“Vortex” Update 5a.26 — the Battle of Capricornus X2

Fellow role-players, here are Josh’s and my notes for Session 5a.26 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 1 met on Monday, 9 January 2012, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Bulldogs, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

In one future, humanity has begun to colonize the Sol system, but ecological degradation and internecine conflicts persist. Open and official First Contact with Galactic societies, themselves at war, threaten Terra’s very survival. Will heroes rise to the challenges?

Two aliens and their human allies encountered xenophobes and megacorporate intrigues on and around Earth. After visiting factionalized Mars and acquiring a starship, they continued their mission of diplomacy and exploration to Titan, Tyche, and Alpha Centauri. From Van Maanen’s Star, the Olvar scout ship evaded a trap at Cetus Eridani and met priestesses and miners at Beta Canum Venaticorum before resuming its journey toward Oasis Station….

>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the “Blackbird:”

-“Syzygy” [Brian W.]-Trinoid (trilateral amphibious alien) xenologist with an organic laboratory and a pet cat named “Mr. Sniffles”

-“Tela” [Sara F.]-female Tharian (winged reptilian humanoid alien) escapee from the Encegulans, engineer

-“Chris McKee/Agent Prometheus” [Josh C.]-male Terran cyborg human sniper working for eugenicists at Black Box Security Co.

-“Aughest-vor…” [Jason E.R.]-male human from the Lemuria orbital city, onetime dilettante, solar-sail racer, pilot

-“Lt. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-male Terran human, burned-out officer and explorer in the Interplanetary Patrol

-“Scoop Chang” [Rich C.G.]-male Jovian “near-human,” interstellar reporter kidnapped by the Olvar; psi interested in First Contacts

-“Tariq Asrad Saladin” [Beruk A.]-male Terran “near-human,” seeker of enlightenment and investigator met aboard the Ma’ari ship Cyan Horizon

-“Gombo Shisel” [Rich L./absent]-male Mongolian/Martian human, former horse rancher and wilderness survival expert

-“Dr. Bucket” [Non-Player Character]-United Earth Authority astromech robot assigned to the Blackbird

>>”From Chris McKee’s journal, 8 to 14 November 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” After encountering Cetaran miners near GL 884/”Cold Miser,” we continued our journey to Oasis Station, about 40 parsecs from Earth. We came out of faster-than-light Transit near Hip 103039 and found ourselves in the middle of a pitched battle!

I ran to my turret to ready our particle beam, but I reluctantly held my fire at my crewmates’ request. Syzygy went to his lab to prepare for casualties, and Tela and Kedar tried to get some extra power out of our engines. Aughest-vor… piloted the Blackbird clear of fire and debris.

As per our recent discussion, Lt. Kevin Reese took tactical command and activated our cloaking device. Scoop Chang began comparing the ships to the Star League database, while Tariq Asrad Saladin armed himself against potential boarders. Dr. Bucket and the spider drones readied for damage control.

Fortunately, none of the combatants seemed to notice us. We soon learned that a Ru’ulok (heavy-gravity reptilian extraterrestrial) force was occupying the system, also known as GL X2, LP 916-60, or Capricornus X2. The Ru’ulok, with whom we’ve had several skirmishes back in the Sol system, were trying to repel an attack by the Olvar (arboreal, mammal-like aliens).

I acquired targets and painted them. Aughest-vor reported that there was at least one contested rockball planet in the system, and Lt. Reese ordered Tela to ready the Yoyodyne Overthruster in case we needed to make a quick getaway.

Scoop recognized some of the craft as Ranseur-class Olvar fighters and Spanner-class Ru’ulok troop carriers. While some of us wanted to help the Olvar against the Ru’ulok, others recommended caution. We hailed the Icy Lance and talked with Adm. Fendril Angmor. The Olvar flagship was under heavy attack, and we closed in to offer assistance and take aboard escape pods.

However, Syzygy suspected that something was amiss, so our scientist asked Aughest for more scans. Tariq tried to spot behavioral patterns in the ship movements. Scoop intercepted Ru’ulok communications and heard Marshall Kladvur, commander of the Yachatil, berating Baranik Bosart, a Cestolar (badger-like alien) captain.

The Morifaiwet/Blackbird‘s Olvar database indicated that this battle had happened about 1,000 Terran years ago! The literal-minded Cestolar, once an “Uplift” client species of the Olvar, were then allied with the Ru’ulok empire. However, they had apparently again switched sides, just as things looked grim for the Olvar.

Aughest kept maneuvering and noted energy anomalies, while Syzygy searched for life signs. Tela confirmed that the Spanners were from the correct time period. Tariq noted that we could be seeing battlefield ghosts, while Kevin and Scoop suggested that we — or they — were displaced in time!

Dr. Bucket checked relative stellar positions at Aughest’s astrogation request. We were still in the year 2194. Tariq observed that the Olvar had replied to our hails, but Scoop didn’t detect any telepathic activity. I made sure that our training simulations were up to date and didn’t contain any bugs.

Even as Adm. Angmor ordered all hands to abandon the Icy Lance, Baranik Bosart slammed his ship into the Yachatil. I couldn’t refrain any longer, so I shot at a passing Ru’ulok ship, severely damaging it. That’s when curators hailed us and asked us not to interfere with the re-enactment.

We headed to the museum headquarters, and I believe I heard Syzygy respond to a hail from a Gustrall (antlered, orange-furred, raptor-like alien). Most of the landing pads were empty, and we met Biros Gramlic, the friendly captain of the Betardonil. He and wary engineer Dacla Nistor had brought Cestolar tourists Gurda, Nimun, and Fashnir to the site of their species’ key role in changing the tide of battle.

We left Dr. Bucket to watch the Blackbird and went to the museum shops, which were staffed by Xenoids (alien robots) designed to look like Olvar and Ru’ulok soldiers in antique uniforms. One Olvar-style droid named Hignor sold us tchotchkes and directed us to the canteen.

Ever cautious, Lt. Reese directed Dr. Bucket to run a scan from our ship, and he detected other tourist groups and the shielded headquarters of Thurmin Caz, the manager. None of the life signs were Ru’ulok, so we didn’t worry too much.

Since none of us Terrans had galactic credits yet, Syzygy paid for his water and our souvenirs from his Science Directorate account. I bought a bunch of Ru’ulok dolls for target practice, while high-minded Tariq found a board game similar to chess. Tharians Tela and Kedar got more plushies and a remote-controlled ship model.

Budding politician Aughest-vor downloaded some textbooks on military history. Soldier Kevin exercised more restraint than reporter Scoop, who grabbed an armload of toys, a replica space suit, and some Olvar antiques. The Cestolar were similarly excited.

Our visit to the canteen was less successful, and I can only imagine what my handlers back at Black Box Security Co. will think upon reading this report. I will say that Vamec sauce, or Cestolar moonshine, is pretty strong! I remember Aughest and Kevin trying to choke down some weird food, and Scoop keeping up with my imbibing. I also did some low-gravity handstands.

I don’t remember meeting the Gustrall after dinner [Out-of-character note: There weren’t any on the station.] or much else until the next morning. For some reason, Scoop keeps snickering at me. Note to self: Try to acquire EVE, his hovering camera robot.

We then continued on our way to Oasis Station. While in Transit, Aughest-vor looked at specifications for the collection of orbital habitats daisy-chained around a star. Syzygy reminded us that we would have to try to find the agent who had dropped out of contact with the Kharvamid Alliance.

Tela and Kedar also hoped to find more of their people, but they were wary of Encegulan (slug-like alien) and Ru’ulok bounty hunters. Scoop was excited to find an interstellar crossroads, and he and Tariq found that we’d have to covertly find a way to get access to the jump gate recently discovered nearby. Apparently, the Precursor technology was contested and being guarded.

I did some historical research, focusing on the Olvar abandonment of their colony on “Cold Miser” almost 2,000 Earth years ago and the current state of affairs surrounding the cosmopolitan spaceport. The Olvar and Ru’ulok empires had ceased expanding toward the Sol system after the battle and truce. After some discussion, we decided to explore Oasis Station in two groups.

Aughest-vor, Syzygy, Tariq, Dr. Bucket, and I will take the Blackbird and publicly arrive in uniform as a team from the Sol system to flush out the Kharvamid agent or foes. Meanwhile, Lt. Reese, Tela, Scoop, and Kedar will take the Dragonfly, our slower-than-light drop ship, and quietly get the lay of the land and find a way to the jump gate….

I hope that each of you enjoyed our first regular “Vortex” session of 2012! I look forward to seeing the fleshed-out quasi-Non-Player Characters when we break into troupe-style play when Team 1 meets next on Jan. 23 (weather permitting).

In the meantime, I look forward to seeing Team 2, the crew of the Appomattox, tonight — Jan. 16. I’ll also try to post an update for the latest Pathfinder: “the Vanished Lands” telecom game sometime this week. Be seeing you, -Gene

Revisiting RPGs and Lego licenses

One game to rule them all? — Lego Lord of the Rings

Continuing this week’s look at tabletop role-playing games, especially the announcement of Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition and subsequent reactions, here’s an overview of my current groups. I caught up on videos and some reading around the holidays, but I had to take a short break from my campaigns because it was too difficult to get quorum for my groups. We seem to be getting back on track.

In the meantime, I’ve enjoyed several recent sourcebooks — in both hardcopy and PDF — including the Asian-flavored Pathfinder Bestiary 3, Mongoose’s printing of science fiction sandbox Stars Without Number, and the horror/SF Ashen Stars, which uses the Gumshoe investigative/troubleshooter rules. All of them will be helpful in my current campaigns.

The two teams of about six people each in my “Vortex” space opera game (using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer plus Bulldogs) were on hiatus over the past few weeks. I’ve kept busy, however, with planning for our alternating Monday night sessions, which are still going strong. Fellow Game Masters Jim J.D’B. and Byron V.O. have helped me prepare for the continuing misadventures of the explorers and diplomats aboard the Blackbird and the grifters on the Appomattox.

My Pathfinder: “the Vanished Lands” telecom fantasy team has had persistent scheduling problems on Sunday nights, but I hope to rebuild from our core group of three low-to-midlevel Player Characters. They’ve been heading north into the Wisalef Forest to investigate rumors of Unseelie Fey…. Paizo’s recent Pathfinder Boxed Set is a good introduction to that system (for up to four or five players to Level 5) and to role-playing in general.

Most of the people in my groups are also playing in other games. Various local Game Masters have expressed interest in running one-shots, although they’ll have to promote their ideas and find time and space for them. Here are some of their ongoing campaigns and potential one-shots:

–Paul J. and Greg D.C.: FATE 3e Dresden Files (modern supernatural)

-James B.: D20 Call of Cthulhu (period horror) or Gumshoe: Mutant City Blues (investigative metahumans)

-Josh C.: conversion of AD&D2 Spelljammer to FATE 3e Legends of Anglerre (fantasy) or Arkham Horror (board game)

-Jason E.R.: Fvlminata (alternate Roman history/espionage)

-Bruce K.: Pathfinder/D&D4e or D20 Conan (sword and sorcery)

-Rich C.G.: Cthulhu Invictus (alternate Roman history/horror)

A few of the local role-players have also asked to return to my “Societe de Justice Internationale: Drake’s Port 7″ superhero scenarios using D20 Mutants & Masterminds 3rd Ed., whose excellent Game Master’s Guide just arrived. So many games, so little time….

In unrelated but exciting news, Lego recently announced that, in addition to its licenses for Harry Potter, DC and Marvel Comics, and Star Wars, it won the rights to The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies! We briefly used Lego for the D&D3.0 “Vanished Lands: the Liberators” and “Dragonslayers,” and even though I have dozens of other miniatures, I’d love to use Lego minifigs for my campaigns in any genre, from steampunk and superheroes to science fiction!

“Vanished Lands” Update T3.38 — Arrival in Alfendi

Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session T3.38 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 8 January 2012, using Pathfinder, Google+, and an online dice roller.

In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. After “Holy Steel‘s” journey to the distant empire of Khemet, another motley group gathered in the northwestern “Vanished Lands” to explore a world full of perils and wonders….

After meeting in the Wisalef Forest, an unlikely band of adventurers encountered the hostile Centaur followers of Vappu Lahja and the haunted hamlet of Alarn on the Plains of Sathendo….

>>Telecom party Player Character roster, as of spring 2012:

-“Asish Chen Ti” [Byron V.O.]-male Tsucharim human archer (Mongol-style Ranger), escaped from the kingdom of Gokuri; owner of Akita dog Genghis and horses Onimusha and Gashmu; NGl, Age 20, Lvl. 4

-“Jovinda Halflight” [Sammy H.]-female Half-Elf (Grugach/Hifalendorin) Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature; owner of horses Wyth-Amoi and Meth-Fenna; NGl, Age 23, Lvl. 4

-“Kazuo Takenaga” [Taum D’A.]-male Nezumi (Rat-kin) Monk from the Zedu kingdom in the Therud Forest; LNg, Age 20, Lvl. 4

-“Favelhorn Riftbringer” [Dexter V.H./absent]-male Mountain Dwarf Summoner; CGn, Age 51, Lvl. 1

-“Gawain Keary” [Paul J./absent]-male Saganim human Illusionist (proto-Celtic Wizard); NGc, Age 20, Lvl. 3

-“Kovar” [Beruk A./absent]-male Half-Orc/Saganim human Paladin of Mithras, god of contracts and brotherhood; LGn, Lvl. 3

-“Davven ‘Digger’ Hollysharp” [Robert A.S./absent]-male Faldine Halfling archaeologist (Tallfellow Rogue) from a pipeweed farm in Tarken; CGn, Age 45, Lvl. 3

>>”13 to 14 August 1229 B.C.E.:” After a long ride from Alarn, the would-be heroes arrive at the city of Alfendi. As the trio passes through the Thelloc Gate, Jovinda is surprised to find so many buildings of brick and stone, betraying Dwarven influence. Most of Alfendi’s inhabitants are Alvari, or Sylvan Elves, but there are also some Quelanthi (High Elves/Eladrin), Faldine Halflings, Forest Gnomes, and humans.

Asish is more disturbed to see the local Magisterium (magic school/library) on Sparrow Lane and shops such as “Malgwyn’s Rods” and “Scroll Lust.” As a former slave of the sorcerous kingdom of Gokuri, the barbarian has no love of arcane spellcasters.

Kazuo notices sporting activities at the Arena of Enduril, the parade grounds next to the governor’s palace, and the People’s Arena, as well as tree-lined cobblestone streets. He is not impressed at the prancing steeds of Elven equestrians. Despite his unusual appearance, the Nezumi isn’t accosted by curious children or potentially racist peasants.

The travelers dismount and enter the Temple District, where the shining spires of Corellan’s cathedral overlook shrines to the rest of the Waletku pantheon. Jovinda asks for directions to the Grove of Mekkil, the goddess of nature. Sister Elizabeth greets her fellow priestess and her companions, and she directs Kordar, a Hill Dwarf Druid, to help guide them around the city.

Jovinda warns Elizabeth and Kordar of the spread of Vappu Lahja’s influence and unnatural creatures in the southern Wisalef Forest. The Druids are concerned about these and the possible fouling of Ley lines.

At Elizabeth’s recommendation, Asish, Jovinda, and Kazuo go to the “Unicorn Moon” inn, where they obtain room, board, and stabling for 6 crowns (gold pieces) for two nights. Sylvan Elf concierge Galdor summons Frik, a Halfling porter, to take the trio’s luggage to their small but well-furnished and seemingly secure rooms on the second floor.

Asish tends to the horses, mule, and dog, while Jovinda and Kazuo go to the public baths across Well Square. The Grugach (Wild Elf) enjoys a hot soak and chats with other women, but the ratkin Monk keeps to himself and quickly cleans. They return to the hotel relaxed, so inquisitive Asish then goes to wash away the dust and strains of the road.

In the main market square, Asish sells various pelts and weapons that his portion of the party has acquired to Tigen Sanar for a total of more than 600 crowns. Finally flush with cash, Asish, Jovinda, and Kazuo go to the Rangers’ Guild, a log structure on the Wainway in Alfendi‘s northeastern quadrant.

They find scruffy scouts wearing green cloaks lounging around the main hall. Kazuo sees relatively few beast-kin like himself, unlike back in Alfhileno, capital of the Waletku kingdom of the Elves. Jovinda recognizes one Ranger as a blond Saganim human, like her missing father.

Asish admires the assortment of bows on one wall and approaches another Ranger, a Grey Elf wearing chain armor with his boots up on a desk. Silver-haired Aldarion turns out to be friendly and receptive to the Tsucharim rider’s warnings about the Unseelie Fey in Alarn.

Aldarion leads his three fellow explorers up a ladder to a room with no windows but numerous oil lamps and maps of the entire region. He offers to immediately take six gryphons to raze Alarn, pleasing Jovinda and Kovar, who recall the reluctance of some council members in the Hifalendorin human city of Nadwi to intervene. Two groups of knights were lost in ill-advised forays.

Asish asks for a brief delay, noting that Aldarion should probably check with Alfendi’s authorities and that he has other questions to address. Asish, Jovinda, and Kazuo show the Ranger the map of old border forts and Ley lines, as well as a jade chop taken from the Nannuattan (eastern Dark Elves).

While he knows little about the markings on the chop, Aldarion says his wife might be able to help. He notes that Delvalatar Juteriel, with whom the travelers had also shared the map, is known to the guild as a bounty hunter. Jovinda suspects that Halfling Rogue Digger or Saganim/Shengtese scholar Jade could be Delvalatar’s true quarry.

Aldarion agrees to meet the trio for lunch the next day at Zed’s pub, and Asish, Jovinda, and Kazuo leave the lodge to explore more of the city….

Thanks again for your patience as we dealt with Skype problems this past weekend. Since Google+ hangouts worked fine, we’ll try that again for our next regular Sunday game. Sammy, I may be at Arisia, a genre entertainment convention near Boston, but I’ll try to log in early this coming weekend to dscuss “Jade.”

By now, you may have seen Josh C.’s Suthern human Dervish and Sara F.’s Tengu Sorcerer, as well as my blog posts about D&D5e. Josh and I will also eventually post notes for the latest Team 1 session of the FATE 3e “Vortex” space opera, and Team 2 meets next on Monday, Jan. 16. In the meantime, have a good week, -Gene

More reactions to D&D5e

The Known World of early D&D — Mystara, an early D&D world

As I noted yesterday, the big news in fantasy role-playing was the announcement of Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition and even early playtesting. I hope that gaming can still thrive, albeit with fewer fans than in the 1980s or early 2000s. Technology, rules systems, and playing styles have evolved, and I’ve enjoyed the social side of the hobby for almost 30 years.

My groups have been speculating about D&D5e for a few months now, and initial reactions among them and various bloggers were wary. Some people, who like D&D3.x and Pathfinder, hope that Wizards of the Coast can return to something like the D20 Open Game License rather than D&D4e’s more restrictive Game System License. We debated whether WotC should try to widen its audience and pursue younger gamers or whether it needs to win back lapsed role-players and those who stuck with earlier editions. It should try to do both as the industry leader.

Others, who like how D&D4e tried to be more balanced and streamlined, hope for a more modular approach to the complexity level of the rules as characters and monsters advance. I’d like D&D5e to offer more support for role-playing, world-building, and pickup and one-shot games. German designers and Lego have been successful with board games that are potential entry points into the hobby. Dungeons that you can drop a random group of players and characters into, evocative settings, and the potential for long-term story and character development are all important.

I think an introductory D&D5e boxed set is likely, with more focus on pregenerated elements and online character management. Tactical combat will continue to be important, but I think the “fantasy punk” flavor will be dialed back in an attempt to win back some people alienated by the massively multiplayer online (MMO) style of D&D4e. As I said yesterday, WotC will still need to prove that D&D5e is better than already available prior editions and competitors such as Pathfinder.

In addition to the rivalry among fans of D&D4e vs. those of Pathfinder, I’m also still following the development and debates around rules-light and retro-clone (or “old–school Renaissance“) games. I may not have minded memorizing the AD&D1 Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide about 25 years ago, but I now want to spend less time worrying about rules and be able to run fun games easily. For example, based on the success of the “Broken Chains” scenario during Byron’s visit, some of us are considering using FATE 3e Legends of Anglerre instead of Pathfinder for telecom fantasy games.

Here comes D&D5e — my initial reaction

D&D Basic Set module — My first D&D adventure

I’ve been working on a longer blog post about my recent and upcoming games, but Wizards of the Coast has formally announced that Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition is in the works.

For the past 30 years, I’ve been an early adopter of new editions of the most popular tabletop role-playing game, and I’m definitely curious about the direction that Hasbro/WotC will take.

On the other hand, I’m fine with running and playing other fantasy rules systems, including Pathfinder and FATE 3e Legends of Anglerre, so D&D5e will have to offer a significantly different experience (and better for me) to win gamers like me back.