Author: David Johnson

I noticed that the BitD site has a link for “Backer Downloads” with a description, “Downloads for Kickstarter and BackerKit backers (password provided in BackerKit)”.

Does that include people, like me, that pre-ordered the special edition on BackerKit long after the Kickstarter ended? Or does “BackerKit backers” refer to an earlier BackerKit round that included stretch goals and other KS-specific rewards?

I’m finally among the lucky that have aspecial edition in-hand. I love the game and I love the book, but I’m a little disappointed that there’s a streak of gloss along the left side that throws off the matte and glossy finish. The book was wrapped very tightly in a bubble-padded UPS envelope, then placed in a regular box with packing balloons. It looks like bubble-padding rubbed off stone of the matte finish in transit, maybe because it was so tightly wrapped.

It’s not enough of a problem that I want to return it, but maybe whichever company packed it should be told they need a better process for books with this kind of cover.

I just got the BitD PDF when backerkit orders opened, and I’m well into reading it, but I’m starting to plan a oneshot (for friends I’m seeing in 2 weeks), and since other people have been playing this game for months I’d love any advice.

See, I’m visiting some friends in two weeks and I offered to run a game (I’ve been playing for a while but only run a couple games, for other friends). I threw out possibilities and one latched onto Blades when I said it was “basically Dishonoured the ttrpg”. However, one of my favorite things about Blades is the downtime activities and long-term play. I’d love to incorporate those into the oneshot somehow (and these friends are in another state, so it’s not going to turn into a long-term campaign).

My current thought is to premade character sheets, talk about the general feel and setting of Duskvol, then start a score in medias res (basically, skip ahead to where a Risky engagement roll would drop them). Once they’ve learned the basics of the game, go to payoff. Then let them change the stats on their character sheets (and maybe give them a bump up with a few more dots and let them pick a second ability), do downtime actions, and then start planning a larger, “main” heist.

This accomplishes a few things:

1. In the few other games I ran, players had a problem building characters without knowing how the mechanics worked. This was partly because I didn’t explain everything they needed to know, but also because it’s hard to explain everything and have it stick before even playing and slows down getting to the action. This way, they will get a chance to customize their characters after they know how actions and teamwork etc work.

2. Getting them used to the low-planning engagement, flashbacks, and load so they know they don’t have to cover every contingency when they plan the main heist. I can encourage flashbacks (maybe ask them directly how they prepared for specific threats) in the intro score and suggest specific items from their sheets to make sure they use their load.

3. They may have stress or harm before they get to Downtime, and the initial score will give them some coin and rep to spend. Since they won’t be playing long-term they can burn through those for downtime activities in preparation for the main score.

4. The intro score can be a setup for the main score. A blueprint of a compound with a vault full of valuables, or an invitation to a party with lots of high-value marks, or a schedule book that details the movements and security of a high-value assassination target, or maybe even a treasure map that leads to a noble’s mansion with treasure unknowningly sealed in the basement. This just seems inherently more fun than, “one of your contacts gives you a lead on a big score”.

I do have some concerns:

1. With 4 players, should I bring 4 characters or pregen all 7 playbooks? With 4 I can tailor the score more closely to their abilities but 7 will give them more options (ie if I give them a big Vault Door and they don’t have a tinker or lurk to wreck or crack it).

2. How much detail to ask for once we get to the actual character gen, background and vice are obvious (actually, background may be good to ask for at the very beginning while they’re picking playbooks and names), but what about heritage, friends, and rivals? Also, should I let them customize the crew sheet? Maybe I could provide a premade cohort and let them pick an extra ability and two upgrades, or would that be too much complexity for a short game?

3. The score itself. I’m still brainstorming, and I’m halfway through the book, but if anyone has examples of premade scores that would be great. I would like prepare a map of the location of the main score, not for miniature play but just so they can see where they’ve been and where to explore, and possibly to track patrols or security. However, the “running the game” section says clocks should be used instead of room-to-room maps. How much detail is too much detail? My past games have been open-ended mysteries so they got a vague map and had free reign to investigate wherever they wanted, but I’d like this to be a more objective-oriented heist with danger for wasting time or exploring recklessly. And, of course, I would love to include a variety of obstacles for them to overcome rather than just everything being “solvable” by a Lurk that can pick locks and sneak past guards. I’d also love for it to start benign and ramp up the supernatural horror toward the end, having them unexpectedly face-to-face with an angry ghost or even vampire or hull guardians.

I have some other vague thoughts but this post is getting long and I still need to finish the book so I’ll cut them here – does this seem like a good idea? Any other general advice for oneshots or for my concerns above? FWIW my experience in APs has been all of Friends at the Table: Marielda (where I first heard about Blades and got excited to play or run it) and the first week of Rollplay: Blades (I’m planning to watch more as I plan, though it’s harder to find time for youtube recordings than for podcasts I can play on my phone). If anyone knows of a good recording of a oneshot like this, let me know.