[Auld Lang 'Zine] 1001+1 Nights, Issue #36

Issue #36, One Thousand and One Nights and One Night RPG Campaign Design 'zine

Issue no. 36 of of One Thousand and One Nights and One Night Campaign Design 'zine was published in August 2008.

This issue was the third of six about the 27 Lost Bicycles of Gondor for the post-apocalyptic setting Vegas After Midnight and the second adventure. The PCs enter Las Vegas and are hired guards, forced by their employer's spoiled son, to attend a upper crust party and then off to the Night Market!

The game notes were short on this issue, just two supporting PDFs that I made (Night Market and NPCs for Issue #36), and two websites on names (Choosing a Roman Name and Emo Baby Names).

[1938] Personalities: Colonel Sir Leicester Dedlock

Colonel Sir Leicester Dedlock
Overall Commander, Manx Combined Forces

Motivations
Primary: Hearts Ace (Just)
Secondary: Spades Jack (Pompous)

A native Manx, Colonel Sir Leicester Dedlock is the Old Guard. The world has turned upside down and now he must fight against his King as the Barons of old did against King John. Justice and noblesse oblige run through his veins. He has a responsibility to his men, his island, and the Empire as a whole to fight against Fascism and the totalitarianism they want to impose.

That trouble in Germany in the teens caused Leicester a lot of trouble. Now some old chappie of his (very much doubt that he'd remember Dedlock), Irvine Thornsby, is on the other side. Not that Thornsby was a bad officer, he was actually quite good, just a gentleman who's recently fell in with bad company, those BUF rakes. That's easily forgivable as he's not become a total cad. He's promised that no civilians will be hurt, as long as they stay out of it (which is right and proper). But Thornsby's fortified Port St. Mary, though, and that just won't do.

Dedlock may be a pompous ass but he's concerned with civilian casualties and the lives of his men. He's not ready to call for an open assault, instead using the information he's getting from inside the Port to understand troop movements and trench locations. He knows that there are less than 800 BUF legionaires in the town and is more aware of their morale than even Thornsby from his spies.

He knows that the longer this turns out, the more chance the garrison may surrender, as the grumbling about Mosley's policies (and the situation that got the BUF 1st Solway Legion stuck in Port St. Mary in the first place) is doing his work for him. A frontal assault would end with the town completely destroyed and untold loss of life.

He's got a phone line directly to Thornsby's office and talks with his opponent daily. So far, they've agreed to not use snipers and not specifically target officers. BUt Thornsby won't budge out of the town, either to attack or to retreat back to the mainland. It's a point of personal honor or some such, which is understandable, given his circumstances.

[Auld Lang 'Zine] 1001+1 Nights, Issue #35

Issue #35, One Thousand and One Nights and One Night RPG Campaign Design 'zine


Issue no. 35 of One Thousand and One Nights and One Night Campaign Design 'zine was published in August 2008.

I continue with the six part 27 Lost Bicycles of Gondor for Vegas After Midnight with the actual first part of the adventure - trapped in a mine field, can the PCs survive long enough to escape? And what about the snake?

Nearly all of the notes still work, including my own PDFs for the adventure (GM Map of the Minefield., PC Map of the Minefield. and NPCs for Issue #35), two wikipedia articles (The Wild Bunch and Strother Martin) and the urban dictionary definition of Neo Maxi Zoom Dweeby.

[1938] Autogyro!

Autogyros are cool (and who doesn't like cool) for pulp style games like 1938! So here's the stats for our very own 1938: A Very British Civil War autogyro (using Clint Black's Savage Crimson Skies rules).

The Cierva C.30 Autogyro was developed by Cierva Autogiro Company from designer Juan de la Cierva. It was licensed to the Avro company (A V Roe & Co Ltd) in the UK in 1934.

Avro built 78 autogyros, 12 of them for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF C.30s were designated Avro 671 Rota Mk1 (and were given serial numbers K4230 to K4239 and K4296 & K4775). The lot was delivered to the RAF at the Army School of Co-operation, Old Sarum, Salisbury by 1935.

About 37 non-military C.30s were registered in the UK during the late 1930s, while the rest of the aircraft built by Avro were sold abroad (many could return for the British Civil War).

Cierva C.30 Autogyro (3 points)
Crew: 2 (pilot, gunner)
Speed: 8 (Average, 2 points)
Toughness: 12 (2) (Poor)
Weaponry: Machinegun (Range: 15/30/60, Damage: 2d8, RoF: 3, Notes: AP2) (Poor)
Hard Points: 0 (Poor)

Glitches (1, -1 point):

• Location Weakness (rotor tripod)- This aircraft has a weak point in a certain location that can have dire effects if hit in combat. The location requires a called shot at –2 to hit, but the GM adds +2 to the roll on the Critical Hit table if a wound is caused.

Upgrades (2, 2 points):

• VTOL (gyrocopter) - stall speed is 0 (see Decreased Stall Speed).
• Improved Engine- This aircraft’s engine is capable of performing in extreme conditions. It negates 2 points of Piloting penalties. This Tune Up can be taken twice for cumulative effects.

[Aftermath!] GURPS Operation Morpheus, Session 6, Cut Scenes

Tuesday Night Sessions - GURPS Aftermath! Operation Morpheus Session 6 (November 11, 2003)

Session Six: "Two Step" (April 5, 2104)

Security Camera Footage (15, March 1998): AInet.AUS goes online for the first time. Linked together in a complete internet setting are over 70 Australian AIs located at universities, military reserves, private big business centres and government facilities, including: Sydney University Defense Computer, AMP Building/AMP Centre, Australian Government Centre, CIB Building, Flinders University, Government House, Kingsford Smith/Mascot/Sydney Airport, MacQuarie University, Melbourne University, New South Wales Institute of Technology, Parliament House, Premier's Department Building, Royal Australian Army Base - Holsworthy Army Camp, Royal Australian Army Base - Moore Park Barracks, Royal Australian Army Base - North Head Royal Artillery School, Royal Australian Army Base - Victoria Barracks, Royal Australian Naval Base - Balmoral Naval Depot, Royal Australian Naval Base - Cockatoo Island Naval Dockyard, Royal Australian Naval Base - Fort Denison, Royal Australian Naval Base - Garden Island Naval Dockyard, Royal Australian Naval Base - HMAS Platypus Submarine Hangar, Royal Australian Naval Base - Spectacle Island, Royal Australian Naval Base - South Head Naval Headquarters, Sydney Police Academy, University of New South Wales.

Security Camera Footage (15, March 1999): AInet.AUS goes fully online after one year of special testing. AIs are linked to form a Super AI, the first in world history.

Security Camera Footage (December 2003): SU Defense Computer is moved to new location in SUR building while still operational. SUR defenses prevent entry into University by mobs and Russian invasion troops. Command structure completely is depleted as command civilian and military members die from the plague or are killed in action.

Security Camera Footage (December 2003): Various AIs are destroyed or lose power: AMP Building/AMP Centre (unpowered), Australian Government Centre (destroyed), Flinders University (destroyed), Government House (unpowered), MacQuarie University (destroyed), Melbourne University (destroyed), New South Wales Institute of Technology (unpowered), Parliament House (unpowered), Premier's Department Building (unpowered), Royal Australian Naval Base - Balmoral Naval Depot (destroyed), Royal Australian Naval Base - Fort Denison (unpowered), Royal Australian Naval Base - HMAS Platypus Submarine Hangar (unpowered), University of New South Wales (destroyed).

Security Camera Footage (December 2003 - January 2103): Various AIs maintain power and security during the intervening years: Sydney University Defense Computer (operational), CIB Building (operational), Kingsford Smith/Mascot/Sydney Airport (operational), Royal Australian Army Base - Holsworthy Army Camp (operational), Royal Australian Army Base - Moore Park Barracks (operational), Royal Australian Army Base - North Head Royal Artillery School (operational), Royal Australian Army Base - Victoria Barracks (operational), Royal Australian Naval Base - Cockatoo Island Naval Dockyard (operational), Royal Australian Naval Base - Garden Island Naval Dockyard (operational), Royal Australian Naval Base - Spectacle Island (operational), Royal Australian Naval Base - South Head Naval Headquarters (operational), Sydney Police Academy (operational).

Security Camera Footage (January 2103): Two figures in combat armor enter Anderson Stuart building and go to Operation Morpheus center. With no full shots of their bodies or faces, they open two cryosleep chambers - Dr. Stephanie Shaw and Capt. Adele Droblas. Both are put through the same two week hell that the PCs experience, except that this is much, much harsher. When they are "fully recovered," the two figures in combat armor hand them a stack of papers as well as each a security card - Capt. Droblas a Cobalt/4 Military Key Card and Dr. Shaw an Indigo/2 Civilian Key Card. The top message on the stack of papers, written in the same handwriting as Group B's envelopes, simply says "You will be protected by the University only so long as your new community is a democracy, where the military answers to the civilian government."

Security Camera Footage (November 2103 - January 2104): Two troubleshooting groups, about 30 people in all, are activated. After working for a month or so, several members decide to overthrow the civilian government of the Uni Survivors of Anderson Stuart and convince the others to assist them. Fully armed and armored, they seize key areas of the bunker, and a detachment of five of them approach Capt. Droblas's Office. Three grab the guard outside and two enter with weapons out, calling for her to surrender her armory keys. A computer in the background of her office starts counting down from 30 seconds. Capt. Droblas refuses and warns the mutineers to disarm themselves, otherwise they are dead. They laugh and threaten her some more. She again warns them they are in danger - surrender or die. Again they demand her keys. When she doesn't comply, one tries to approach and all mutineers, at every location in the bunker, are cut down by the security lasers punching through heavy armor - two taps to the head, three to the heart and some continuous beam amputations of arms holding weapons is the most common method of death. Capt. Droblas sighs and mutters "Thanks" to no one in particular. The computer monitor chirps and the message on it says "You will be protected by the University only so long as your community is a democracy, where the military answers to the civilian government." Later, Capt. Droblas gets a rug to cover the laser scores on her office floor.

[Auld Lang 'Zine] 1001+1 Nights, Issue #34

Issue #34, One Thousand and One Nights and One Night RPG Campaign Design 'zine

Issue no. 34 of  One Thousand and One Nights and One Night Campaign Design 'zine was published in July 2008.

This issue started the first part of six for my adventure The 27 Lost Bicycles of Gondor in a setting being developed by Mick Bradley called Vegas After Midnight. You'll notice that it is a direct A-to-B quest, but I was pretty proud of it.

Mick himself emailed me and said "I admire the level of detail and the obvious research you did, and I like that you found some cool locations and ideas that haven't been touched upon much by others. I also think your writing is very good. Nice work on all of it."

The only notes link that didn't work was Mick's original Vegas After Midnight link. The rest of them are just fine: House of the Harping Monkey, Mr. T in Stained Glass, two Fodor's (Fodor's Compass American Guides: Las Vegas and Fodor's Gold Guide Las Vegas 2007.) and then S. John Ross' The Big List of RPG Plots.

[1938] Personalities: Constable John "Jack" Dawkins

John "Jack" Dawkins
Constable, Port St. Mary

Motivations
Primary: Spades 9 (Driven)
Secondary: Hearts 2 (Laconic)

Constable Dawkins just wants to do his job. All this trouble with the King and Mrs. Simpson has nothing to do with him. Crime in Port St. Mary and the criminals doing those crimes are his purview.

He's disturbed by the invasion of the BUF and, while forced to work with them by the simple fact that they've got guns and he doesn't, has not changed the fact that he doesn't trust them and places the majority of them in the same box as a common street thug. But they represent "authority" at this point, and the current authority that is in control of the village.

When push comes to shove, however, his loyalty lies completely with Port St. Mary and the Isle of Man over these fascists from the mainland. Shockingly, he has broken with his normal hard stance against crime when it comes to resistance against the BUF. Several times now, he's covered for villagers' activities against the occupiers, which has shaken his world view.

A door has opened, beyond cops and robbers, that he's hesitant to step through. He may have no choice in the matter, as events over the next couple of months may conspire to push him through.

Currently, he patrols the village with a squad of BUF legionaires, apparently armed only with a police whistle. He noticed from the beginning that the squad are rather lax with their weapons and, just yesterday, to his shame, he "acquired" a pistol and ammunition, which he has hidden on his person. If push comes to shove (or actually fascist against villager), he is prepared to defend his home.


Constable John "Jack" Dawkins (WC)

Agility d8 Smarts d8 Spirit d8 Strength d8 Vigor d8
Parry 5 Toughness 6 Pace 6 Charisma -0-

Edges: Alertness, Investigator
Hindrances: Heroic, Loyal, Vow (uphold the Law)

Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Stealth d8, Notice d8+2, Investigation d8+2, Streetwise d8+2.

Standard equipment:

• Police whistle
• Webley Mk4, Range: 12/24/48, Damage: 2d6-1, RoF: 1, Wt: 4, Notes: AP 1; Revolver.

[Auld Lang 'Zine] 1001+1 Nights, Issue #33

Issue #33, One Thousand and One Nights and One Night RPG Campaign Design 'zineIssue no. 33 of  One Thousand and One Nights and One Night Campaign Design 'zine was published in July 2008.

I explore the TV show 24 and using it's format in a game plus continue with the Chinese tactics (this time Loot a Burning House) and round it out with actual government papers (some declassified) in the Black Vault.

All the links associated with this issue still work: all the 24 ones (1, 2, and 3); The Black Vault; and Claude Frederic Bastiat.

[1938] Personalities: Mayor Noah Claypole

Mayor Noah Claypole
Port St. Mary

Motivations
Primary: Clubs 3 (Backed into a corner)
Secondary: Diamonds 10 (Makes Scrooge look good)

Noah Claypole was elected mayor in Port St. Mary 15 years ago and has held the post ever since. He's not a very good mayor, nor is he very forceful. He blows which ever way the wind blows, which made him an excellent mayor for the rich and powerful in the town. His greed, however, usually made those lapses of strong moral fiber all the better (or at least more profitable).

Over the past decade, he's amassed a nice fortune, mostly in cash bribes but other favors as well. When the BUF invaded his town, it collapsed his years of planning. Realizing that surrender was the only option (at the time), he's scrambled to regain his footing in swiftly shifting sand. The BUF have upset his apple cart and they've got guns! This isn't cricket, that's for sure. His usual smoozing and trading favor for favor don't work with them. And he's realized that he's treading a fine line between collaboration and open rebellion. His constituents are starting to turn away from his obsequious deference to the BUF, while the BUF treat him like a rebellious local.

He's aware of the underground movement in the town but has kept that secret for now. It may play to denounce the plotters to Major Thornsby when his fortunes hit rock bottom, but the cost would be too high. Maybe he can do it while still maintaining an appearance of resistance. Yes, he sweats, as the rock and the hard place move ever closer to each other. Which way will he turn?

[Pencast] Smugglers Cave!

Pencast No. 2, Asshat Paladins Blog brought to you by Livescribe

Pencast no. 2 is my write-up on a smuggler's cave. You can use it in any setting, from fantasy to modern. Currently, I'm using a version in a Savage Worlds fantasy campaign.

Enjoy!

[Auld Lang 'Zine] 1001+1 Nights, Issue #32

Issue #32, One Thousand and One Nights and One Night RPG Campaign Design 'zine

Issue no. 32 of One Thousand and One Nights and One Night Campaign Design 'zine was published in June 2008.

This issue has the actual play notes from my Terrible Old House Call of Cthulhu scenario from Issue no. 26. I also talk a bit about a post-apocalyptic setting called Vegas After Midnight and a brilliant bit of social commentary called the Crackpot Index.

Only one link still works: Crackpot Index.

[Pencast] How to Make a Savage Worlds Character

Pencast No. 1, Asshat Paladins Blog brought to you by Livescribe

 

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a little tech tool called a Pulse Smartpen (by Live Scribe). The Pulse holds 2GB of data and allows you to record audio and writing, as you are writing! The pen comes with a starter notebook filled with special paper, which they call Dot Paper (don't worry, the forums already have people creating their own Dot Paper to print in PDF format, so you don't have to buy any more notebooks if you don't want to).

Writing on the notebook with the Pulse, you can record and play back the info (because it's all time stamped with locations on the Dot Paper). You can also share your output in three formats: audio, PDF or what the company calls a Pencast, a combined audio/animation file.

And, you can share your Pencast with others! That is so cool!
So my very first Pencast is all about how to make a Savage Worlds Character.

I hope you enjoy, 'cause I plan on doing more.

[1938] Order of Battle: Manx Forces

Combined Manx Forces

Colonel Sir Leicester Dedlock

Command Company, 65 men

• 2IC Captain Michael Kedgick

Manx Forces

Ramsey Company, 120 men

• Company HQ, Captain Arthur Gride
• The Cronk Irregulars, Lt. Arthur Duff
• Regaby Militia, Lt.  John Brownlow
• Churchtown and Sulby Volunteers, Lt. Neville Landless
• Point of Ayre Militia, Lt. Francis Scrooge

1st Douglas Company, 273 men

• Company HQ, Captain Luke Honeythunder
• Onchan Irregulars, Lt. Alexander Manette
• Douglas Police Unit, Lt. Clarence Bucket
• 1st Union Mills Platoon, Lt. William Guppy
• 2nd Union Mills Platoon, Lt. Frederick Hortense

2nd Douglas Company, 296 men

• Company HQ, Captain Lawrence Boythorn
• Baldwin and Glen Vine Militia, Lt. Abel Magwitch
• Kirk Michael and Barregarrow Militia, Lt.
• St. Marks Militia, Lt. Mark St. Evremonde
• Newton Platoon, Lt. Timothy Omer

Castletown Company, 151 men

• Company HQ, Captain Jacob Marley
• Castletown Militia, Lt. Richard Payne
• The Peel Boys, Lt. Phillip Pirrip
• Port Erin Police Unit, Lt. Kit Nubbles
• Calf of Man Local Defense Volunteers, Lt. Samuel Slumkey
• Bellabeg Militia, Lt. Horatio Fizkin

Scottish Republican Army

Admiral James Douglas-Buccleah

Admiral James Douglas-Buccleah's Guard, 344 men

• Company HQ, Captain Mitchel Flite
• Lovat's Scouts, Lt. Newman Noggs
• 1st Scots Guards, Lt. George A. George
• Royal Scottish Naval Platoon, Lt. Paul Dombey
• Glasgow University Volunteers, Lt. James Harthouse

Liverpool Free Staters

Lt. Colonel Arthur Havisham

3rd Liverpool Free State Peoples Army, 216 men

• Company HQ, Captain Walter Gay
• Forthlin Road Militia, Lt. Charlie Hexam
• Lime Street Red Militia, Lt. Edwin Leeford
• Church Ward Militia, Lt. Caddy Jellyby
• Knotty Ash People's Volunteer Militia, Lt. Joseph Quinion

[Aftermath!] GURPS Operation Morpheus, Session 5, Part 2

Session Five: Part 2: "Somebody's Crying" (April 5, 2104)

Important PCs: James (S), Bill (X), Bob (E), Alexis (C).

Important NPCs: Robbie the PolRob, Nasdaq the Robot, Miles Dayton, Rich Johnson, Amanda Hayes, John Ritter, Matt Borselli, PhD Physics, Captain Adele Droblas, RAA Captain and SUR Commander, Lt. Mike Garrison, Uni Militia, Corporal Jones, and various other Uni Survivors.

The next morning, the Group awakens and James notices that Bob has dirty feet and calves. He casually asks if Bob had been sleepwalking again and Bob says that he actually was taken from Anderson Stuart by two MilRobs to the Sydney University Regiment (SUR) Building. That wakes James and the rest of the Group up quickly.

Bob tells his story and leaves nothing out, showing the video disks to the Group. James asks Alexis why she didn't tell the rest of them about this situation and Alexis says that she believes that her life was in danger. Both Bob and James believe that the *someone* who Alexis was communicating with is not the University Defense Computer (UDC) who 'contacted' Bob. Bob is also convinced that they are being observed through the security cameras - who else would have known about his Reactor training with Andy?

Since Bob has a Gold/1 Military Key Card clearance, Alexis gets Bob to open the high security files about alternate realities/quantum physics/dimensional travel. It turns out that these files are not theoretical in nature but experimental! Amid diagrams of various devices, they find a picture of President George W. Bush shaking hands with President George W. Bush! Alexis brings the files to Matt in Supply. Matt contacts the others in the Science department for assistance, then bothers to ask if these are on the QT. Alexis says just to limit access.

James calls up Miles and Group A to talk to Amanda who was on night watch. Amanda tells them that nothing happened during the night. James talks to Robbie and Nasdaq and both robots state that two Anderson Stuart SecRobs entered the area and departed. They rush to the Security Station and play back the security tapes. On the tapes two unknown robots enter the area and escort/carry the sleeping Bob out, right past Robbie and Nasdaq and synchronized to avoid Amanda on her patrols. The fact that *whoever* arranged this did not doctor the tapes means it was either purposefully left there or it was sloppy work. The Group determines that this was a purposeful action leaving the tape intact.

Since Bob entered SUR and now has a Gold/1 Military Key Card, the Group believes that they can now enter SUR again and so prepare for that. James asks Miles if his Group has anything on their docket today, which Miles responds that nothing that couldn't be put off till later. Bill believing that the Group is leaving soon goes to the garage and gets in the car.

James goes to Captain Droblas's office and talks to Captain Droblas and Lt. Garrison. He explains that he believes that an unknown enemy has control of the Anderson Stuart computer and security cameras/lasers. He demands that the Ethernet link be severed and the security cameras/lasers be disassembled. Captain Droblas takes his suggestions under advisement but responds that the orders to disassemble the cameras/lasers and sever the Ethernet link is up to the Uni Survivors Council - the military is subordinate to the civilian authority.

James exits the Captain's office and calls Bill on the radio, telling him to get down to the Captain's office on the third floor of Anderson Stuart ASAP. He then turns to Corporal Jones beside the Captain's door and tells him that the Captain wants to see him.

Entering the Captain's office again, James draws his pistol on his superior officers and orders Captain Droblas, Lt. Garrison and Corporal Jones to stand down. He states that he is arresting the Captain because he believes the Captain, the SUR commander, has violated two sections of Article 99 (Misbehavior before the Enemy) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

End of Session Five