Month: July 2016

So I gave it a try a month ago, and I want to say Blades runs fine if you start playing from the beginning and do…

So I gave it a try a month ago, and I want to say Blades runs fine if you start playing from the beginning and do…

So I gave it a try a month ago, and I want to say Blades runs fine if you start playing from the beginning and do character creation in flashbacks. I do want to give some advice that I’d give someone else (and myself) if they wanted to do this again.

There are a few things you do want to pick before you start, and I’d say they’re probably things like having your players grab a particular playbook, picking a name, picking their friends and rivals, and probably picking their individual faction statuses. The rest seems to be fine to flashback to, but I’d put the character creation page on the table so they know what extra stuff they’re entitled to and can fill in as it’s convenient to them in play.

And before anyone brings it up, YES, I let them pick special abilities and action dot assignments before a roll. Everyone’s OP in session 1, anyway; I also do it so the player knows what kind of vibe the crew is going for before making a choice.

But yeah it’s a pretty good technique for faster startup time. 😛 Hope it’s good for you if you use it!

Scoundrel of the Week ~ Poundinch ~ Courtesy of David Cornish.

Scoundrel of the Week ~ Poundinch ~ Courtesy of David Cornish.

Scoundrel of the Week ~ Poundinch ~ Courtesy of David Cornish.

“The hefty shadow came closer and clarified itself as an unsavoury-looking fellow, tall and thickly built, with broad, round shoulders and matted eyebrows knotting over a darting, conspiratorial squint. His clothes were shabby, though they looked as if they had been of good quality. His dark blue frock coat, probably proofed, with overly wide sleeves, was edged with even darker blue silk and lined with buff. This garment came down to his knees and covered everything but a pair of hard- worn shin-collar boots.

The man emitted a powerfully foul odour, and altogether a distinctly uneasy feeling.”

~ Monster Blood Tattoo (A Foundling’s Tale)

http://pre10.deviantart.net/515c/th/pre/i/2015/149/a/9/half_continent_scetchbook__poundinch_by_fouracres-d8v8ybn.jpg

#glowinthedark

#glowinthedark

#glowinthedark

The Driver playbook!

It’s been a while since I posted a new playbook. I had jumped over to flesh out the actual rules hacks for a while. In contrast to the Leftover, which can branch out a few different ways with its abilities, the Driver is laser-focused on vehicles.

Need for Speed: When you face a challenge using speed and precise driving, you gain +1 effect level. Pushing yourself only costs 1 stress in these situations.

Witness Me: When you sacrifice your custom ride in order to accomplish something, say why you’re willing to do that. Pay any additional costs set by the GM and describe how you succeed.

Maximum Overdrive: You get +1d when ramming smaller vehicles. If you’re running over pedestrians, your attacks also gain +1 scale.

Fast and Furious: You can make your vehicle do things it shouldn’t be able to do. You are able to find conveniently-placed rubble to ramp off of, half-buried wrecks to get you up on two wheels, make astounding jumps without blowing out your tires, and burst through obstacles that should shred your vehicle.

Tank Girl: You have special armor against collisions and crashes, plus anyone in a vehicle you’re driving (including you) gains +1d to resistance rolls against collision damage.

Beat the Snake: When there’s a question about who acts first, the answer is you (two characters with this ability act simultaneously).

Car Surfer: When you leap between or clamber over moving vehicles you never fall off.

Eleanor: When you name your custom ride, you may choose an additional edge and mitigate one flaw.

Has anyone come anywhere close to dealing with the Emperor in any of their games? If so, how did it go?

Has anyone come anywhere close to dealing with the Emperor in any of their games? If so, how did it go?

Has anyone come anywhere close to dealing with the Emperor in any of their games? If so, how did it go?

So…. Cons & three hour slots.

So…. Cons & three hour slots.

So…. Cons & three hour slots.

I’ve usually run the Quickstart as written: Characters, then crew (Thieves): Usually takes up 30-45 mins. Openly read the starting situation and dive straight into the score: This can take up to an hour or more. I’ve also run it sans crew as John Harper suggests as an alternative, and once used Andrew Shields Gang rules to good effect.

This time I wanna showcase some of the other rules in my little timeframe. So I was thinking to make characters, ask some questions then jump straight into the Bazo Baz charged sitch. Make a plan (egg timer out) – engagement roll – score. Then choose a crew playbook.

Retroactively fill in blanks via flashbacks and vignettes and play through heat, entanglements and rep / coin as normal and award as if they were tier 0. Downtime actions and then award XP.

If time allows, play through another score / downtime as needed.

Thoughts?