Ryan Wright – Blades in the Dark G+ Archives

Since after quite a bit of research and still having no luck finding a solid Star Trek ttrpg I thought maybe it’d…

Since after quite a bit of research and still having no luck finding a solid Star Trek ttrpg I thought maybe it’d be fun to try and hack Baldes into a Star Trek setting. I’m running into a few problems.

Thinking about Playbooks, I’m not sure whether to make the playbooks based off of different species or different crew positions. Crew positions certainly makes the most sense, however different species’ abilities play a huge role throughout the series… actually, I could add that into the xp section, adding a marker like “gain xp if during the session you played into one of your race’s traits” which I think would be rather cool. Great, solved my own problem. Somewhat. Might come back to that.

Having coin doesn’t make any sense if it’s a federation Star Ship for the crew playbook, so I was thinking something along the lines of “commendations” or “respect”. This makes sense to me, as the ship and crew advance, they requisition upgrades not with money, but with respect from Starfleet. As for other crew types, a Cardassian ship would probably trade in blackmail, a Klingon ship in Honor, and a Romulan ship with Intel or secrets. A Ferengini ship would obviously be Latinum but not sure if anyone would want a Ferengi roleplay.

I think entanglements would be a ton of fun in this setting, because these would be the episodes of the series where, for example, the away team returns from the mission only to find the entire crew asleep due to a macrovirus, and have to wrestle their way to sickbay to find a cure.

Another thing I’m worried about is attributes. The entire “Prowess” section is unnecessary in a Star Trek world, with most problems are solved with careful teamwork, diplomacy, and the occasional phaser or fist. But on the whole, actual combat is seen as a last resort. I want this hack to make the focus of play working with the other members of the crew to find solutions to problems in a diplomatic or otherwise nonviolent way. I have no idea what I’d replace any of the attributes with yet, but I know I’ll have a skill for being able to generate techno-babble on the fly. Perhaps a section for skills relating to running the ship, a section of skills relating to interpersonal contact, and a section of skills for scientific knowledge? It’s all workshop right now.

I’m not a game designer, I don’t know how to work programs like indesign or illustrator, actually turning any of this into an actually usable playset is bit beyond my capability alone. Which is why I would love to see if anyone else would be interested in collaborating on this project to me. I’d ideally like to get enough people together to be able to playtest whatever it is we are able to get running, or at the very least sit down a couple times a week to throw around ideas and work on developing useable materials. People with ttrpg hacking experience or game design experience would be much appreciated

GM of early Blades game here, recently lost a few players and looking for anyone interested in joining a game.

GM of early Blades game here, recently lost a few players and looking for anyone interested in joining a game. I’ll fill you in on what’s happened so far, only had a few sessions so not a whole to miss. The gang currently is Shadows, with a Lurk and a Hound, though party composition isn’t really an issue.

We play on Mondays at 6pm Central Standard Time

We’ll try to be as flexible as possible, it can be difficult fitting new players into a running campaign, so feel free to offer suggestions or changes depending on your desires as a player.

The journals of one Lady Kinclaith

Dear Diary,

This day, the 32 of Elisar, may spell the downfall of my family. Roath killed a boy today. Oh Immortal Emperor, were but I a more watchful mother, this may all have been averted, but alas. Who would have thought? A 10 year old child? My own son, no less! Sure, there were signs, why just a week ago one of the house keepers nearly quit after little Roath was found covered in blood after ripping the legs off of one of the baby goats. But a councilor’s son?

The second the bell rang, I knew. I heard a scream from upstairs which I at first assumed was simply boys being boys, however the bell changed all of that. I rushed up, nearly running into one of the maids (I really must learn their names) and found Roath jabbing a poker from the fireplace into the child’s eye. I nearly fainted, and I still might just thinking about it. Dreadful really, there was blood everywhere. How is a mother to react? So I did the only sensible thing I could, and I locked Roath inside the playroom.

I had to do something about the bells. The Spirit Wardens would come soon, then the councilor will find out and my family will be ruined. That, I shall not abide. I know this may come back to haunt me in the future, but I went to the Dimmer Sisters. If anyone could save my Roath and hide us from the bells, it is them.

Curious how large their house seems to be on the inside, when it appears like only a modest home on the outside. Regardless, after some tea and cookies their matriarch assured me all will be well, and sent a delegation of sisters to accompany me home. Upon arriving, the sisters immediately found Roath in the playroom, still… I dare not write any more of his deeds here, lest my deceased husband somehow read this journal. They set about clearing the room, and have since locked the doors. I sit outside now, hoping that whatever it is they do they do it quick.

They are chanting. I believe it to be Hadrathi but I can’t be sure through the walls. Occasionally I can make out a word or two, something about “joining room to far off house” though I may be mistaken. Whatever it is- they’ve stopped, the sisters have opened the door.

One of them hands me a document to sign. Now, normally, I would have one of my business associates read over it first, however these were special circumstances. I signed immediately, my shaking hand barely making it across the page. The Sisters tell me that the matter is settled and from now on, so long as Roath kills within this room, no spirit shall make it to the ghost field and no bells shall ring. They also advise me to find someone to teach him to hurt without killing. Hopefully my darling boy and I will not live to regret this.

It’s morning now, and walking by the playroom I can smell the slightest hint of freshly baked cookies through the door. How odd.

If anyone needs an extra player or wants to start up new group, I would love to join.

If anyone needs an extra player or wants to start up new group, I would love to join. I can also GM if necessary, though I am (relatively) inexperienced.

The Dregs

Ghoul to his friends, Myre Slave to his family, the leader of the dregs grew up a street rat after his Tycherosi parents “died”. The left half of his face is covered in demonic scarring, and his weapon of choice is a beartrap attached to a chain.

Jay. An Iruvian immigrant to Akoros after being exiled due to unlawful scientific experimentation, Jay is working under fellow kinswoman, Professor Riven, who teaches “mechanical soulology” and “the engineering of a more perfect body” to Charter-hall students. A Spider by trade, Jay heres many a secret through University halls and their underworld contacts have proven useful in the past.

Victoria Haig, an orphan if ever you’ve seen one, grew up on the streets and was the longtime childhood rival of Myre. That is, until Victoria joined up with a Leviathan hunter fleet. Now returned, and forever shaken by what they’ve seen, Victoria rejoins Ghoul, this time as an ally, after Jay hears of a potential score.

The Ink Jacks have a problem. As a perfectly legitimate business, the Jacks have taken the new drug den The Crows have established as a personal affront. In an abandoned warehouse just behind one of the Jacks’ printers, The Dregs meet, hoping to catch the unsuspecting drug dealers by surprise. Bursting in through a back entrance after having an incredibly successful engagement, Ghoul brandishes his chain trap while Victoria takes position by the door. Jay of course, is the last to enter behind their gang of thugs.

A brawl breaks out, with the thugs Ashlyn and Carro taking the big hits from the Crows while Arcy Sevoy, the local Crows leader, squares off against Ghoul. Two Crows go down, one to Jay, and one to Victoria. Then, as the brawl starts to turn against the Dregs, Ghoul whips her chain and in a single throw latches the bear trap onto Sevoy’s head, and removes it (mostly, neck muscle can be quite tough). After seeing that, the remaining members flee as the bell rings and The Dregs return to their shack on an abandoned dock. Later, as their Skovlan expert doctor patches up Ghoul, Victoria informs the crew that she will be leaving for a time.

Victoria had been informed, by her weird purveyor Salia, that a new opportunity for the information she seeks has been found. In the epilogue, down a dark alley, Victoria meets with Salia, and out of the shadows steps the imposing Lord Skurlock, with an offer of employment and a wicked smile.

Does anyone know if there is a high-society playset currently in the works?

Does anyone know if there is a high-society playset currently in the works? I didn’t see it on the list but was curious if anyone was working on such a thing. I may just end up keeping the character archetypes, while developing a system for different types of holds may prove to be more challenging for balance purposes.

Currently catching up on all the Bloodletters episodes, just got to episode 25 (where it was just Sean and Stras)…

Currently catching up on all the Bloodletters episodes, just got to episode 25 (where it was just Sean and Stras) and… wow. You guys are awesome. Arcy especially leaps out to me as an incredibly organic character, with a lot more going on under the surface than is shown on the screen. It’s a little frustrating to me that people in chat were getting angry that (SPOILERS) she didn’t outright kill her old rival. For her to struggle with her different wants and desires to me says so much about her character, even if it wasn’t the best move tactically. I think Sean played it out beautifully and this was a marvelous episode to watch/listen to.

Props also to Stras for willing to have their character get legitimately angry at Arcy and really call them out for a decision they disagree with, but still be able to come out of the game and be friends. In groups I’ve run with, the players are often afraid of letting their characters get into arguments because they don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, but it’s important to keep in mind that an argument in character shouldn’t carry over out of game. I’m looking forward to see how the rest of the series turns out, and also dreading the point where I’ll have to wait a month between episodes instead of binging.

Thanks a million,

-Ryan

It was my understanding with the “luxury” vice in Blades that the “downsides” that Zeke’s character Aldo would face…

It was my understanding with the “luxury” vice in Blades that the “downsides” that Zeke’s character Aldo would face if he overindulged would be that patrons of the the higher class would see that he stuck out, and report him or shame him, or maybe even goad him into open conflict. This to me is potentially a HUGE downside to this form of vice because he is calling direct attention to himself and could get thrown in prison or barred from certain establishments, adding heat or exposing aspects of the crew.

From the episodes I’ve watched, it seems like either Zeke is misinterpreting what the “struggle” aspect of a vice entails, in that struggling with a vice ONLY happens when one misses a role, which he never has. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems as though he’s interpreting the “struggle” aspect to tie directly into how he role-plays the vice, which from what I understood from the book, is not the case.

If I’m right, and struggling with a vice does only occur when one overindulges, is this simply not explained well enough to Zeke? Perhaps John doesn’t realize that this is the miscommunication that is going on? Maybe Zeke hasn’t been given enough examples of how the luxury vice could negatively impact him?

I’m probably just overthinking this, but to me it comes across that Zeke has misunderstood exactly what struggling with a vice means, or simply isn’t considering possible downsides to overindulging.