LostSoul
Adventurer
Hey All;
I've been writing this up on other boards for a while now, so I figured I'd put it down here.
Burning Empires is a neat little - or maybe not so little - game based on the Iron Empires graphic novels. It's got some interesting mechanics:
Anyways, you probably didn't read all that. It doesn't matter. I haven't made many notes on the mechanics in the write-ups, so if you have questions, shoot.
The set-up:
Boldaq is a crummy little world in the no-man's land between the Iron Empires. Two centuries ago, it was infiltrated by the Vaylen. Anyone who had the means fled the planet, leaving only a rag-tag resistance. But they were able to defeat the Worm thanks to the use of Psychology (psychic powers) and great sacrifice.
Now the nobles have come back to lay claims on the planet. They include:
That should be it... on with the story, then.
I've been writing this up on other boards for a while now, so I figured I'd put it down here.
Burning Empires is a neat little - or maybe not so little - game based on the Iron Empires graphic novels. It's got some interesting mechanics:
- You start the game by going through a questionaire that defines the world. The questions start out vague: where in the galaxy is your world located? What's the atmosphere like? World government? And go into more detail: what's the primary industry? Level of quarantine? These questions are answered as a group, and everyone has input into it. Each answer has mechanical effects on the game.
- The campaign is broken up into three Phases: Infiltration, Usurpation, and Invasion. Each side, the Humans and the Vaylen (mind-controlling alien worms who don't play much of a part in our game), start off with a number of "hit points", called Disposition, based on parameters set in World Burning.
- Each session is broken up into one or two Maneuvers. A Maneuver is where you sit down and actually play. Each side (the players vs. the GM) picks an action with the intent of whittling down the enemy Disposition. When one side's Disposition hits 0, that side loses the Phase. When the Invasion Phase has been finished, game over man, game over!
- Each Maneuver is broken down into Scenes. There are four types of Scenes: Colour, Interstitial, Building, and Conflict. Each player gets 1xColour and Interstitial, and 1 of either a Building or a Conflict Scene. The GM has the same for each of his main NPCs (the Figures of Note).
- Colour Scenes are for detailing things - a character's internal monologue, describing landscape, etc. No dice are rolled!
- Interstitial Scenes are when two or more characters get together and talk. No dice are rolled here, either!
- Building Scenes are for getting stuff done. You can make up to three rolls.
- Conflict Scenes are the climaxes, the big gunfights, the space battles. Lots of dice are rolled!
Anyways, you probably didn't read all that. It doesn't matter. I haven't made many notes on the mechanics in the write-ups, so if you have questions, shoot.
The set-up:
Boldaq is a crummy little world in the no-man's land between the Iron Empires. Two centuries ago, it was infiltrated by the Vaylen. Anyone who had the means fled the planet, leaving only a rag-tag resistance. But they were able to defeat the Worm thanks to the use of Psychology (psychic powers) and great sacrifice.
Now the nobles have come back to lay claims on the planet. They include:
- [NPC, Figure of Note] Duke von Zagas, the Black Duke. A powerful Forged Lord (controls spaceships - Hammer - and ground forces - Anvil) and Arch Antistes (think Cardinal), he believes that Boldaq is the key to becoming Emperor and Primarch (think Pope).
- [PC, Figure of Note] Hammer Lord Tovol von Zagas, son of the Black Duke. He is driven to conquer Boldaq and become Forged Lord. He's a Cotar Fomas, a general in the church, and wants to spread the word of the prophet Ahmilak.
- [PC-NPC] Kaeli, Lord Tovol's consort. She's a mule - a psychologist without the Bright Mark, the scar that marks all psychics.
- [NPC] Archcotare Sibil. He's the top Church figure on Boldaq. He wants to serve his Duke, discover the secrets that have been hidden on Boldaq for so long, and drive a wedge between Tovol and his father. Not a very religious man.
- [NPC, Figure of Note] Margrave Chazovic, aka Fat Chaz. A nasty space pirate who climbed (and ate) his way up the ranks to become a Hammer Lord. He is busy setting up a smuggling ring while he gathers resources to win Boldaq, his last shot at legitimacy.
- [NPC] Draz Tolo, aka the Butcher. Fat Chaz's right-hand-man. Assassin, deadly, not a very nice guy.
- [PC, Figure of Note] The Pali Suren Vachir Edrene, a minor noble figure come to claim an ancient fief. He is a psychologist and Inquisitor and he believes that he's the prophet that can spark a new phase in galactic evolution.
- [NPC, Figure of Note] Kofer Pyatt, Warlord of Boldaq. He is a native, half mountain-man, half city-dweller. Also a psychologist, he believes that he is the prophet that will lead Boldaq into a new golden age.
That should be it... on with the story, then.