddess of the rivers and rural life. She is also the Goddess of Healing, Midwifery and Wisdom. She was the daughter of the Dagda and one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. She was the wife of Bres of the Fomorians, with whom she had a son, Ruadn (the Red).
Brighid is one of the great Triple Goddesses of the Celtic people, with some saying that there are three Brigits: one sister in charge of poetry and inspiration who invented the Ogham alphabet, one in charge of healing and midwifery, and the third in charge of the hearth fire, smithies and other crafts.
Once the Christians came to Ireland the Goddess Brighid was not forgotten, but her worshippers favored the new Christian God.
Later in the very center of Brighid's worship center, Cill Dara ("Kildare"), a woman of God was born. Her name became Brigid.
Here, as a nun Brigid of Kildare performed miracles, healed and taught. All the things that pagan Brighid had done. When she had done enough in this world she left and was made one of the Patron Saints of Ireland.
Brighid as a Protector
Not all Patron Saint were Protectors and visa versa, but in Ireland there was a great sense of pride and of belonging with the land. This was land of the Goddess and she choose her own Protectors. Like Patrick, Brigid was very much a part of Ireland. It is natural then that Ireland Protector, a land that never fought against the Christian conversion, would choose to exemplars of it's faith to lead it into the next age.
Brighid as the Protector embraces both halves of the heart of Ireland, the Christian and the Pagan.
Name: Brighid of Kildare
Motivation: Protect her worshippers, Christian and Pagan
Creature Type: Protector, Goddess or an Irish Saint, hard to say really
Attributes: Strength 6, Dexterity 9, Constitution 9, Intelligence 6, Perception 8, Willpower 9
Ability Scores: Muscle 18, Combat 18, Brains 22
Life Points: 88
Drama Points: 5
Special Abilities: Aspects (Fire, Healing, Water, Wisdom), Age (Ancient), Immortal(?), Iron Mind, Hard to Kill 6, Magic 9, Regeneration (2 Lifepoints per turn), Supernatural Senses (Empathy, Insight, the Sight)
Maneuvers
Name;Score;Damage;Notes
Dodge;18;;Defense Action
Grapple;21;;Resisted by Dodge
Kick;17;19;Bash
Punch;18;18;Bash
Sword;18;24;Slash/stab
Spell;22;by spell type
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brighid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Brigid
New Quality
Blessed of Brighid
1 Point Quality
Prerequisites: Must have red hair; taken only during character creation (or by special Director permission).
In Ireland is said that those marked by Brighid lead charmed lives. They can usually be spotted by their firey red hair.
The Blessed of Brighid can do one of the following once per day.
1. Aspect of Three. The player may roll three (3) dice (d10) for any one roll made and choose the more favorable of the outcomes.
2. Add 3 to any one roll. The player may add 3 points to any one roll made in a day. The choice can be made after the roll is done.
The Protectors of Éire
Like it's neighbor, Albion, Éire (the mystical name for Ireland) has also had her Protectors.
At the time of Swifts (1839 on) the Protector of Éire is Tadgh O’Braohain and he is detailed in the upcoming adventure "Ghosts of Albion: Blight", which can be played this 2010 Gen Con.
Though until then here are some of the more famous Protectors of Ireland's shores.
Fionn Mac Cumhail (Finn Mac Cool)
Protector of Éire
Fionn learned also from druid Finegas. Finegas captured the Salmon of Knowledge and Fionn cooked it. He burned his thumb on the fish and sucked on it, giving him the gift of wisdom. When Fionn wanted to gain insight to a problem he would put his thumb into his mouth, behind his molars and contemplate.
Fionn later went on to become captain of the Finana, an army of men loyal to the High King Fiachadh (fee-a-kuh). Fionn implemented a code of honor among them, changing the Fianna from an unruly band to a group of champions of the people. The Fianna became models of chivalry and justice. Some claim that the tales of the Fianna formed the basis of the legends of the Knights of the Round Table.
Fionn is also the ancient Protector of Éire, the mystical name of Ireland. Fionn was the father of the Irish hero Oisín, by the goddess Sadb. Fionn battled many mundane and supernatural foes including a Scottish giant and his greatest enemy of all, the Dark Druid. Details of his death are sketchy and many contradict each other. Some say he is not dead at all but merely waits for Ireland to need him. When Éire is in its greatest need he will return.
Special Notes: Fionn generally avoids overt magical use. He knows some spells (as needed by the Director) and performs them when he must through the use of poem or song, though he is not as powerful in this respect as his son Oisín, considered to be one of Ireland’s greatest Occult Poets. Fionn prefers to use his magic in a more passive role, for healing or discovery. This however does not make him a pacifist, far from it, Fionn enjoys to defeat his enemies in combat either by weapon or hand to hand.
As a protector Fionn is allowed to use Magical Flourishes and may use any Magical Defence maneuver.
Name: Fionn Mac Cumhail
Protector of Éire
Character Type: Hero
Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 4, Constitution 5, Intelligence 3, Perception 3, Willpower 4
Ability Scores: Muscle 14, Combat 17, Brains 12
Life Points: 64
Drama Points: 5
Qualities: Attractiveness +1, Fast Reaction Time, Hard to Kill 6, Honorable (Rigid), Magic 6, Nerves of Steel, Occult Poet, Protector of Éire (Ireland)
Drawbacks: Adversary (Dark Druid and others) 5, Archaic (in 20th Century)
Skills: Use Brains Score for Occultism and Wild Card (Herbal Remedies)
Maneuvers
Name Score Damage Notes
Dodge 17 Defense action
Grapple 19 Resisted by Dodge
Kick 16 14 Bash
Punch 17 13 Bash
Big Sword 17 29 Stab/slash; two-handed
Notes: Fionn appeared in the first published Buffy RPG Adventure, the Dark Druid. He has been updated to the Ghosts of Albion RPG here.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fionn_mac_Cumhaill
Cú Chulainn
Protector of Éire, Manx and Alba
Known as in his early childhood as Sétanta, the boy who would be Cú Chulainn was already the fairest and strongest in the land. Even at the age of seven Sétanta would enter into battle and invoke his ríastrad to defeat enemies three times his age and twice his size. Tutored by the bard and occult poet Amerigan as well as the druid Cathbad, it was predicted that he would be Ulsters greatest warrior. It was also foretold that his life would be a short one and that its beginning and ending would be marked by the death of a dog.
The first dog was one of the great hounds of the blacksmith Chulainn. Stanta was visiting the smith on the invite of his fosterer King Conchobar MacNessa. Conchobar though forgot to let Chulainn know and he released his guard hounds. Stanta was attacked, but he managed to kill it with a hurley ball. Devestated at the loss of his prized hounds, Chulainn demanded retribution. Sétanta, already honorable beyond his years offered to rear a new hound for him and until such time the hound was ready he himself would be his guard dog. From that point on he was known as Cú Chulainn, the Hound of Chulainn.
Worried that Cú Chulainn will steal their wives and daughters now that he is of marring age, the elders of Ulster decide that he should be sent to train with the fierce warrior woman of Alba, Scáthach, the Shadowy-one. In Alba Cú Chulainn learns not only the skills to become a master warrior, he also impregnates Scáthach, her daughter and Alfie, Scáthach’s mortal enemy and sister. Each bare him a son in due course.
Cú Chulainn returns to Ulster and has many more battles and adventures (and sons).
For more see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%BAchulainn
Cú Chulainn first was called by Éire at age seven to become her Protector. Though mostly associated with Ulster (Northern Ireland) his adventures took him all over. His training by, and his command over, Scáthach earned him the Protector of Alba (Scotland) as well. His defeat of Alfie gained him the Protectorship of Manx.
Like Fionn, Cú Chulainn learned his magic from bards, ovates and druids. He often sings his spells when going into battle. Again, like Fionn, Cú Chulainn prefers to be more physical.
His greatest weapon is the Gáe Bolg, or great spear. The skill to use this devastating weapon is only know to Scáthach. She at first refused to teach it, but was overcome with Cú Chulainns resolve to learn it. He had also by this time impregnated her daughter so she demanded he stay. The Gáe Bolg is a heavy spear that can be used as a melee weapon (min STR 4) or a throwing weapon (min STR 5). What makes this weapon so awful is the spear blade is formed with many barbs so that removing the spear causes even more damage, represented by the number of Success Levels from the attack.
Name: Cú Chulainn
Protector of Éire, Manx and Alba
Character Type: Master
Attributes: Strength 6/9*, Dexterity 4, Constitution 3/6*, Intelligence 4, Perception 3, Willpower 5
Life Points: 64/94
Drama Points: 5
Qualities: Attractiveness +4, Fast Reaction Time, Gáe Sidhe, Hard to Kill 6/8*, Honorable (Rigid), Magic 7, Nerves of Steel, Protector of Éire (Ireland), Manx and Alba (Scotland), Ríastrad*
Drawbacks: Adversary 5, Geas (the death of a dog will end his life, 5), Geas (must accept any dinner invitation offered to him, 5)
Skills: Armed Mayhem 9
Maneuvers
Name Score Damage Notes
Gáe Bolg 13 28/40* Removing spear causes an extra 12+SL points
Damage
(thrown) 12 21/30
Dodge 13 - Defense action
Grapple 15 - Resisted by Dodge
New Quality
Ríastrad
5 Point Quality
Ríastrad, or Warp Spasm, is a type of supernatural attack in which the attack can go into a berserk sort of rage. During a ríastrad the attackers Strength and Constitution are increased by 3 each, with an additional 2 levels of Hard to Kill (with corresponding increase in Life Points). Attractiveness though drops to -3 regardless of what the previous level was. In addition the ríastrad will cause the attacker to attack everyone, friend and foe alike.
To enter ríastrad the attacker must be excited, that is to see blood or an army massing. A failed fear check might be enough to push someone into a ríastrad against their will.
Once in the throws of the ríastrad the attacker’s body twists and bloats. Arms and legs become huge with tendons and veins visible under the skin. Their hair sticks out in chaotic directions, eyes bulge an pop out while their tongues look engorged with blood. The scene is frightful enough that friends and foes alike must make a fear check.
The attacker then my attack, usually running into the direction they were facing and randomly attacking all. Only a difficult Will test can calm the attacker down.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warp_spasm
Gáe Sidhe is detailed in the Ghosts of Albion corebook.
New Drawback
Geas
1-5 point Drawback
A Geas (Gesa) is a magical taboo that has it roots in the Celtic tradition. A cast member must always follow his Geas or a calamity will occur. The nature of this calamity should be up to the Director, but it should never personally be life threatening. Unlike a curse the Geased person can violate the taboo by force of will, but must pay the price.
A Geas of 1 point is something the character is never likely to break or has minor consequences, such as never owning a black cat or violate it to be overcome with a fit of coughing. A 5 point should be something that the cast member cannot avoid, such as always accepting any invitation to dinner offered, or something life threatening.
The player and the director can work out the details of the Geas. How did the cast member become Geased? Is it magical taint? Karmic debt? They must also figure out how the Geas needs to be paid off. The director should not allow the player to buy off the Geas with points, they must actually do something; like lay the bones of a long dead relative to rest, or travel to some distant land and bring back some water from a sacred stream. Or maybe there is a time limit, such as when they reach their 30th birthday.
In the case of C Chulainn he could not avoid his Geas and it did end up killing him in the end. He is offered dinner by his enemy Lugaid who feeds him dog meat. This breaking of his Gesa manifests by removing the power of the Protector from him. He is then defeated in battle by Lugaid.
Brigit of Kildare
Protector of Éire
- Traditional prayer to Brighid
The Goddess Brighid is one of the most beloved by the Celtic people. Every year they celebrated her feast day, Imbolc, to celebrate the return of spring.
Brighid, also known as Brigit, Brigantia, Bridget, or Bride, is the Celtic Goddess of the rivers and rural life. She is also the Goddess of Healing, Midwifery and Wisdom. She was the daughter of the Dagda and one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. She was the wife of Bres of the Fomorians, with whom she had a son, Ruadn (the Red).
Brighid is one of the great Triple Goddesses of the Celtic people, with some saying that there are three Brigits: one sister in charge of poetry and inspiration who invented the Ogham alphabet, one in charge of healing and midwifery, and the third in charge of the hearth fire, smithies and other crafts.
Once the Christians came to Ireland the Goddess Brighid was not forgotten, but her worshippers favored the new Christian God.
Later in the very center of Brighid's worship center, Cill Dara ("Kildare"), a woman of God was born. Her name became Brigid.
Here, as a nun Brigid of Kildare performed miracles, healed and taught. All the things that pagan Brighid had done. When she had done enough in this world she left and was made one of the Patron Saints of Ireland.
Brighid as a Protector
Not all Patron Saint were Protectors and visa versa, but in Ireland there was a great sense of pride and of belonging with the land. This was land of the Goddess and she choose her own Protectors. Like Patrick, Brigid was very much a part of Ireland. It is natural then that Ireland Protector, a land that never fought against the Christian conversion, would choose to exemplars of it's faith to lead it into the next age.
Brighid as the Protector embraces both halves of the heart of Ireland, the Christian and the Pagan.
Name: Brighid of Kildare
Motivation: Protect her worshippers, Christian and Pagan
Creature Type: Protector, Goddess or an Irish Saint, hard to say really
Attributes: Strength 6, Dexterity 9, Constitution 9, Intelligence 6, Perception 8, Willpower 9
Ability Scores: Muscle 18, Combat 18, Brains 22
Life Points: 88
Drama Points: 5
Special Abilities: Aspects (Fire, Healing, Water, Wisdom), Age (Ancient), Immortal(?), Iron Mind, Hard to Kill 6, Magic 9, Regeneration (2 Lifepoints per turn), Supernatural Senses (Empathy, Insight, the Sight)
Maneuvers
Name;Score;Damage;Notes
Dodge;18;;Defense Action
Grapple;21;;Resisted by Dodge
Kick;17;19;Bash
Punch;18;18;Bash
Sword;18;24;Slash/stab
Spell;22;by spell type
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brighid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Brigid
New Quality
Blessed of Brighid
1 Point Quality
Prerequisites: Must have red hair; taken only during character creation (or by special Director permission).
In Ireland is said that those marked by Brighid lead charmed lives. They can usually be spotted by their firey red hair.
The Blessed of Brighid can do one of the following once per day.
1. Aspect of Three. The player may roll three (3) dice (d10) for any one roll made and choose the more favorable of the outcomes.
2. Add 3 to any one roll. The player may add 3 points to any one roll made in a day. The choice can be made after the roll is done.
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