Star Frontiers

I was cruising a blog (The Lair of the Evil DM) and found a blast from the past. Star Frontiers. This guy has a site with the books remastered so to speak. It totally rocks. Thanks to the evil DM for posting a link to it. It makes me want to run a Star Frontiers game really bad. I might have to run a one shot to get my fix.

The Continent

The continent is an ancient place. A damp place. Raining at least every other day. Wild lands abound. Full of temperate forest with heavy under growth. Opening to fields near villages and towns. Save for the plains in the northwest. It is all forest or mountain. In the northwest in the plains at the foot of the Cragnor Mountains lie the orc clans. To the east lie the ivory cities of the elves. These are the power players in the continent. The elves are masters of magics. This is one of the reasons that the lands the empire occupies are sunnier and warmer. Thanks to their control of the weather. Their town and cities are centered around elven nobles keeps and castles. Built of smooth white marble. The elves as a whole are arrogant, and contemptuous. They are divided in to houses. With one being the house of the emperor ruling the others. Feeling superior to the other races. Other races are not persecuted. (well save for two) But they can never advance to a position of power with in the Empire. The two that are prejudiced against are the orcs who they are at war with. And the Animal people which are slaves. The animal people who were created by powerful magics many centuries ago. They established a breeding stock. To which they have established a breeding program for slaves. Not unlike what other cultures have done with dogs. They use these animal people as servants, laborers, and even some times soldiers. The elves as stated before are at war with the orcs. They look down at them with contempt. As a non-magic using race.

The elves have more than a few dark secrets. Such as their magic automatons. Which are based on trapping the soul (and sometimes the body) of a sentient in the body to the machine. The other big secret the Drow. They were not always the dark skinned nocturnal tribe. They were made that way by a curse placed on their house. Cast out of the elven lands. With little magic ability and suddenly a savage disposition. They live in a dark primeval forest. In this place night falls early. A haunting place it is avoid by those with any sense. Across the land their are escaped animal men slaves that have started a few of their own villages. At least one of them has sided with the orcs.

Now the orcs lacking the ability to use magic have found what they believe to be the equalizer. Technology. They warriors wield sturdily built powerful black power muskets. these muskets end in long, wicked bayonet blades. So after firing they can be used in close quarter battle as a spear. As well as their brutal sword for which they are known. They engage in a war with the elves. Not only to gain a better land. But in what they perceive (and rightly so) as aggression from the elven empire. To this end they recruit mercenaries such as ogres to help in their battles. Another help they have found. Is a few gnomes that work for them in mercenary fashion. They help to build fantastic technology beyond normal orcish craftsmanship. Such as Automatons, clock work armor, and war wagons.

Gnomes are masters of technology. Fine smiths and craftsman. Being the most technologically advanced race on the continent. They live in few walled villages in the west. They are one of the few races to have any contact with the dwarves in the Himnal mountains. Which they trade with for raw materials. They are a magicless race like the orcs.

The dwarves on the other hand their is very little known about. They are a very xenophobic race. Keeping to them selves. They are reputed to be masters of runic and stone magic. They are rumored to have great cities under the mountains. But if any ones been to them. They are not talking about it. Now just below all this is the kingdoms of man. A multitude of feudal states. Of varying rule. Its rumored that the human race is actually a cross breed of elves and orcs. Something that seems to bother the elves to no end. Thought they bear the human kingdoms no ill will. And in fact have recruited some of them for the war. As has the orcs. Magic talent is know among humans but it is rare.

Now to the south of all this in the swamps the lizard folk hordes roam. A nomadic people they are a violent people and to be avoid if it can be helped.

They woods and forest through out the continent are full of dangers. One of which being the vascar halflings. Small hairy carnivorous, and cannibalistic humanoids with sharp teeth. they hunt in packs with an erie intelligence. Above that of the common predator. These and other hidden evils lurk deep within the dark forests. When traveling caution is advised.

Setting Ramblings pt4

Animal people. Like cat people, dog people, and etc. They are slaves created by the elves. Possibly a few independent villages of former slaves.

Hopefully tonight or tomorrow I will be able to start refining and assembling the setting. Now that I have the majority of the ideas laid out.

Setting Rambling pt3

A few more ideas.

Elves and Orcs are at: War, going to be at war, engaging in skirmishes.

Gnomes build clockwork automatons

Secret:

Elven magic automatons have a dark secret. They have the souls and/or bodies of the dead bound to them.

Wandering lizard man barbarian horde

Setting ramblings pt2

Here's some more of my ideas. Like I said I plan on coming back and organizing and refining the concepts later.

Dwarves are very rare. Shunning the surface world. Masters of the hammer and axe. As well as runic and stone magic.

Gnomes live in a few small villages. One of the few races that has any contact with the dwarves. As they trade with them for raw materials. Gnomes are a magic less race. But they are master craftsmen and gizmoteers.

I see wild lands that abound. Temperate forest with heavy under growth. Through these woods the halfing packs would roam.

I see the land as a whole being damp. Raining at least every other day.

The forest area the drow live in is a dark primeval forest. A place where it gets dark at four o'clock in the afternoon. Because of the massive cover provided by the trees.

I see the lands occupied by the elves sunnier and warmer. Thanks to their control of the weather by magic. It see towns centering around elven nobles castles and keeps. Built of smooth white marble.

Trolls assessing tolls at old bridges and fords.

Hidden evil deep in the forests.

The rambling beginnings of a setting

I got to tell you fellas (or ladies) I am doing awesome tonight. I'm enjoying a Bell's Oberon. A semi local ale. Bottled here in mid-Michigan. Good stuff. Enjoying what is one of my new favorite bands on the stereo. Gogol Bordello. A self described Gypsy Punk band. There a fun mix of Romanian Gypsy music, along with elements of punk, and dub/reggae. My description doesn't do them justice. You should go to their Myspace page and listen for your self. Anyways enough of my rambling. Down to brass tacks.
A fellow by the name of Dr. Rotwang! has inspired me to mess with a fantasy game setting that's been rolling around in my head. As he has done something similar on his blog "I Waste The Buddha With My Crossbow". He did a little part every day. I don't have that kind of patience though. So I'm just gonna throw notions out of my head all at once. Then come back and organize and expand on them. So with out further ado....

First a couple of the races. I want halflings. But not normal halflings. I want ones like in Darksun. Hairy, carnivorous, and cannibalistic. With sharp teeth, roving in packs. Not unlike raptors. With the smartest rising to positions of leadership. Possibly favored class being barbarian.
Next elves. I see at least two different versions. High elves that are like the traditional elves. Except maybe more snobby. They depend heavily on magic. With every elf knowing at least a little bit. Then the Drow. But not normal drow. Sure they got the black skin and all that. But they do not dwell under ground. Instead they are nocturnal. Living a tribal existence. Not unlike that of tribes living in the amazon jungle. I have visions of them jumping the trees in the night ambushing victims. I'm not sure if I'd want them to be hostile, territorial or both.
The next race is Orcs. I see them living in a clan style structure. They will have no magic. So they have constructed crude technology to replace it. I see them armed with what I would describe as the AK-47 of black power weapons. Crude yet, sturdily built, and powerful. With a permanent large bayonet knife mounted to it. So it can easily be used as a spear.
Then finally humans. Very few would have any kind of magical talents. Possibly a few would have black power weapons. They would be more refined than that of the orcs. But not as sturdy. And certainly not mass produced like the orcs. Limited to a few well to do adventurers, nobles, or crack military units. I also like the idea that the human race was descended from the mixing of orc and elf blood.
That's all I got for tonight. I'll drop some more stuff on ya tomorrow.

First night of the "Tramp Steamer Pulp Adventure!"

The game started with all the players drinking in a bar by the beach. They were carousing and starting trouble amongst themselves. Their was a lady in the bar as well. One of the passengers that will be traveling from the Philippines to Hong Kong with them. Well she had enough of the crews shenanigans. She asked Tucker the First Mate to walk with her on the beach. Which he did. She sent him back to the bar to get more drinks. As he entered the bar. The group heard her scream. As Tucker and a couple others ran outside they saw her being carried of by Pygmy's. They were about to run after her. When advised not to by a guy from the bar. They talked to the man for a minute. He seemed to be knowledgeable about the pygmy's so they went with him. They got some supplies and took his truck deep into the jungle. They encountered the pygmy's. They then began to track them. They basically lucked into finding the village. At which point were surrounded. The chief challenged their best fighter against his. So the Chief engineer, a big Scotsman, and former boxer stepped up. He quickly dispatched the villages champion. They pygmy's let the woman and group go. They quickly returned to the city. The next morning they left on their voyage to Hong Kong. A couple days into the trip. They spot a man floating on a piece of drift wood not to far off from an island. They bring him aboard. He mumbles a few words about treasure, guardians, and apes. Then he passes out. They find a gem with a gold ring around it. The first mate and the crew thought it would be a good idea to send a landing party to the island. To check for other possible survivors or more treasure. So they are equipped with rifles from the ships gun locker. They then set out for the island. As they start their search on the beach they find a large statue of an ape. They end up bickering amongst them selves for a moment. Till one of them find a path in the jungle. They start down the path after a little ways they are ambushed by gorillas. They fight off the apes.

That's where we ended for the night. So tune in two weeks from now for the thrilling conclusion of "The Treasure of Ape Island!"

Tramp Steamer Pulp Adventure!

Today is the start of my 1930's tramp steamer pulp adventure game. As I stated in a post earlier. All the player characters are members of a ships crew. They will travel from port to port. Seeking fortune, adventure and everything inbetween.

I will post a review of the adventure, after the game tonight or tommorow.

The Sandbaggers / Queen & Country

Well I was over at theRPGsite forums. A poster there was asking for ideas for a setting. I suggested The Sandbaggers or Queen & Country. After that I couldnt get the shows/comics out of my head. Then I had a brain storm (or perhaps a light drizzle). Play a game that each player, plays two characters. One that is the field operative, and one that is the operative in the situation room. I think this combination could be really intersting. One character for the action/adventure half of the mission. While the other manages the political, bureaucratic aspect.

I think a good example ofhow this would work would be. Say the field operatives have been sent to assassinate some one. While in the process of that searching for the target, and setting up. They encounter a target of opportunity. So then the situation room operative. Has to get permission to act. Taking in account national policy, or what another country will think. Or just getting ahold of his boss. Who is golfing with his brother in law. The whole time the field operative has the targets in his sights. And if someone doesnt make a decision quick. They will lose both targets.

While I think this is very experimental. And would require some top notch players. I think it could be very fun.

Odds and Ends

Well I finally got off my lazy butt and put up a collection of links. Theres a bunch of stuff. Some neat places I like to go. Check'em out.

Wild West pt3 / Tramp Steamer Pulp

Well I fear may Old West All Flesh Must Be Eaten campaign will be coming to a close tomorrow. As I told you in the Wild West pt2, the characters have just escaped the saloon. The player who is playing the crazy indian has already said he is going to go around to the front of the saloon. Then start fighting with the townsfolk, the bandits, and the gourd heads. One of the other players said that he would back any move made by the indian. That character will be backed up in any thing that he does. By his brother. That leaves the three last characters. Who may or may not help. Either way I dont expect them to fare to well. In the end the campaign is going to end. Of this I'm sure.

So next week I'm going to start my new campaign. I'm starting a 1930's two-fisted pulp campaign. The players will play, a group of sailors on a tramp steamer. I plan on useing GURPS for the system. I got the idea (read "shamelessly rippedoff") from a thread on theRPGsite. One of the posters that goes by the name "Greentongue". Has created a PDF of the info he has assembled for this kind of game. Its specifically written for Savage worlds but can be used for any thing. Its really a great peice of work.

This is the little teaser, pitch I've put together and e-mailed my players. It has a bunch of pics to but its a pain in the ass to tranfer it all so I'm not. (I'm tired and lazy, sorry deal with it)

Adventure!
A Pulp Campaign of Two Fisted Action!
Whats pulp? Its a world of mystery, intrigue, excitement and action. Its a world filled with lost treasures, exotic lands, villainous masterminds, and unspeakable horrors. This is the sensational world of adventure books, magazines, and radio serials from the 30's. Stories and characters such as The Shadow, The Phantom, Indiana Jones, King Kong and Doc Savage.
Our story will focus on a group of sailors on a tramp steamer. As they ply the seas of the orient and beyond. Seeking wealth, and adventure.

This campaign will feature:
A Maritime Theme
Adventure!
Mystery!
Horror!
Sci-Fi
Spicy Stories!

Cadillacs and Dinosaurs

So I had the day off friday. So I cruised the local game stores. I was digging through a box of old discounted stuff at one and found this. Cadillacs and Dinosaurs. Its based on the Xenozoic Tales comic books by Mark Schultz. It appears to be a fun little game. It was published by GDW. It uses the second edition Twilight 2000 game system. Which is ok. I wont say bad or good, just ok. But the setting and info contained are great. It could be great fun. As is, or converted to your favorite system. Either way, I figure since I only paid four bucks for it. I win! Yeah me!

Lebowski Fest

I have found the coolest gathering in the world. Lebowski Fest. Bowling, white russains, everything Lebowski. Go to the site. Better yet go to Lebowski fest. Thank me later.