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



Reaver Masks by Simon Bray

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

Sunday Scimitar - 11

So I haven't posted a Sunday Scimitar picture for a while due to being away on holiday so here is another one.
This one is another Chinese sword with a curved handle, a board blade with a wide tip and a single deep fuller.

Midweek Character - Ruby

o I haven't posted for a while due to being away on holiday so here is a tasty character to play.

Ruby is a fantastic character in the Supernatural TV series, a wicked character with a possible heart of gold. She is also one of the player characters in my Supernatural HeroQuest game that takes place at Tentacles Omega 2009.
She is a suitable foil for the Winchester brothers and should be able to hold her own in the game even though she is almost an antagonist.

Ruby's Story

"Anyone got a breath mint? Some guts splashed in my mouth while I was killing my way in here..."

"Well... they killed your precious little virgin too! Next time... we do MY plan"

Ruby, a feisty blonde, is a demon with demonic abilities such as enhanced strength and inhuman durability; however she is vulnerable to most weaknesses of demons.

Ruby is a skilled fighter, forgoing telekinesis that other demons use, she tends to rely on martial arts.

During her time as a witch, she gained extraordinary knowledge of magic. She knows how to nullify the effects of hex bags, as well as how to create them to hide her presence from supernatural beings. She knows a spell capable of wiping out all demons - including herself - within a mile radius.

Ruby possesses a mysterious and magical "demon-killing" knife.

107 words

KeyWords

Demon Possessed Female

Witch

Flaws

Vulnerable To Weaknesses of Demons

Distrusted

Enemy To All Demons

Once Human

Personality

Feisty

Forgo Easy Way

Mysterious

Rely On Mundane Way

Relationships

Distrusts Dean

Hated By Other Demons

Mentor to Sammy

Rival of Bela Talbot

Suspicious of Bobby Singer

Abilities

Create Hex Bags

Demonic Abilities

Demonology

Enhanced Strength

Extraordinary Knowledge of Magic

Extensive Knowledge of Supernatural

Feisty Blonde

Gain Magic

Hide Presence From Supernatural Beings

Inhuman Durability

Knows Martial Arts

Knows Spells

Nullify Hex Bags

Nullify Magical Effects

Possesses Magical Artefacts

Skilled Fighter

Telekinesis

Wipe Out All Demons Within A Mile

Items

Arcane Paraphernalia

Demon Killing Knife

Sunday Scimitar - 10

So this is a fantasy scimitar, a Lunar one judging by the Moon rune on the hand guard.
This is a solid sword with one cutting edge. The majority of the blade is straight with only the blade tip curved.

[WIP] 3D map of Dragon Lands of Glorantha. Part 2

I have done some work on this map having done the western hills and finished off the mountains.
I am working on a few samples of the swamp that I'll post up soon.


 

 
Dragon Lands of Glorantha - isometric sketch-02
 

Dragon Lands of Glorantha - isometric sketch-02 Thmbnail

 

[HeroQuest 2] Publication News!

This has just been announced by Rick Meints of Moon Design.

Some good news!

Quote:

HeroQuest 2009: We're back!!! Hello all, To begin, thank you all for your patience as Moon Design got through its quiet phase, mainly due to the trying economic times that face many of us. Work and travel overseas took its toll on my schedule, but that is largely all sorted now. Production is gearing back up and many things are getting back on track. My first announcement deals with an addition to the Moon Design Team. Jeff Richard is now my partner with the specific task of developing all Gloranthan HeroQuest products. He is the single point of contact for all authors. As for publications, here is the latest on what is in the works: -------------------------------------------------------------------- HeroQuest: Core Rules (2nd Edition). The long awaited book is finally here! This is Robin Laws' innovative, dynamic and flexible rules engine suitable for play in any genre or setting. It presents a simple and flexible system that allows Game Masters to make decisions the way authors and screenwriters do when creating novels, TV episodes and movies. HeroQuest encourages creative input from your players, resulting in an exciting, unpredictable narrative created through group collaboration. Its resolution methods and scalable character levels make it equally suitable to any genre, from epic fantasy to satirical soap opera. Whether your next game idea draws on horror, war, westerns, martial arts, pulps, cyberpunk, cliff-hangers, giant robots, super-powered heroes, space opera, cop action, corporate intrigue, furry animals, swashbuckling adventure, Greek tragedy or drawing room comedy, HeroQuest can resolve its scenes of conflict, both big and small. You could even use HeroQuest to emulate a musical—although it won’t do any of the singing or dancing for you. Completely rewritten by the original designer, this new edition opens and details running the core system for any genre. 160 pages. Available in June 2009 (including the Tentacles convention). The Sartar Book. In progress since 1980 (!), The Sartar Book is the largest Gloranthan sourcebook ever published and contains in one BIG volume (nearly 400 pages!) everything you need to run a Gloranthan campaign set amongst the storm-worshipping tribes of the Kingdom of Sartar; how to create Sartarite characters and clans, magic and religion of the Sartarites (including new HQ writeups of the cults of Orlanth, Ernalda, Humakt, Chalana Arroy, Issaries, Lhankor Mhy, Elmal, Urox and Yinkin), Orlanthi heroquesting, background information about Sartar and its people, an an epic campaign arc with love, vengeance, and mythic adventure - including adventures in the Upland Marsh and a major Heroquest through the Underworld. Tons of new material that has never been printed before - this is a hefty load of pure Gloranthan Gold. Most importantly, your heroes are the center of this saga! Although we are still working on final edits, art and maps, a special limited edition pre-release version will be available at Tentacles. Next up: -------------------------- The Pavis Book. The first supplement to the Sartar Book, the Pavis Book is an update of the classic Pavis and Big Rubble setting, revised for the HeroQuest rules. But this is not a reprint of the old material - the Pavis Book contains new adventures, new information, and insights into some of the secrets of the ancient Walled City. Contains writeups of the cult of Pavis, Yelmalio, the Seven Mothers and others. Whitewall: the Last Rebel King. Yep, you heard right, we are going to put your heroes right in the middle of the great battles of Whitewall and Iceland.Contains background on the Hendriking, Volsaxing and Heortland, as well as astory arc that puts your heroes in the middle of the action. Other manuscripts are still in the production pipeline, including Ian Cooper's Coming Storm Campaign, Distant Shores, the Aldryami Book, and Heroes of Malkion. More on their publication dates will be announced later this summer. Rick Meints Publisher, Moon Design

To GM or not to GM: That is the question?

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of heavy game criticism,
Or to take arms against a sea of system backlash,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
Of a lack of players, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream of a great home group: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of no games to GM what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off to a convention for games?

So I am having a little bit of a crisis at the moment as far as my GMing games goes. I seem to have lost faith with my ability to GM at conventions as I have fallen under some heavy criticism

I am really struggling to keep my home group together. I have had some excellent players join over the last couple of years yet they seem to find excuses when to next session is scheduled not to come.
Now I am a good host – I provide a cooked meal and snacks as well as a full fridge of drinks [beer and soft drinks], I run a reasonable game with a good story, I am well organised with nice maps and handouts. The setting is fairly cool though I do know that many people do have an issue with Glorantha as a setting.

I do also know that many people dislike the HeroQuest system, but I didn’t expect it to the point that several people have condemned my games on the RPG con circuit here in the UK. This is just not an attack on HeroQuest but my games in general. Now it could be just rumours but having heard this from two different sources is troubling. Bad-mouthing my games seems a little bit cruel and vindictive and the rumours are appearing to spread by word-of-mouth.

It is now getting to the point that I may have to give up GMing games at conventions all together.
I plan to run a few HeroQuest games at Tentacles Omega, a RPG convention that takes place in Germany at the end of May this year, and get some detailed feedback from those games.

I may just attend less RPG conventions in future; I’ll just concentrate on help organising some conventions that I am involved with instead.
At Furnace I'll not run any games for instance.

I am just not sure what else to do?