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Jul. 16th, 2009

Midweek Character - DeStephano

So here is the last of The Betty crew members. DeStephano was one character I added later to the mix. A martial character who is AWOL from the Alliance military who also has some experience of the dodgy dealings that the Alliance commits in secret research. This is important for the plot line in my 'Left For Dead' story arc.

DiStephano


DeStephano's Story

“I thought you were dead.”
“Begging your pardon, Sir, but F*CK YOU!”

Vincent DiStephano is the recent convert to the crew of The Betty. He was veteran Alliance soldier on protection detail to ‘Special Military Research’ at secret bases on remote planets.

DiStephano is strong and physically fit and socially privileged. He is familiar with Parliament conspiracies having seen many unfold. When one of these backfired, despite conflicting loyalties he allied with the Betty who was bringing in illicit cargo to the base he was guarding at the time. He owes Elgyn his life as he rescued him when base the destroyed by the Alliance. He fears his past will catch up with him so doesn’t get emotionally attached to anyone.

Words 109

Keywords

Former Alliance Trooper 5M

Smuggler 12

Flaws

Conflicting Loyalties 15M

Fears Past Will Catch Up 5M2

Relationships

Alliance Space Corps [Contacts] 8M

Special Military Research [Adversary] 3M

Alliance Admiralty [Adversary] 15M

Parliament [Adversary] 5M2

Battle Unit [Former Member of] 5M

Former Comrades [Mourns] 5M

The Betty’s Crew [Loyal to] 19

Black Market [Contacts] 13

Underworld [Contacts] 13

Elgyn Rane [Indebted to] 12M

Personality

Brave 5M

Callous 12

Cunning 13

Devil-May-Care 12

Emotionally Detached 20

Hates Alliance 5M

Loyal 5M

Self-Centered 17

Obedient 5M

Resilient 15M

Abilities

Distrusts Researchers/Scientists 5M

Guard Cargo 5M

Handle Illicit Cargo 19

Identify Foe 15M

Knows Parliament Conspiracies 19

Knows Remote Planets 19

Knows Secret Bases 1M

Lookout 5M

Owes Elgyn His Life 10M

Physically Fit 9M

Protection Detail Tactics 5M

Seen Conspiracies Unfold 10M

Scouting 10M

Socially Privileged 20

Strong 8M

Use Newtech Weapons 15M

Veteran 19

Wealth

Standard of Living: Common 13

WEAPONS:- Knife, Newtech Pistol, Spare Ammo.

ITEMS:- Ident Card, Fake Permits, Old Uniform & Insignia.

Jul. 9th, 2009

Midweek Character - Vriess

I haven't posted for a while but I will give you another of The Betty crew from the film Alien: Resurrection.
Vriess is the engineer aboard The Betty. Vriess was disabled from the waist down as a result of shrapnel injuries sustained on the swamp planet Kawlang and was bound to a motorised wheelchair. Despite being handicapped, Vriess still remains a valuable member to the crew of The Betty, such as using his wheelchair to smuggle weapons and stealing parts to maintain the ship.

Vriess

Vriess’ Story

“Wanna check the chair?”

“They never check the chair”

“The Kawlang Manoeuvre, right?”

Vriess is the Betty's chief mechanic. Though his legs are paralysed, he hasn't allowed this infirmity to interfere with his work. Vriess has strong arms with that he climbs and crawls over the hidden parts of the ship. Vriess uses his re-vamped, motorised wheelchair that has hidden weapons and guns concealed within its workings. He is not above using his vulnerability to gain ill-placed sympathy to get his way but he never tricks his crewmates.

Vriess has a murky past from that he still keeps many criminal contacts.

In stressful situations Vriess provides comic relief, something that helps him deal with his unrequited love for his friend Call.

108 words.

 

 

KeyWords

Chief Mechanic 5M

Murky Past 15

 

Flaws

Legs Paralysed 5M2

Never Tricks Crewmates 1M

Unrequited Love for Call 5M

 

Personality

Curious 5M

Cunning 15

Inspired 5M

Meticulous 5M

Patient 5M

Suspicious 15

Tinkerer 5M

 

Relationships

Gang [Former-Member of] 17

Former Comrades [Friends of] 17

The Betty’s Crew [Loyal to] 19

Black Market [Contacts] 15

Underworld [Contacts] 15

Criminal Boss [Contacts] 15

Parts Supplier [Contacts] 5M

Junkyard Owner [Contacts] 5M

Trusted By Elgyn 10M

 

Abilities

Adapt Technology 15M

Climbs 4M

Comic Relief 19

Conceal Weapon 19

Crawls 19

Deals with Stressful Situations 19

Kawlang Manoeuvre 19

Knows Hidden Parts of Ship 5M

Nothing Interferes with Work 15M

Overcome Infirmity 5M

Repair Anything 20M

Strong Arms 5M

Take out Frustration on Objects 15M

Understand Function 5M2

Uses Vulnerability to Gain Ill-placed Sympathy 19

 

Wheelchair

Re-Vamped Motor 19

Weapons concealed in its workings 19

Tough 19

Speedy 5M

 

Wealth

Standard of Living: Common 13

WEAPONS:- Hidden Guns, Hidden Weapons, Knife, Wrench.

ITEMS:- Fake Papers, Assortment of Loot, Assorted Tools, Spare Parts, Overalls, Wheelchair

May. 27th, 2009

Freeform Serenity: Showboat

My good friend Simon has written another Serenity freegame for 32 players that we will run at Tentacles Omega convention that takes place in a castle above the Rhine Valley in Germany this weekend.

I have assisted with the writing, along with Colin, as well as producing of some of the props and items for the game.
Trouble is Simon has just out-classed us all with those masks below that he has made today!

Here is the blurb for the game:
Serenity/Firefly: Showboat!
by Simon Bray, Darran Sims and Colin Driver

In the inky dark of the Black a small transport ship drifts into view alongside a huge cruise ship bound for the Rim.
"Out in the black it's not all broken down boats, Reavers and space dust, hell that's only half of any story. Not all the high and mighty Core dwellers stay at home you know, some come out here into the Rim, looking for adventure and beauty away from the sterility that the Alliance has to offer. All aboard their fine showboats and cruise ships they ride out in the lap of luxury. They bring with them shiny purses full of credits, cases full of fancy medicines and a might of other secrets to. Of course such a pretty little box of goodies comes with a lock or two, all as you need is the right key," said the Captain. He grinned at the beautiful courtesan at his side who returned his smile with a petulant sneer.
"I would expect no less from you, this is my business, not yours," she gracefully snarled as she stormed from the room.
"Then again some boxes are just pure trouble when they are opened, just look at that one of Pandora's. I would say that a ship full of tourists, parliamentary lobbyists, alliance guards and such forth, looks like a mighty box of trouble," said the older man from the doorway clutching his chest; the Doctor stood looking worried as usual at his side.
The Captain just smiled his boyish grin, "You know how much I was hoping you would say that old friend?"
"Are we there yet? I thought you said you could get me there on time," said the passenger from the top of the gantry. "I have very important business, and must not be late. Also I want to discuss a refund, this ship is infested if you ask me."
"Cleanest ship in the Verse!" snapped the Captain defensively "Tell him Doc!"
"We're just *cough!* about to dock *cough!* sir," choked the pilot.
All aboard the luxury cruise ship "Venturer", where the rich, famous and fortunate live like kings in the height of luxury. On this very ship the Alliance is conducting a passionate debate to decide the future of the Verse. But riches and politics attract less wholesome folks like flies around honey.

Play a space rogue, courtesan, politician, special agent or valiant captain in this game of daring exploits, devious politics and deadly secrets. This is a game of good role-playing; newcomers are always welcome but only if they are coming to chew scenery and make this game go with a bang. Costuming a necessity and turning up on the day even more so


Photobucket
Reaver Masks by Simon Bray.

Nice!
Hopefully it will not give too much plot away by showing these!

Apr. 22nd, 2009

Midweek Character - Sabra Hillard

So I have realised that I haven't posted up a HeroQuest character for a while so without further ado I post another female character.
This is Sabra Hillard, pilot of The Betty, from Alien: Resurrection film, written by Joss Whedon.
Though the character had a small part in the film she does play a big role in the game. As pilot she controls the ship but also she is heart of the group. When her character is absent the group does seem to be more aggressive and commit more atrocities [part of the fun of the games is committing atrocities of one sort or another].

She also has a good dose of Badass!

Hillard

 

 

Hillard's Story
"Nobody is left behind. Not even you Johner!”

“No, There’s got to be another way”

Sabra Hillard is the Betty's pilot. A feisty, captivating woman, she is also tender and dignified. Flying is in her blood as she was trained as a commercial pilot before enrolling into the Alliance military, piloting every known class of ship. Hillard knows every operating tactic and procedure and how to circumnavigate them as well as out-manoeuvring and escaping any other flyer.

Hillard served with Elgyn but like him she refused to commit the atrocities ordered by the Admiralty command. She cherishes the freedom that being a freelancer brings almost as much as she loves Elgyn; she shares both the perils and the rewards of their current smuggling lifestyle.

109 words.

 

KeyWords

Former Alliance Pilot 17

Smuggler 15

 

Flaws

Refused to Commit Atrocities 15M

Hates Being Confined 12M

 

Personality

Conceited 1M

Dignified 19

Feisty 5M

Impetuous 17

Loyal 8M

Rash 17

Relaxed 17

Superior 17

 

Relationships

Alliance Pilots [Contacts] 19

Commercial Pilots [Associates] 19

Alliance Admiralty [Adversary] 19

Battle Unit [Former -Member of] 17

Former Comrades [Friends of] 17

The Betty’s Crew [Loyal to] 19

Black Market [Contacts] 15

Underworld [Contacts] 15

Elgyn Rane [Lover ] 20M

 

Abilities

Captivating 19

Cherishes Freedom 19

Circumnavigate Enemy Tactics 1M

Commendable War Service 19

Dirty Fighin’ 12M

Enrolled into Alliance Military 19

Escape Pursuit 5M

Flying is in Her Blood 19

Knows Every Class of Ship 19

Knows Every Operating Tactic 19

Knows Operating Procedures 5M

Know Ship’s Capabilities 5M

Knows Smuggling Lifestyle 19

Out-manoeuvre Other Flyer 19

Persuasive 18M

Pilot Spaceship 15M

Served with Elgyn 15M

Shares the Perils 19

Shares the Rewards 19

Think Quickly 15M

 

Wealth

Standard of Living: Common 13

WEAPONS:- Knife, Pistol, Shotgun, SMG, Spare Ammo..

ITEMS:- Ident Card, Fake Permits, Assortment of loot, Pilots Licence, G-suit


Apr. 3rd, 2009

Midweek Character - Captain Elgyn

So the next Midweek Character is Captain Elgyn. Portrayed by Michael Wincott in the dark and moody Alien: Resurrection film, written by Joss Whedon, he is a larger than life character.
Though he is the leader of the group he is flawed with avoiding endangering the crew as well as his own incompetent manner. Also trying to reign-in the other characters is a job and a half, just keeping Johner away from the weapons locker is a tough!
He is often the first choice for the games as most players prefer him over the other player characters.

Elgyn as seen by the Alliance



 

Elgyn’s Story

“Hey son, I’ll give you my authorisation code. Its E-A-T-M-E.”

“Drink, Elgyn?” “Constantly.”

“Hey, don’t cut thrust till about 600 metres. We’ll give ‘em a little scare.”

Elgyn Rane is the captain of The Betty and has the kind of authority that doesn't need to flaunt itself. Smart, resourceful and charismatic, he is a former Alliance officer who discovered more challenge and profit in the murky world of space smuggling. Elgyn has used his commendable war service with the Alliance Space Corps, his associates in the Alliance Civilian Guard and his contacts with the Alliance Admiralty to gain lucrative jobs.

With his network connections he evades capture but is mistrusted by the criminal underworld of the rim.

It is his loyalty to his crew that stops Elgyn taking on the more dangerous missions.

106 words.

 

KeyWords

Former Alliance Officer 15

Smuggler 17

 

Flaws

Mistrusted by Criminals 12M

Avoid Endangering Crew 12M

 

Personality

Arrogant 15

Brave 1M

Callous 1M

Charismatic 19

Cunning 17

Devil-May-Care 17

Loyality To Crew 5M

Resourceful 19

Self-Centered 17

Self-Confident 15

Smart 19

 

Relationships

Alliance Space Corps [Contacts] 8M

Alliance Civilian Guard [Associates] 3M

Alliance Admiralty [Contacts] 19

Battle Unit [Former Member of] 15

Former Comrades [Friends of] 15

The Betty’s Crew [Loyal to] 19

Black Market [Contacts] 17

Underworld [Contacts] 17

Sabra Hillard [Lover] 12M

 

Abilities

Assess Situation 15M

Authority that doesn't Flaunt 10M

Avoid Endangering Crew 10M

Charismatic 19

Commendable War Service 5M

Conceal Contraband 5M

Dirty Fighin’ 8M

Discover Challenges 19

Evade Capture 19

Exert Authority 20M

Gain Lucrative Jobs 19

Hates Dangerous Missions 15M

Issue Orders 5M

Kind Authority 19

Knows Murky World 9M

Loves Profit 19

Mistrusted by Underworld 19

Network Connections 1M

 

Wealth

Standard of Living: Common 13

WEAPONS:- Knife, Pistol, Shotgun, SMG, Spare Ammo..

ITEMS:- Ident Card, Fake Permits, Assortment of loot, Bill of Ownership of The Betty.

Feb. 4th, 2009

Midweek Character - Azcal Breen

This week’s Midweek character is a NPC from my Serenity/Firefly HeroQuest game ‘Echoes in the Black’.

A bartender of the bar the player characters meet their main patron in he gets the players to part with their guns before entering the premises. He also offers the PCs a quick job for a 1000 credits. Seems too easy but every group of players takes the job even though their main patron told them to have no distractions while on the mission.

Of course it all goes wrong for the players and it seems that Azcal knows more than he is letting on.

Photobucket

 

Azcal Breen’s Story

“The hard part about being a bartender is figuring out who is drunk and who is just stupid”

“Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder”

Azcal Breen is the barkeep of the Palace Saloon and Karaoke Bar in Eavesdown Docks on Persephone. He is very fastidious about having guns in his bar; he has a Newtech Gun Detector protecting the main entrance, yet will allow knives in even selling them at the door! He has a habit of eves dropping on customers’ plots by using clever acoustics built in to the bar.

Azcal is self-delusional leader of the Bounty Hunters Guild even though he is the sole member. He has an armoured spacesuit and he uses limpet mines with dead-man’s switches to trap his quarry.

100 words.


Azcel Breen

 

KeyWords

Barkeep of the Palace Saloon 

Bounty Hunter 

 

Flaws

Eves Dropper 

Self-delusional 

Allows Knives in Bar 

 

Personality

Bad Habits 

Clever 

Fastidious 

 

Relationships

Barkeep to Dock Workers 

Leader of Bounty Hunters Guild 

Sole Member of Bounty Hunters Guild 

 

Abilities

Knows Customers’ Plots 

Knows Eavesdown Docks 

Knows Persephone 

Protects Main Entrance 

Sell Knives 

Trap His Quarry 

Uses Clever Acoustics 

 

Items

Armoured Spacesuit 

Dead-Man’s Switches

Limpet Mines 

Newtech Gun Detector 

Palace Saloon and Karaoke Bar

 

Jan. 21st, 2009

Midweek Character - Annalee Call

This is another of the crew of The Betty from my Firefly game, this time Annalee Call. 
Played by Winona Ryder in the film Alien:Resurrection, she is one of the key characters in the game. Useless in fire-fight though she has other uses as she can [reluctantly] hack into computers. She is the most 'human' of the crew and is often the conscience of The Betty.
Trouble is she is also a little light-fingered as well!  
 


Call

Call’s Story

“Jesus Christ, Johner. What did you put in this shit? Battery acid?”

“Look, I can make it all stop. The pain, this nightmare. That’s all I can offer you”.

Annelee Call is the Betty's mechanic: a tough, resilient character whose bravado belies a

profound inner turmoil. Though young in years and seemingly naïve, Call is a veteran of

the misfortunes of life. Quick and agile she defends herself with her hidden stiletto knife.

Call has a natural affinity with anything mechanical or electrical and can repair almost any

machine though she harbours mistrust for computers and Artificial Intelligence.

As the newest recruit Call has proved her worth on the Betty and is respected by Elgyn.

Her true nature is revealed as generous and humanist -- but she hides a shocking secret.

104 words.

 

KeyWords

Mechanic of The Betty 17

Former Thief 15

 

Personality

Bravado 1M

Cunning 15

Generous 10M

Humanist 15M

Inspired 17

Methodical 15

Naïve 1M

Patient 5M

Perceptive 15

Profound Inner Turmoil 19

Resilient 5M

Tinkerer 17

 

Relationships

Gang [Former-Member of] 17

Former Comrades [Friends of] 17

Gang Boss [Adversary] 10M

The Betty’s Crew [Loyal to] 19

Black Market [Contacts] 15

Underworld [Contacts] 15

Parts Supplier [Contacts] 17

Respected By Elgyn 10M

Proved Worth to Crew 19

 

Abilities

Agile 5M

Bypass Security Measures 15M

Defend Herself 19

Electrical Natural Affinity 7M

Harbours Mistrust for Computers 5M

Hides Shocking Secret [+6/-6] 10M2

Mechanical Natural Affinity 9M

Mistrusts Artificial Intelligence 5M

Newest Recruit 19

Needs to Prove Her Worth 2M

Quick 5M

Repair Almost Any Machine 8M

Reveal True Nature 19

Tough 15M

Seemingly Naïve 15M

Sleight of Hand 5M

Understand Function 5M

Veteran of Misfortunes of Life 1M

Young in Years 19

 

Wealth

Standard of Living: Common 13

WEAPONS:- Hidden Stiletto Knife, Wrench.

ITEMS:- Fake Papers, Assortment of Loot, Assorted Tools, Spare Parts, Dark Clothes/Overalls, Lockpicks.

Dec. 10th, 2008

Midweek Character - Johner

Okay I am hoping to post up a HeroQuest character every week that I have used or plan to use in my games.

I'll start with one of the player characters from my Serenity: HeroQuest games, Johner.
Portrayed in Alien: Resurrection by Ron Perlman, he is one of the more colourful characters of The Betty.


Johner

 

 


Johner’s Story
“My own recipe. Way more dangerous.”
“You hang with us a while, you'll learn I'm not the man with whom to fuck.”

Johner is a mercenary, hired by Elgyn as extra muscle, but has chosen to stay onboard the Betty “ ‘Cause pay’s good and regular”. Johner is thickset, mean and ugly, with vivid scars crisscrossing his ugly baldhead, and has an ugly temper to match.
Johner talks-before-he-thinks, often saying the most inappropriate comments but his coarseness occasionally provides paradoxical humour. He is self-centred and has a schadenfreude streak that boarders on sadistic; he scares and unnerves all that he meets.
Johner is accomplished in battle [his love of big guns and loud bangs is renowned], skilled at bashing-in heads and can brawl in the dirt with the best of ‘um.
109 words.

KeyWords
Crewman of The Betty 1M,
Mercenary Soldier 5M,

 

Personality

Avaricious 5M

Boarderline Sadistic 1M

Callous 5M

Fearless 5M

Mean 1M

Loves Big Guns 19

Loves Loud Bangs 19

Loyal 10

Schadenfreude 5M

Self-Centered 19

Self-Confident 5M

Undisciplined 5M

Ugly Temper 19

 

Relationships

Battle Unit [Former -Member of] 17

Former Comrades [Friends of] 17

The Betty’s Crew [Loyal to] 19

Hired by Elgyn 1M

Renowned Love of Explosions 19

Renowned Love of Guns 19M

Likes Good & Regular Pay 15M

 

Abilities

Accomplished in Battle 19

Bash-in Heads 5M

Brawling 10M

Brawl in the Dirt 19

Chosen to Stay Onboard 19

Coarse [Swear Like a Trooper] 20M

Conceal Weapon 10M

Fight the Best of ‘um 20M

Provides Paradoxical Humour 19

Says Inappropriate Comments 19

Scary 8M

Talks-Before-He-Thinks 19

Thickset 19

Ugly 20

Unnerves All that He Meets 19

Use Weapons [Small Arms, Assault, Heavy] 10M

Vivid Scars Crisscrossing Head 19

Wealth

Standard of Living: Common 13

WEAPONS:- Knife, Pistol, Grenade Launcher, Assault Weapon, SMG, Derringer hidden in a Flask, Spare Ammo.

ITEMS:- Body Armour, Ident Card, Fake Permits, Assortment of loot, Flask of Moonshine.

 

Nov. 22nd, 2008

conventions, Black & White

My game at Dragonmeet 2008

0 Dragonmeet 2008. Kensington Town Hall, London, UK.
Saturday 29th November 2008.
http://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/

He's my game that might run depending on the Seminar timetable:


Betty landing

'Rocks and Hard Places' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Serenity: HeroQuest adventure for 7 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Why do my gorram jobs never go smooth?
So we’re on a scavenger hunt in the biggest scrap yard in the ‘verse.
Gettin’ to the place was slow and troublesome, gettin’ past the guards was a flip and findin’ the needle in the haystack was shiny.
The trouble is we have competition for our prize and our rivals ain’t playing fair.
Also the boss, a particular Crime Lord with his own Skyplex and a very nasty rep, ain’t happy with us either.
To top that there seems to be another bunch of Feds on our tail and we’re stuck - a certain turn of phase come to mind."

Mar. 30th, 2008

Tentacles, cool, Sunglasses

My Games at Tentacles Déjà Vu.

Here are my games that I’ll be running at Tentacles Déjà Vu, Catle Stahleck, Germany on Friday 9th - Monday 12th May 2008.

A centrepiece part of the convention in the form of a multi-player Freeform game as well as three different HeroQuest games – one Gloranthan, one a Firefly plus Alien: Resurrection hybrid and one based on the Sit-Com Dad’s Army  [the HeroQuest games are under the cut].

 

Gloranthan Freeform

This game draws upon one of the oldest stories of the Holy Country and an on going theme of Gloranthan mythos , the Tournamet of Luck and Death. Even before the game RuneQuest, there has always been the Masters of Luck and Death, mooted as a boardgame, It has also been the title of TWO Gloranthan supplements and the official name for the HeroQuest demonstration team.

Now it is back, using Greg Stafford’s original notes as reference as well as a strong hint of <<cough!>> X Factor.

I am really looking forward to running this with Simon and Colin though this is only the second time I have ran a freeform game. Freeforms seem to run very well in Germany. It most be the fact we actually play inside A CASTLE!

 

 

+

 

'The Masters of Luck and Death'

by Simon Bray, Colin Driver and Darran Sims

A Gloranthan Freeform Game.

 

The God-King is dying, his corporeal body falls into decay, but do not fear - instead rejoice!

From across the Holy Country come the greatest heroes of the land, fiery warriors from Caladraland, wise earth-women of Esrolia, stormy and passionate Heortlings, sea-blessed islanders of Pelaskos, the soulless sorcerers of God Forgot and the dark and brooding trolls of the Shadow Plateau. Each comes to take part in the greatest challenge in all Glorantha, a series of contests, trials and quests that stretch across this blessed land. They shall be watched by the God-King's fearsome judges and tested by their gods, friends and enemies alike. The victor will receive ascension to the hero plane - they will be worshipped and loved, whilst their useless flesh shall give the glorious God-King new life. So come one, come all to the Masters of Luck and Death!

 

 

 

 

Feb. 18th, 2008

conventions, Black & White

The East Midlands D&D Meet UP Groups' March Monthly Meet

 Serenity/Firefly:HeroQuest game on Saturday 8th March 2008

As part of The East Midlands Dungeons & Dragons Meetup Group March Monthly Meeting I will be running one of my Serenity:HeroQuest games as detailed below. The meet up starts at 13:00 on Saturday 8th March 2008 at the Brunswick Inn, right next to the Derby Railway Station.
Anyone interested should reply or PM me.

The Brunswick Inn
1 Railway Terrace, Derby, DE1 2RU.


“Money, money, money!”


“I got the Gatling gun!”


Serenity/Firefly:HeroQuest.
The game is based on the series FireFly and the film Serenity by Buffy's Joss Whedon. The crew will be the crew of The Betty from Alien: Resurrection; Joss Whedon's first stab at a misfit crew of smugglers onboard an old, broken-down ship. Each game is a one shot with pre-gen characters. There are seven player characters and the game should last four hours.





+

Saturday 8th March 2008 @ 14:00.
'Dead Reckoning' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Serenity: HeroQuest adventure for 7 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Feh Feh Pi Goh! This job should have been shiny!
Here we are floating in the black about to make a move on the 'verse's easiest mark, a Research & Rescue vessel doing 'science' well away from civilisation. The Guay Tuh Guay Nown patron said it would be like taking candy from a baby.
"Just don't use sensors as you approach," he said, "use dead reckoning to get in close."
Not only have we just seen what they are actually doing the 'science' on but we have just learnt who the Lao Buhn is who is bankrolling this caper.
A certain Crime Lord with his own Skyplex and a very nasty rep.
Dead Reckoning indeed!"

+

Past reports of the other games

For a report on August's game click here and and for September's game click here for details of this months game and RSPV click here.

_________________

Dec. 12th, 2007

stupid, serenity, Jayne Hat, firefly

My Games at Conception 2008.

0 Conception 2008. Naish Holiday Village, Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset, UK.
Wednesday 30th January - Sunday 3rd February 2008.
http://www.conceptionuk.org/

These are my games that I am running at Conception 2008.

HeroQuest:Heroes
Using some of the cast of the TV show Heroes as player characters set right after where season 1 ends this game debuts at Conception 2008. This setting was voted the winner in a poll here, beating Ultraviolet [the Channel 4 TV Series], The Shield [The channel 5 TV series], Battlestar Galactica [the new TV series], More and newer episodes of Sereinty/Firefly, and some old fashioned Glorantha gaming.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket


Slot 3 - Thursday 10:00 - 14:00
'Double Ascension' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
A Heroes HeroQuest adventure for 5 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

With Nathan’s self sacrifice to save the city, Peter gone for good and Matt taken to hospital in an ambulance; the survivors look to one another amongst the aftermath of Kirby Plaza. With the remnants of the nuclear explosion drifting down on New York City, in the sudden dark after the brightness of day, there hangs a question.
A blood trail leads to an open manhole cover and the body of the boogeyman is missing.
All that is left in the wake are a few scribbled sketches of what has past, what is and what is yet to come.
So why does everybody feel that they are being watched?

+


Serenity/FireFly: HeroQuest
These are games based on the series FireFly and the film Serenity by Buffy's Joss Whedon. The player characters will be the crew of The Betty from Alien: Resurrection; Joss Whedon's first stab at a misfit crew of smugglers onboard an old, broken-down ship.



The first game, 'Echoes in the Black', has been run twenty times now at various conventions and has always been over-subscribed.

The sequel, 'The Quick and the Dead', has only been run seven times and has now been extended with extra dilemmas.

The second sequel [or is that threequel?] debuted at Conception 2007 and has only been ran once more at Dragonmeet 2007. I am running it again especially for Conception 2008. 'Dead Reckoning' is the third in the series of Serenity:HeroQuest games and is completely brand new [though certain parts of the plot my be similar to the other games!]. It still uses the crew of The Betty but puts them in more perilous and immoral situations. Included with more silly props!

Debuted at Furnace 2007 and only ran once so is completely new is the fourth in the series called 'No Power in the 'verse'. This is payback time and the Alliance and Blue Sun will suffer when the crew of The Betty discover the darkest secret yet and will try to bring an end to their evil plots.

Due to the popular demand of these games a seventh player character has been added to all games. The games can be played in order to experience the full epic narrative arc but each game is also complete in itself and can be played as a one-off.

+

Slot 6 - Friday 10:00 - 14:00
'Dead Reckoning' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Serenity: HeroQuest adventure for 7 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Feh Feh Pi Goh! This job should have been shiny!
Here we are floating in the black about to make a move on the 'verse's easiest mark, a Research & Rescue vessel doing 'science' well away from civilisation. The Guay Tuh Guay Nown patron said it would be like taking candy from a baby. "Just don't use sensors as you approach," he said, "use dead reckoning to get in close."
Not only have we just seen what they are actually doing the 'science' on but we have just learnt who the Lao Buhn is who is bankrolling this caper.
A certain Crime Lord with his own Skyplex and a very nasty rep.
Dead Reckoning indeed!"

+

Slot 12 - Sunday 10:00 - 14:00
'No Power in the 'verse' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Serenity: HeroQuest adventure for 7 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Well, they have hurt me jobs, hurt my pay, hurt my ship, hurt my crew and now they are hurting my head.
Well I say 'no more!'
I ain't sitting back on this one, no sir. I am goin' to take it to them. Hurt them hard. See how they like that! I coming at them straight and true.
No power in the 'verse can stop me!"

+

'We are the Boys...'
This is a new game based on a very popular TV series in the UK. This will not only stretch my scenario writing ability and my GM style but the HeroQuest games mechanic as well. Very much a 'beer & pretzel' game played for some laughs. I hope that it goes well.



+

Slot 9 - Saturday 10:00 - 14:00
'We are the Boys...' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
HeroQuest adventure for 6 players.
Newcomers very welcome. [im-]Maturity preferred.

It is the dark summer of 1940 and the storm clouds of war still hang over Europe. Nazi Germany is poised to do Hitler's bidding and invade this green and pleasant land. The Local Defence Volunteers will be the last bastion of England when the invasion comes; if they fail then the country will be under the Nazi jackboot and all freedom lost.
And where will the Nazi vanguard attack?
Walmington-on-Sea!

+

Oct. 31st, 2007

stupid, serenity, Jayne Hat, firefly

My Games at Dragonmeet 2007.

0 Dragonmeet 2007. Kensington Town Hall, London, UK.
Saturday 1st December 2007.
http://dragonmeet.co.uk

These are my games that I am running at Dragonmeet 2007.

Serenity/FireFly: HeroQuest
These are games based on the series FireFly and the film Serenity by
Buffy's Joss Whedon. The player characters will be the crew of The
Betty from Alien: Resurrection; Joss Whedon's first stab at a misfit
crew of smugglers onboard an old, broken-down ship.



The first game, 'Echoes in the Black', has been run twenty times now
at various conventions and has always been over-subscribed.

The sequel, 'The Quick and the Dead', has only been run six times and
has now been extended with extra dilemmas.

The second sequel [or is that threequel?] debuted at Conception 2007
and has only been ran once. I am running it again especially for
Dragonmeet 2007. 'Dead Reckoning' is the third in the series of
Serenity:HeroQuest games and is completely brand new [though certain
parts of the plot my be similar to the other games!]. It still uses
the crew of The Betty but puts them in more perilous and immoral
situations. Included with more silly props!

Due to the popular demand of these games a seventh player character
has been added to all games. The games can be played in order to
experience the full epic narrative arc but each game is also complete
in itself and can be played as a one-off.

+

Saturday 10:00 - 14:00
'Dead Reckoning' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Serenity: HeroQuest adventure for 7 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Feh Feh Pi Goh! This job should have been shiny!
Here we are floating in the black about to make a move on the 'verse's
easiest mark, a Research & Rescue vessel doing 'science' well away
from civilisation. The Guay Tuh Guay Nown patron said it would be like
taking candy from a baby. "Just don't use sensors as you approach," he
said, "use dead reckoning to get in close."
Not only have we just seen what they are actually doing the 'science'
on but we have just learnt who the Lao Buhn is who is bankrolling this
caper.
A certain Crime Lord with his own Skyplex and a very nasty rep.
Dead Reckoning indeed!"

+

'We are the Boys?'
This is a new game based on a very popular TV series in the UK. This
will not only stretch my scenario writing ability and my GM style but
the HeroQuest games mechanic as well. Very much a 'beer & pretzel'
game played for some laughs. I hope that it goes well.



+

Saturday 14:00 - 17:00
'We are the Boys?' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
HeroQuest adventure for 6 players.
Newcomers very welcome. [im-]Maturity preferred.

It is the dark summer of 1940 and the storm clouds of war still hang
over Europe. Nazi Germany is poised to do Hitler's bidding and invade
this green and pleasant land. The Local Defence Volunteers will be the
last bastion of England when the invasion comes; if they fail then the
country will be under the Nazi jackboot and all freedom lost.
And where will the Nazi vanguard attack?
Walmington-on-Sea!

+

Sep. 15th, 2007

stupid, serenity, Jayne Hat, firefly

September's EMD&DMUG Monthly Meet Up Report

September's EMD&DMUG Monthly Meet Up Report.


The East Midlands Dungeons & Dragons Meetup Group September Monthly Meeting
Saturday 8th September 2007
The Brunswick Inn
1 Railway Terrace, Derby, DE1 2RU.

So this was just my second meet of the EMD&DMUG monthly meets and again I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

A few problems at the start as traffic coming into Derby was all snarled up so quite a few people were late arriving, though strangely enough the centre of Derby was very quiet. During my walk from the Assembly Rooms to the Brunswick through the city centre I noticed that there was hardly anyone around on that Saturday afternoon so most of the trouble would have been outside the city.
At the Brunswick we were told that the upstairs room would be used for showing the England football match at 5pm, so we all hightailed it to the Family Parlour before anyone else got in.

As we were still waiting on the GMs of the other games to turn up by half past two I decided to start my game and rope-in some of the players waiting around. I managed to get six players [though I can take a total of seven], more than enough for my games.

 
The players of the HeroQuest Serenity games ‘The Quick & the Dead’.


A great game with some great players!


More photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darran/sets/72157601417033593/

And
http://dnd.meetup.com/700/photos/?photoAlbumId=213265 


Sep. 5th, 2007

stupid, serenity, Jayne Hat, firefly

Serenity:HeroQuest game in Derby Saturday 8th September 2007.

As part of The East Midlands Dungeons & Dragons Meetup Group September Monthly Meeting I will be running one of my Serenity:HeroQuest games as detailed below. The meet up starts at 13:00 on Saturday 8th September 2007 at the Brunswick Inn, right next to the Derby Railway Station.
Anyone interested should reply to me.

The Brunswick Inn
1 Railway Terrace, Derby, DE1 2RU.

Serenity/Firefly:HeroQuest.
The game is based on the series FireFly and the film Serenity by Buffy's Joss Whedon. The crew will be the crew of The Betty from Alien: Resurrection; Joss Whedon's first stab at a misfit crew of smugglers onboard an old, broken-down ship. Each game is a one shot with pre-gen characters. There are seven player characters and the game should last four hours.
 
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Saturday 8th September 2007 14:00 – 18:00.
'The Quick and the Dead' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Serenity: HeroQuest adventure for 7 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Emergency! Emergency! This is the Passenger Liner 'BHS Orisis'. We have lost all power, our engineering team is incapacitated and we are adrift in space. Any available craft please respond. Emergency! Emergency! This is the Passenger Liner 'BHS Orisis' ... ... ..."
<Sometime later>
"Oh thank the gods! How shiny you look. Civilian vessel, ... err? ... 'The Betty' please dock in our main hanger deck, you may be able to assist us in restoring power to our engines. Do you have an engineer on board?
"It is fortunate that you are in this empty, quiet sector of the black, we thought we were lost for good. Hello? Hello? Are you there?"

+

For a report on August's game click here and for details of this months game and RSPV click here.


 

Aug. 31st, 2007

My HeroQuest games at Furnace 2007.

So here are the games I will be running at Furnace 2007. There are a couple of new games that are debuting at Furnace plus one game that hasn't been played too often. If there is time and demand I may run one of my other Serenity games as well.


'We are the Boys…'
This is a new game based on a very popular TV series in the UK. This will not only stretch my scenario writing ability and my GM style but the HeroQuest games mechanic as well. Very much a 'beer & pretzel' game played for some laughs. I hope that it goes well.



Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

+

'We are the Boys…' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
HeroQuest adventure for 6 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

It is the dark summer of 1940 and the storm clouds of war still hang over Europe. Nazi Germany is poised to do Hitler's bidding and invade this green and pleasant land. The Local Defence Volunteers will be the last bastion of England when the invasion comes; if they fail then the country will be under the Nazi jackboot and all freedom lost.
And where will the Nazi vanguard attack?
Walmington-on-Sea!

+

Serenity/FireFly: HeroQuest
These are games based on the series FireFly and the film Serenity by Buffy's Joss Whedon. The player characters will be the crew of The Betty from Alien: Resurrection; Joss Whedon's first stab at a misfit crew of smugglers onboard an old, broken-down ship.



Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

The first game, 'Echoes in the Black', has been run nineteen times now at various conventions and has always been over-subscribed.
The sequel, 'The Quick and the Dead', has only been run six times and has now been extended with extra dilemmas.
The second sequel [or is that threequel?] debuted at Conception 2007 and has only been ran once. I am running it again especially for Furnace 2007. 'Dead Reckoning' is the third in the series of Serenity:HeroQuest games and is completely brand new [though certain parts of the plot my be similar to the other games!]. It still uses the crew of The Betty but puts them in more perilous and immoral situations. Included with more silly props!
Debuting at Furnace 2007 is the fourth in the series called 'No Power in the 'verse'. This is payback time and the Alliance and Blue Sun will suffer when the crew of The Betty discover the darkest secret yet and will try to bring an end to their evil plots.
Due to the popular demand of these games a seventh player character has been added to all games. The games can be played in order to experience the full epic narrative arc but each game is also complete in itself and can be played as a one-off. 

+

'Dead Reckoning' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Serenity: HeroQuest adventure for 7 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Feh Feh Pi Goh! This job should have been shiny!
Here we are floating in the black about to make a move on the 'verse's easiest mark, a Research & Rescue vessel doing 'science' well away from civilisation. The Guay Tuh Guay Nown patron said it would be like taking candy from a baby. "Just don't use sensors as you approach," he said, "use dead reckoning to get in close."
Not only have we just seen what they are actually doing the 'science' on but we have just learnt who the Lao Buhn is who is bankrolling this caper.
A certain Crime Lord with his own Skyplex and a very nasty rep.
Dead Reckoning indeed!"

+

'No Power in the 'verse' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Serenity: HeroQuest adventure for 7 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Well, they have hurt me jobs, hurt my pay, hurt my ship, hurt my crew and now they are hurting my head.
Well I say 'no more!'
I ain't sitting back on this one, no sir. I am goin' to take it to them. Hurt them hard. See how they like that! I coming at them straight and true.
No power in the 'verse can stop me!"

+

Aug. 16th, 2007

stupid, serenity, Jayne Hat, firefly

More Gun Cards for Serenity:HeroQuest

I’ll take you through the way I have used the cards at my last game to see if that sheds any light. Now I wanted a way to use the more unique weapons and equipment that we have seen in the Firefly setting, Mal has his special pistol, Zoë has her Mare’s Leg rifle and Jayne has his major gun fetish. Also in other Sci-Fi settings there is a focus on the ‘big guns’ that they use. Another problem I had was the weapons are listed on the character sheets but they had no further details about them. Also at points during some of the scenarios the characters are meant to hand over their guns [or try to smuggle them in]; or swap them between themselves, and with seven PCs that gets difficult to keep track of. My solution was to make Gun Cards, the size of credit cards nicely laminated, and hand them out to the players along with their character sheets. The games I run are fairly prop heavy anyway with printed money, Multipass name badges, full colour character sheets, computer screen handouts, and the like. 

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket 
The M41A Pulse Rifle as seen from Aliens

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket 
The Newtech Assault Rifle as seen from Alien:Resurrection





More will follow!

Aug. 14th, 2007

August's EMD&DMUG Monthly Meet Up Report.

 The East Midlands Dungeons & Dragons Meetup Group August Monthly Meeting
Sunday 12th August 2007 
The Brunswick Inn
1 Railway Terrace, Derby, DE1 2RU.


So this was my first East Midlands D&D Meetup Group monthly meet and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
I know the Brunswick Inn well, having spent my last night of freedom before my wedding there, though I have never played a game or knew that people meet up there for games.

There were a few problems with the original date as it clashed with Derby County’s first match of the season; the pub is one of the closest to the stadium and the railway station and was packed with football supporters. This would have made it very difficult to play games!
I did try to snag one of the small meeting rooms in the Assembly Rooms on the same day but was denied by The Powers That Be. So it was moved to the Sunday instead; nice and quiet but unfortunately the kitchen is closed on Sundays so people had to buy their food from the very expensive café at the railway station.

So I arrived at one o’ clock and sorted out my membership card and handed over my donation to the group of thirty-five badge-holders with neck chains. The membership cards double as name badges having a mug shot as well as the on-line avatar of the wearer – nice touch!
I then set up the table ready for my game in the far corner of the room. Sorting out all the money and other props.

I did have three people pre-booked for the game at the EMD&DMU website but I also managed to rope in four more players for the game, giving me a full set of players.
After checking that they all were familiar with the setting of Firefly/Serenity [they were!] I started off telling them that given a choice between doing something sensible but boring or doing something risky and fun always go for the risky option!

EMD&DMeetup-02
The whole group of gamers playing Serenity:HeroQuest.

The players picked their characters; all choosing characters that suited them well and I handed out the small stacks of money to each of them [except Call who only gets a ripped 1 Cred note!] along with their Gun Cards.

The money is used to show how rich [or poor] the characters were and they could use it to buy extra equipment or supplies with it. One player, Chris asked what else it was used for. I told him that you could earn or steal more and I would take some off you if you walked into a bar, brought fuel, weapons or ammo or pay your docking fees. It is part of the Firefly setting – ‘Get a job, get paid, keep flying’.
“Pay Bills? I play these games to get away for paying bills and direct debts and the like!” He stated incredulously. Nice moment that.

The gun cards are a new thing I have introduced to my games. I wanted to give the players more ‘flavour’ for the setting by allowing them to see picture of the weapons they will be using along with the associated abilities and capabilities of those weapons. Also it allows me to take them off them should they lose them or hand them over to someone else or they can trade them between each other. The Captain has the most and he can choose to give them to the other players or not.

More photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darran/sets/72157601417033593/
 
And
http://dnd.meetup.com/700/photos/?photoAlbumId=199663&photoId=1886068
 


So in all a very good afternoon and a very good game, probably made better by washing down pints of ‘White Feather’ ale.
It is a shame I could stay on after my game and play Paranoia with the rest of the group but I had to get back to wife who was feeling a little neglected.
All being well I will run the sequel ‘The Quick and the Dead’ Serenity:HeroQuest at September’s EMD&DMU monthly meet up.

Aug. 10th, 2007

stupid, serenity, Jayne Hat, firefly

Gun Cards for my Serenity:HeroQuest Game.

Over on the MoLaD forum on this thread, I was talking about giving key or special items of equipment abilities. This would to some degree follow the sidekick rules.

Well I have decided to follow this up and make some equipment cards [mainly weapons] up ready for my Serenity:HeroQuest game this coming Sunday.


I have used pictures of the weapons along with some brief information like range, weight, nuber of loaded bullets, rate of fire, etc.




I have made a few more up than this and I have a few more to go as well so expect further postings.

Thoughts and comments?

Jul. 20th, 2007

stupid, serenity, Jayne Hat, firefly

Serenity/Firefly:HeroQuest game on Sunday 12th August 2007.

As part of The East Midlands Dungeons & Dragons Meetup Group August Monthly Meeting I will be running one of my Serenity:HeroQuest games as detailed below. The meet up starts at 13:00 on Sunday 12th August 2007 at the Brunswick Inn, right next to the Derby Railway Station.
Anyone interested should reply to me.

The Brunswick Inn
1 Railway Terrace, Derby, DE1 2RU.

Serenity/Firefly:HeroQuest.
The game is based on the series FireFly and the film Serenity by Buffy's Joss Whedon. The crew will be the crew of The Betty from Alien: Resurrection; Joss Whedon's first stab at a misfit crew of smugglers onboard an old, broken-down ship. Each game is a one shot with pre-gen characters. There are seven player characters and the game should last four hours.
 
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Sunday 12th August 2007 14:00 – 18:00.
'The Quick and the Dead' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Serenity: HeroQuest adventure for 7 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Emergency! Emergency! This is the Passenger Liner 'BHS Orisis'. We have lost all power, our engineering team is incapacitated and we are adrift in space. Any available craft please respond. Emergency! Emergency! This is the Passenger Liner 'BHS Orisis' ... ... ..."
<Sometime later>
"Oh thank the gods! How shiny you look. Civilian vessel, ... err? ... 'The Betty' please dock in our main hanger deck, you may be able to assist us in restoring power to our engines. Do you have an engineer on board?
"It is fortunate that you are in this empty, quiet sector of the black, we thought we were lost for good. Hello? Hello? Are you there?"


Jun. 12th, 2007

HeroQuest, Battlemasters

Serenity/Firefly: HeroQuest Keywords

Here are my Serenity/Firefly keywords that I have used in my games.
Over the next couple of months I hope to expand this list and add some more equipment, weapons and spaceships.

Alliance Officer
Abilities: Alliance Regulations, Close Combat, Exert Authority, Follow Operating Protocols, Follow Orders, Issue Orders, Spot Suspicious Behaviour, Use Newtech Small Arms.

Specialisation Abilities: Modify Alliance Officer Typical abilities based on specialisation.
Command – Assess Situation, Exert Authority +5, Battle Tactics, Disciplined +3, Use Newtech Assault Weapons.
Engineering – Assess Function, Disciplined –3, Identify Deficiency, Machine Maintenance, Meticulous, Repair Machine, Use Tools, Work in Hazardous Environment.
Science – Calculate Formulas, Distracted, Science Knowledge, Science [Specialisation], Use Science Equipment, Use Sensors.
Medical – Administer Drugs, Assess Patient, Disciplined -3, First Aid, Resuscitate Dying, Self-Confident +3, Treat Injury.

Typical Personality Traits: Arrogant, Brave, Callous, Disciplined, Loyal, Self-Confident.
Typical Relationships: to Commander, to Comrades, to Unit, to Training Officer.
Typical Followers: Junior Officers, or a squad of Troopers, or a Personal Assistant.
Standard of Living: Good [17].
Typical Equipment: Dress Uniform, Ident Card, Newtech Small Arm, plus specialisation equipment.
Command – Body Armour, Knife, Newtech Assault Weapons.
Engineering – Assorted tools, Hazmat Suit, Schematics.
Science – Personal Computer, Science Equipment, Sensors.
Medical – Battlefield Dressings, Medical Bag, Pharmaceuticals, Stethoscope.


Alliance Soldier or Trooper
Abilities: Alliance Regulations, Carry Heavy Load, Close Combat, Follow Orders, Identify Foe, Make Camp, March, Scan for Danger, Scouting, Swear like a Trooper, Use Newtech Small Arms, Use Newtech Assault Weapons, [Unit] Traditions.

Typical Personality Traits: Brave, Loyal, Obedient, Resilient.
Typical Relationships: To Commanding Officer, to Comrades, to Unit.
Typical Followers: Greenhorn Troopers.
Standard of Living: Common [13].
Typical Equipment: Body Armour, Dress Uniform, Ident Card, Knife, Newtech Assault Weapons, Newtech Small Arm.


Alliance Spaceship Pilot
Abilities: Alliance Regulations, Evade Hazard, Employ Countermeasures, Follow Operating Protocols, Follow Orders, Go Faster, Know Ship’s Capabilities, Perform Risky Manoeuvre, Pilot Spaceship, Read Sensors, Space Navigation, Spaceship Maintenance, Think Quickly.

Typical Personality Traits: Conceited, Impetuous, Rash, Relaxed, Superior.
Typical Relationships: To Other Pilots, to Support Staff, to Commanding Officer.
Typical Followers: Co-pilot or a Trainee Pilot.
Standard of Living: Common [13].
Typical Equipment: Dress Uniform, G-suit, Ident Card, Newtech Small Arm, Pilot’s Licence.


Bodyguard
Abilities: Blend in Background, Block Attack, Close Combat, Conceal Weapon, Evaluate Surroundings, Intimidate, Scan for Danger, Search Person, Secure Area, Shadow Client, Swift Reactions, Take a Bullet, Tough, Use Small Arm, [Other Weapons] Specialist.

Typical Personality Traits: Brave, Loyal, Grim, Unflinching.
Typical Relationships: To Client, to Fellow Bodyguards, to Employer.
Typical Followers: Other Bodyguards to watch their back.
Standard of Living: Common [13].
Typical Equipment: Body Armour, Concealed Weapons, Dark Sunglasses, Personal Comms.


Bounty Hunter
Abilities: Ambush, Close Combat, Dodge, Hide, Intimidate, Keen Senses, Know Quarry, Know Target Area, Plant Surveillance Gadgets, Recognise Quarry, Restrain Prisoner, Track, Urban Survival, Use Small Arm, Use Stunner, Use [Other Weapon-type].

Typical Personality Traits: Avaricious, Patient, Solitary, Tenacious, Wily.
Typical Relationships: To Employer, to Bail Bonding Company, to Contacts, to Underworld.
Typical Followers: None usual but may have a Lookout or Admin Staff at home Head Quarters.
Standard of Living: Common [13].
Typical Equipment: Body Armour, Restraints, Small Arm, Stunner, Surveillance Gadgets, Warrant Papers.


Mechanic
Abilities: Bypass Safety Protocols, Carry Heavy Loads, Engine Maintenance, Enhance Performance, Gauge Operation, Jury Rig, Locate Fault, Modify Technology, Repair Machines, Spot Engine Trouble, Understand Function, Use Tools.

Typical Personality Traits: Instinctive, Meddler, Methodical, Patient.
Typical Relationships: To Employer, To Customer, To Junkyard.
Standard of Living: Common [13].
Typical Equipment: Toolkit, tool belt, oily rags, overalls, engine manuals, spare parts.


Mercenary Soldier
Abilities: Avoid Pursuit, Carry Heavy Load, Close Combat, Dirty Fightin’, Follow Orders, Identify Foe, Ransack, Make Camp, March, Scan for Danger, Scavenge, Scouting, Swear like a Trooper, Take Cover, Throw Grenade, Use Assault Weapons, Use [Other Weapon-type], Use Small Arms, [Unit] Traditions.

Typical Personality Traits: Avaricious, Callous, Fearless, Self-Confident, Undisciplined.
Typical Relationships: To Commander, to Comrades, to Unit.
Typical Followers: Fellow Greenhorn Soldiers.
Standard of Living: Common [13].
Typical Equipment: Assault Weapons, Body Armour, Knife, Loot, [Other Weapon type], Small Arms.


Interpol Investigator
Abilities: Alliance Regulations, Analyse Evidence, Countermeasure Enemy Surveillance, Close Combat, Exert Authority, Infiltrate, Interrogate Prisoner, Issue Orders, Plant Surveillance Devices, Pursuit Tactics, Spot Suspicious Behaviour, Undercover Tactics, Understand Criminal Tactics, Use Newtech Small Arms, Use Newtech Sonic Rifle.

Typical Personality Traits: Assured, Brave, Deceptive, Inscrutable, Loyal, Meticulous.
Typical Relationships: To Commanding Officer, to Interpol Squad, to Informants.
Typical Followers: A Squad of Troopers, or Fellow Investigators.
Standard of Living: Common [13].
Typical Equipment: Body Armour, Ident Card, Licence, Newtech Small Arms, Restraints, Surveillance Devices, Undercover Indent Cards, Warrant Papers.


Smuggler
Abilities: Avoid Detection, Bargain, Bribe Official, Bypass Security Measures, Carry Heavy Loads, Close Combat, Conceal Contraband, Dirty Fightin’, Evade Pursuit, Evaluate Market Value, Hide, Know Black Market, Know Customers, Lookout, Persuasive, Use Small Arms, Use [Other Weapon-type].

Typical Personality Traits: Callous, Cunning, Devil-May-Care, Greedy, Self-centered.
Typical Relationships: To Fellow Crew, to Black Market Contacts, to Underworld.
Typical Followers: Fellow Smuggling Crew, or a Fence back home.
Standard of Living: Common [13].
Typical Equipment: Fake Permits, Knife, Loot, [Other Weapon type], Small Arms

Jun. 8th, 2007

stupid, serenity, Jayne Hat, firefly

Serenity Money, 1 & 10 Cred Notes

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
This is the Bhutanese 5 ngultrum note.

This is the note I started with before doing my Adobe Photoshop magic on it.
The money from the Firefly series and the Serenity film was based on the 1 and 2 ngultrum notes. They added the golden globes and the Alliance logo in the centre as well as re-colouring the note.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
My version of the 1 Cred Note.

First off I cut and pasted the serial numbers out and extended the circle sections in the corners by coping the trim so that the original numbers were hidden.
I re-coloured the 5 ngultrum note I was using and added the features that had been used for the prop money. I went with a very dark red for the 1 cred note and green for the 10 cred note; I was thinking that the 10 Cred note would be used more as the 'basic' currency while the 1 Cred note would be very 'small change' hence the colours.

I used the Alliance logo out of the Serenity film and made up a planet to fill in the centre of the note. Most of the rest of the note is the original Bhutanese, it looked so cool I didn't change it much.

The new numbers were added using the Batman Forever font as that looks very futuristic.

I printed the notes on normal 80g/m2 printer paper. When I cut the notes out I gave them to my grandkids to play with so they got crumpled up nicely!
The texture of the notes feels very authentic now and I even folded some up and kept them in my wallet for a while. I was a little worried though that I might try to spend them by accident!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
My version of the 10 Cred Note.

Jun. 6th, 2007

Tentacles, cool, Sunglasses

Tentacles Untapped Con Report

Tentacles Untapped 2007 Con Report.


Tentacles-2007-079



Tentacles-2007-130

0 Tentacles Untapped. Castle Stahleck, Bacharach, Germany.

Friday 25th - Monday 28th May 2007.
http://www.tentacles-convention.de/

Well I had a complete blast!

What a fantastic con. And the usual problems that have plagued this con in the past [things not under the control of the convention organisers] have been resolved.

All the guests were approachable and very talkative, the freeforms just looked amazing with almost every player being in costume, and all the games I ran had international players of very high standard.

The Friday went well and did seem to start earlier with the Opening Ceremony going well. The Moon Design Seminar was good, Rick Meints and Simon Bray explained about the new products and about the completed manuscripts they have lined up. Authors Greg Stafford and Jeff Richards also added further insight.

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There was plenty of new product released at Tentacles, ‘Blood over Gold’ the 154 page trader princes campaign book, ‘Champions of the Reaching Moon’ the Lunar Hero/Hero Band book and ‘History of the Heortling Peoples’ one of the Stafford Library unfinished works. All look fantastic and it is good to know that Rick will stick to doing the larger page counts rather than splitting books down that has been done in the past.
Interesting to hear that they have a number more books in the pipeline, an Elf Book, a Prax pack, two books about the West, the Great Argrath Campaign by Greg Stafford, and of course the new setting-less HeroQuest core rule book.Though there are plenty of works ready to come out there was a call for more.
Any idea will be considered though there will be a contract issued with deadlines and a project leader will be required – any interest contact Mark Galeotti.

The rest of the evening was more of a social gathering, drinking beer and chatting with friends new and old. Also had a good talk with the 'Smart Party', a group of players from Nottingham who were Tentacles Virgins though regular convention goers. We even played the pub quiz as one of the teams and didn't do too badly considering the other teams had the creators and writers of the games we were being asked questions on!

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All day Saturday I ran my Serenity:HeroQuest games for 12 hours and had a good time. The first game was with the Smart Party and a couple of others joined in as well. A very good game though I did have problems putting on the blue rubber glove under the table, which spoiled the surprise some what. The players managed to get me in a fit of giggles at one point. I was annoyed with myself that I didn’t take a photograph of the group though.
The second game was also a hoot with the players really got into the characters and hammed it up a little even though some did not know the setting that well. All the players were surprised by the big reveal at the end.

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The last game ended up being a player verses player as the player of Johner accepted the bride and turned on the rest of the team. All the players were up for this, all played like they weren't expecting the double cross and we did run with it; putting us all on the spot as I had to make it up as we went along.

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One thing I do love about running games at Tentacles are the international players. I had English, German, Dutch, French and American players in my games and was a nice mix to have. I am just sorry they had to struggle with my Derby mumble.

On the Sunday there was a little mix up with where the group photo would be taken due to the rain. The tried to fit everyone into the main hall but due to sheer numbers they wouldn’t all fit in! Luckily the rain had stopped in time for us all to file out and get into position. I wore my silly Jayne hat that is bright orange so that I would be stopped easily. The mess about with the group photo delayed the set up for the freeform so that ended up starting a little later than hoped.

The Serenity/Firefly freeform 'You Can't Take the Sky from Me!' that I helped to write and run went very well. I was very nervous as this was the first freeform/Larp I had run and GMed and I wasn't sure if it would go well. Once we started the game none of the GMs were need for about the first hour; all the players just carried on playing and staying in character, getting twisted deeper and deeper into their plots. So good to see.
I think part of the reason it went well was the support of Simon, Colin Driver and Bazz Hoftijzer as the GMs and the quality of the players.
I think I will do another again now that I have caught the bug!

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Sunday ended with sitting in the auction and the closing ceremony where I had won a prize [and a cool tentacles badge] for running games. It is good to have a convention that rewards the GMs.
I did witness the ‘Daughters of Darkness’ book burning that I am always in two minds about though it was funny to see Daniel Fahey spill a drop of his drink on the burning ashes to see them explodes in a great gout of flame! 



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So the highlights were winning a set of duck miniatures on the tombola, being declared having the loudest snore, getting excellent players in all my games, laughing so much over the whole weekend and meeting old friends and making new ones. The lowlights were being declared having the loudest snore, going up and down the stairs of the castle and the fact that the weekend is over.

So special thanks to Fabian and all his team for organising such a fantastic convention. I do appreciate all the hard work that goes into running a convention from my experience with Continuum and Furnace but I do not think that I could do it each year!

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Cheers and here’s to Tentacles 2008, Friday 9th to Monday 12th May 2008.

To see photos of this year’s Tentacles go to my Flickr Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darran/

Tentacles Untapped photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darran/sets/72157600285540891/

Nick's Tentacles Untapped Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23016277@N00/

December 2009

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