Locations: The 'Burbs

 The Burbs

The following are cities and towns are designed as backgrounds to your ongoing campaign. 

Location: Rivertown

Theme: Facing Evil

Population: 55,000

People

1. Sheriff Lucas Coal: power hungry, Infernal of some sort, sees himself as an Old West sheriff who is the town and the town is him; signed a contract with Evil that gives him control of the town as long as he fullfils his part of the bargain and Evil tests him at every turn. He sees himself as saving the town from certain doom

2. Samira Amani: young, Persian, develops an accent when angered or overly excited, opposes Sheriff Coal every chance she gets, active in the community

3. Dr. Burgandy

Places

1. Grand River shoreline, forestry, and park

2. Downtown shopping area: antique stores, local artists, restaurants

3. New development community in an old part of town

Things

1. Something in the antique shop

2. Something buried in the old Indian burial mound in the Grand River County Park

3. Contents of Dr. Burgundy’s safe: Sheriff Coal’s contract, millions of dollars, or something more nefarious???

Conflicts

1. Critters that live along the river and in the forestry of the area hunting visitors and occassionally locals, if they have no choice

2. Sheriff Coal versus Samira

3. Sheriff Coal versus the Evil with whom he signed the contract

Location: Lanark

Theme: Death and Rebirth 

Population: 35,000

People

1. The Council: members include a relative of Miss Campbell, a Warlock who desires control of the Campbell farm, and others 

2. Morganne Campbell: leader of the current witch coven in the town

3. Malcolm Booth: Director of the Easter Village, cousin to the director of the local hospital (a sorry, one story affair)

Places

1. Campbell family farm: said to be home to witches in years past, includes where the two rivers come together which is a place of power

2. Highland Marsh Trail: raised boardwalk through an inland marsh, named for the nearby (uphill) Highland Cemetary, along the eastern river and somewhat north of the city

3. Easter Village: retirement community of good quality, along the western river

Things

1. Shambling Mound (Night Companion) in the Highland Marsh

2. The number of deaths in town is equal to the number of births in the hospital, many employees at Easter Village are related to those in the Lanark Hospital

3. New Moon Whirlpool: whirlpool forms where the rivers meet on the new moon

Conflicts

1. Evil warlocks versus good witches

2. Shambling Mound eating visitors to the march

3. Booth is sending old people to die as sacrifices on the Campbell farm

Location: Fogwarren

Theme: Mystery

Population: 62,000

People

1. Mystical Martial Artist

2. Werecreature

3. Monster hunter

Places

1. Dojo

2. Fogwarren Pizza Palace: featured on several food travel shows

3. State Park

Things

1. Blade of Jowangshin is on display at the dogo: it is a blade that will “flame on” if placed in a lit hearth

2. Daedalan Cube (Night Companion)

3. Satanic circle of stones in the state park

Conflicts

1. Werecreature is guarding the Daedalan Cube (in the pizza palace?)

2. Monster hunter is hunting creatures from the state park

3. People randomly die if caught out in the fog

Location: Haven

Themes: Power & Corruption, Man vs. Society, Justice

Population: 120,000

People

1. Head of a gang

2. Street doc

3. Corrupt police officer (psychic gunslinger?)

Places

1. Warehouse

2. Nightclub

3. Casino

Things

1. Film / Video proving something for the players

2. Lucky casino chip

3. Cursed weapon

Conflicts

1. Gang on gang violence (or mobsters on mobsters)

2. Corrupt police doing / allowing bad things to happen

3. Politicians trying to push around innocent people

Location: Beaver City, a quaint upper midwest town

Themes: Survival, Power & Corruption, Hubris

Population: 46,000

People

1. Scientist trying to get away from an evil corporation

2. Spirit Rider 

3. Retired actress

Places

1. Native American reservation

2. Large agricultural university

3. Closed military base

Things

1. Native American statue in the middle of town

2. Locked gate under an old building, but near train tracks; no one knows where it goes and there is no way to find it from inside the old building

3. Toxic waste in the local water

Conflicts

1. Spririt Rider protecting the land from the evil corporation

2. Evil corporation’s control of the town

3. Animals encroaching into human living areas: bears, coyotes, buffalo, etc.

Copyright 2021 Derek Stoelting

Night Shift: Veterans of the Supernatural Wars copyright 2021 Elf Lair Games, LLC and Jason Vey

Bodyguard of Lies

I'm working on a Conspiracy X supplement for Eden Studios Presents. My hope is to have it ready prior to, or during, the return of the X-Files tv series. As of this moment, I have two scenarios in development, an alternate alien invasion setting in development, and a few bobs & bits. I'm tentatively titling it ESP:  Bodyguard of Lies 4.

For the unawares, the Bodyguard of Lies series consists of three books, published for the first edition of the Conspiracy X game line. (there was also a GURPS edition) Each book contained different things.

• BoL 1 has the widest variety of things:  new skills, credentials, traits, resources, an article on alternate weapon ranges, including alien technology with resource points, informational sources, fear and insanity rules, pool and loci manifestations, hazardous materials rules, and finally a mission titled Psi-Wars. The book is 124 pages total and the mission is 77 pages long.
• BoL 2 starts with a short story and then moves on to new player characters, alchemy rules, skill defaults, skill categories, new traits, new trainings, revised skills for weapons skills, and a mission into the bayou named Mokole'. The book is 136 pages total and the mission is 71 pages long.
• BoL 3 contains only two works:  an article on toxins and rules and a ready to run adventure titled Synergy. The book is 160 pages total and the adventure is 96 pages long.

All three are priced at $5.60 a piece on DriveThruRPG.com for Acrobat files of the books. You may be able to find print copies at Noble Knight Games or other retailers of used roleplaying game products.

In my opinion, if you are looking for ready to run scenario that you can use as is or modify for your group, these are good choices. However, Conspiracy X 2.0 roleplayers will need to convert the rules to 2.0 rules. This can easily be done with your own creativity or you can peruse Eden Studios Presents:  Volume One and see how Jason Little did it with his adventure, Tiger Eye. You may have received this book back in 2014 around Halloween when we gave it away for free. If you did not and do not yet own it, it's priced at $7.50 for the Acrobat file on DriveThruRPG.

So, back to BoL 4. If there's anything you'd like to contribute, let me know. I'm looking at an October 31st deadline for writers.

If you are thinking of writing a scenario, here is the general outline you can use. If you need our style guide, let me know and I can email it to you.

·         Chapter One:  Introduction

o   Intro blurb

o   Chapter Summary

o   How to Use

o   Synopsis:  Outlines the background of entire mission in one place for ease of understanding. While Directors should read the entire module before running it, this section provides a basic overview of the goal of the mission and what has gone before.

·         Chapter Two:  Catalyst describes the events that draw the agents into the adventure. Opening scenes and continuing afflictions are detailed. The agents soon realize that ignoring the warning signs gets more dangerous as more time passes.

·         Chapter Three:  Investigation presents all the information characters may uncover through pulling strings, sources, research, and legwork. The information is organized in a series of bulletins about each aspect of the mission, rather than a set pattern of encounters. The Director is expected to determine what particular information is uncovered depending on the particular path and success of the agents’ investigation. Summaries of the groups involved are located in this chapter; providing the Director with background information on their actions and motives should the agents interact with them.

·         Chapter Four:  Conflicts & Obstacles lists a series of possible events and encounters the Director can use at any time or certain prescribed times to impede or aid the agents. These events and encounters do not always relate to the adventure. Others are only loosely tied to the plot. This is the Director’s change to throw in red herrings should the characters be advancing too quickly.

·         Chapter Five:  Climax & Resolution is a combined section since the climax of the adventure generally leads to the resolution. This climactic event is designed to spark the agents toward dramatic resolution of the situation. While the events may differ slightly from group to group, it will typically involve the same basic elements. Resolution also describes the probable results dependent on the agents’ actions and successes.

           Chapter Six:  Supplemental Investigations reveals a series of further adventures that could transform this adventure into a full-fledged campaign. Allowing characters to explore related topics and events, and interweaving plot threads suggested in other books greatly extends the adventure. 

#RPGaDay2015 days 21-31

#RPGaDay2015 days 21-31

Real life conspired against me being able to finish this properly. However, I wanted to see it through, so here are the rest of the days and my choices. 

Day 21 – Favorite RPG Setting:  I really dislike published settings. They all too often disappoint me. I like Conspiracy X, as it blends my flavors of alien invasion into a cohesive whole. I like the old World of Darkness and know how to run it without it becoming monster super heroes (but that is also fun). Night’s Black Agents doesn’t count, nor does AFMBE. Those games don’t have a metaplot.

Day 22 – Perfect Gaming Environment:  My house, when the dogs behave. There are currently no children here to cause distraction.

Day 23 – Perfect Game for You:  Something sandboxy with rules my players like. AFMBE fits this, as does BRP for the most part. I prefer to use my own settings, when possible. For a short term game, Night’s Black Agents is badass. It works as written, but also for Impossible Mission Force games.

Day 24 – Favorite House Rule:  Changing how Fast Reaction Time works in Unisystem. In my house games, it no longer lets a player go first. Instead, it adds 5 to their initiative roll.

Day 25 – Favorite Revolutionary Game Mechanic:  Random Charts or Soak. Probably Soak, even if it is outdated and I don't play in games that use it.

Day 26 – Favorite inspiration for your game:  Kult, but my muse is my wife.

Day 27 – Favorite idea for merging two games into one:  Slayer’s Gauntlet.

Day 28 – Favorite game you no longer play:  Star Wars WEG. I loved the Force out of that game. It had a good run and I don’t know that I could ever re-light that fire to do it justice.

Day 29 – Favorite RPG website / blog:  Outside of my own? Probably Age of Ravens, my Google + “Gamers” feed, or the AFMBE FB group.

Day 30 – Favorite RPG playing celebrity:  My wife. She’s one of the most popular gamers in our area.

Day 31 – Favorite non-RPG thing to come out of RPGing:  The many friends I’ve made over the years and the opportunity it gives me to channel my creative abilities outside of music.

#RPGaDay2015 Days 10-19 catching up and working ahead

The day job is busy and we have much going on with the family, right now. So, I hope you will pardon me as I catch up and work ahead in one post. 

Day 10:  Favorite Publisher

Currently, this is most likely Pelgrane Press. I like the look and feel of their books. They do column layout and design better than most of their competition. I like many of their game lines and can use nearly anything rpg related as source material. They are also more than happy to talk to their fans and are quick to sign books for their fans at conventions. Simon and Cat are good people.

Day 11:  Favorite RPG Writer

This is a hard one for me. If I buy a book, because a specific person wrote the book, it’s because they are a friend of mine. Shane Hensley, Jason L Blair, Jason Vey, Tim Brannon, and Dave Chapman come to mind very quickly. I like their products, but I am also friends with them outside of the rpg space.

If I buy a book, because I like the game line, it’s very rare that a book I purchase is by one single person. Ken Hite and Gareth Hanrahan are a great team up.

Maybe this is a take-away for me:  look into rpg authors and discover them.

Day 12:  Favorite RPG Illustration

Favorite? Not likely. Art, in this form, serves as inspiration. To narrow it down to one image is impossible.

I will side step and give you my favorite artist:  Timothy Bradstreet. I first viewed his work in Vampire:  The Masquerade. His images became icons for the game line. His work in Armageddon is awesome. However, his Punisher MAX image covers are just as iconic as his VtM work. I think the only genre I have yet to use his artwork as inspiration for, is fantasy. I should rectify that someday.

Day 13:  Favorite RPG Podcast

I have fallen out of listening to podcasts. I grew disillusioned with what they were offering. Some gave too much non-rpg content, others added personalities or changed the line, another began covering topics I just don’t care about, and the worst wander down completely unrelated, unnecessary rabbit holes. However, if you are looking for recommendations, you could do worse than start with Podcast at Ground Zero, PLay On Target, or Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff. The latter two have been nominated for awards in the rpg industry.

Day 14:  Favorite RPG Accessory

The Internet.

Nowhere else can I potentially play with friends across the globe, work directly with contributors, bounce ideas off friends to make sure I’m not going down a rabbit hole myself, or address concerns of fans. I can research my next game session, find images that outline the layout and history of a castle to include in my game, run name generators, and find new players for my games.

Dice rollers included, no dice tower needed. Cool battle maps can be found or built. Free scenarios for that new rpg you just purchased are there for downloading and using.

For me, it’s just as much an accessory as the next “tool.”

Day 15:  Longest Campaign Played

This is likely Lowell Francis’ Freakish Band of Adventurers or a Vampire:  The Masquerade game that I ran. Both went 3+ years, playing every other week.

Lowell’s was a game of continent travel, righting rights, releasing gods back into the world, and a game where one (?) character was a full blooded human (mine). There was a rakasta, elves, half-demon, aperkitus, and a wizard who was not all there, even if he did look human – in addition to my character.

The vampire game spanned years in game time. There were three players and an occasional fourth (who didn’t fit in the mix) who fought Nephandi, Sabbat, Inconnu, Angels, Highlanders, and everything else that the Internet could source in the mid- to late 1990s. The game ended with the end of the world and the characters joining different sides to support.

Day 16:  Longest Session Played

It has been decades since I played one that would qualify. There were long nights playing Vampire:  The Masquerade from dusk until dawn and overnights of D&D. None stand out for me this many years later.

Day 17:  Favorite Fantasy RPG

Of a company I work for? Either Dungeons & Zombies or Spellcraft & Swordplay. They have the same author, but it depends on whether I want a ton of zombie options or just zombies.

Of a company I don’t work for? 13^th Age. I don’t run it as is. I drop out the relationships ideas. I find them tedious and intrusive to my game style. What I do like is the mechanics. They use the same skill types as Spellcraft & Sorcery. The combat feels very gamey to me and completely in style of as characters build experience, their abilities increase with more than just feats or another cool thing. Damage increases, options increase, and if you’re looking for a game where you can min-max your heart out, you can likely do it with this one.

Day 18:  Favorite Scifi RPG

Sorry, Dave, it’s not Conspiracy X. Although, Con X is my favorite modern game with a sci-fi bent to it.

My favorite sci-fi game is WEG Star Wars. Of sci-fi game, I ran this one the longest. If you look around the Internet hard enough, you can find a .pdf of material either from the game, or rehashed, to make a new product.

Eclipse Phase is a close 2nd. I think I need to run a campaign or two to see how the fun level compares. 

Traveller, Fading Suns, and Dark Heresy are also worth checking out.

Day 19:  Favorite Supers RPG

The World of Darkness. No, seriously. It is or at least, that’s how most folks I know play it. Which is fine if you are looking to run a game where the setting is more supernatural than superhero.

I think the best rules out there are for Mutants & Masterminds. I haven’t played many supers rpgs:  old DC Comics, old Marvel, Hero, and M&M. M&M is the best for my money. The math works out the best for me and in a game wherein you can potentially play the upper limit of power, you need that. Maybe, one day Beyond Human will fill this roll. For now, it remains vaporware. Don’t worry, I’ll keep bugging George to publish it. J

The superhero game I want is Gotham Central:  players as human cops taking on super villains. Maybe one day I’ll do it and do it right. Mutant City Blues may be the way to go with this one. The game includes a chart of how different powers are related. That builds in another clue structure to the game. It also uses GUMSHOE which is clue driven.

Day 20:  Favorite Horror RPG

I’ll stop right there. This one is going to be special.

Random Charts for AFMBE and other Zombie RPGs

Here are thirteen charts for use with All Tomorrow's Zombies. The charts will also work for Rotworld and World of Darkness Infinite Macabre games that feature science fiction elements.

The charts range from random space ships to random rooms and stuff in those ships to random weapons and rounds of ammunition. Good luck versus the zombies, you're going to need it!

Roll 2D10	Ship Type	Size
2	Glider Landing Craft	0
3	One-Man Shuttlecraft / Launch	0
4	Basic Troop Transport	1
5	Snub Fighter	1
6	Ship's Boat	1
7	Small Transport Shuttle	1
8	Medium Transport Shuttle	2
9	Average Cargo Ship	3
10	Scout Ship	4
11	Large Freighter	5
12	Attack Ship	5
13	Large Cruiser	7
14	Battle Ship	7
15	Battle Cruiser	8
16	Destroyer	8
17	Moving Starbase	9
18	Carrier	9
19	Town-sized mother ship	10
20	Roll on Special Ship Types table	-
Roll 1D10	Special Ship Types	Size Range
1	Deep Space Ark	8-10
2	Prison Hulk	5-10
3	Tanker	3-9
4	Orbital Station	2-4
5	Satellite Station	2-4
6	Luxery Liner	5-9
7	Nobleman's Yacht	2-5
8	Safari Ship	2-5
9	Fighter Base	7-10
10	Research Lab	2-4
Roll 3D10	Room Type Table
3	Airlock
4-5	Escape Pod
6	Storage Room
7	Med Lab
8	Science Lab
9	Main Bridge / Control Room
10	Communications
11	Engine Room
12	Mechanical
13	Electrical
14	Lounge
15-16	Crew Cabins
17	Hypersleep Chambers
18-19	Stateroom/s
20	Passenger Cabin/s
21	Armory
22	Holding Cells
23	Security Office
24	Library
25	Kitchen
26	Cargo Bay
27	Hanger Bay
28	Fuel Bay
29	Weapons Bay
30	Breeding Chamber
Roll 3D10	What's in the room?	Quantity
3-10	Nothing of interest	-
11-12	Zombies	1D4 (2)
13-14	More Zombies	1D10 (5)
15	Even More Zombies	1D10 x 3 (15)
16	Norms, unarmed	1D4 (2)
17	More Norms, unarmed	1D10 (5)
18	Ranged Weapon	See Ranged Weapon table
19	Close Combat Weapon	See Close Combat Weapon table
20	Explosive Weapon	See Explosive Weapon table
21	Body Armor	See Body Armor table
22-24	Gear	See Gear table
25-26	Ammunition for Ranged Weapon	See Ammunition table
27-28	Dead People	1D10 (5)
29	Nothing - blown airlock!	-
30	Dead Zombies	1D4 (2)

Roll 2D10	Ranged Weapons Table	Quantity of Rounds in the Weapon
2-3	Pistol	1D10 (5)
4	Heavy Revolver	1D6 (3)
5	Submachine Gun	4D10 (20)
6	Assault Rifle	3D10 (15)
7-8	Shotgun	1D8 (4)
9	Flechette Gun	1D10 + 5 (10)
10-11	Blaster	5D10 (25)
12	Heavy Blaster	7D10 (35)
13	Disruption Field Gun	1D100 (50)
14	EMF Gun	1D100 (50)
15	Pulse Rifle	4D10 (20)
16	Stun Gun	5D10 (25)
17	Sonic Blaster	5D10 (25)
18	Plasma Claw [d6 x 8 (24) fire / plasma damage]	1 per 2 rounds
19	Rail Gun [D8 x 6 (24), ignores armor]	1D10 (5)
20	Psi-Enhancer (+1 Strength for all pyschic abilities)	1D6 (3) doses
Roll 1D8	Close Combat Weapons Table	Quantity
1	Energy Sword	1
2	Monofilament Flail	1
3	Vibroaxe	1D4 (2)
4	Vibroknife	1D4 (2)
5	Vibrosword	1D4 (2)
6	Make-shift Club	1D4 (2)
7	Make-shift Machete	1D4 (2)
8	Make-shift Knife	1D4 (2)
Roll 1D4	Explosive Weapons Table	Quantity of Devices
1	Flechette Grenade	1D8 (4)
2	Anitmatter Grenade	1D6 (3)
3	Thermal Detonator	1D6 (3)
4	EMP	1D8 (4)
Roll 1D10	Body Armor Table	Quantity
1-2	Inertia Field	1D4 (2)
3-4	Nanoweave Armor	1D6 (3)
5-6	Personal Forcefield	1D4 (2)
7-8	Reflective Body Suit	1D6 (3)
9-10	Kevlar Vest	1D6 (3)
Roll 1D10	Special Rounds Table	Quantity
1	Explosive Bullet	2D10 (10) rounds
2	Flechette Bullet	2D10 (10) rounds
3	Flower Power	1D10 (5) rounds
4	Energy	1D6 (3) magazines
5	Pistol Rounds	1D6 (3) magazines
6	Rifle Rounds	1D6 (3) magazines
7	Shotgun Shells	1D8 (4) shells
8	Armor Piercing (halve Armor, but damage is not modified)	1D6 (3) magazines
9	Hollow-Point Bullets (double armor, but damage is tripled)	1D6 (3) magazines
10	Tracer Bullets (+1 to aiming rolls after the first shot)	1d10 (5) rounds

Roll 1D4	Equipment Chart
1	Clothing
2	Security
3-4	Tools
Roll 1D10	Clothing
1-2	Body Suit
3-4	Spacesuit
5	Biohazard Spacesuit
6	Radiation Suit
7	Gas Mask
8	Goggles, Infrared
9	Goggles, Night-Vision
10	Power Loader Exoskeleton
Roll 1D8	Security
1	Pepper Spray
2	Ranged Weapon
3	Close Combat Weapon
4	Security Key
5	Crown of Thorns
6	Electronic Lockpick
7	Fire Extinguisher
8	Nanogoo
Roll 2D10	Tools
2	Scanner
3	Teleport Anchor
4	Ship Repair Tools
5	Flashlight
6	Geiger Counter
7	Electrician's Equipment
8	Mechanic's Tools
9	Radar, Portable
10	Motion Sensor
11	GPS / Ship's Map
12	Communication Equipment
13	Geiger Counter
14	Nanogel
15	Cutting Torch
16	Multitool
17	Medpack
18	0G Stick
19	Food Processor
20	Water Dispenser

edited 7/22/2015 to update charts