Deathwyrm
Explorer
Hey yo. A few months ago, I picked up a couple PDFs of the Zeitgeist adventure path and dug it a whole lot. Some of the big set piece action scenes were absolutely bonkers but written smartly enough that it makes sense why all this weird stuff is happening. Naturally, I bought the 3 enormous hardcovers and what a mighty strain they put on my shelves alongside other monumentally sized tomes like Slumbering Tsar and Northlands Saga.
Having finished up running Rise of the Runelords for one of my groups of players, we were looking for something fantasy but less traditional. I never really enjoyed big steampunk things, but the gritty industrialized fantasy nature of the old Thief trilogy of games made me want to give this a shot. Recently we had finished part one, Island at the Axis of the World and everyone's enjoying the heck out of it.
So long story short, I made a thread to showboat about how good it's been, and if I have any questions about things that don't make sense I can trust in a decent community of gamers to flesh things out.
So far, the only thing's I really changed were three points. First, Leveling Up happens at story appropriate moments. Rise of the Runelords had a very fast paced advancement system. The players requested that things get slowed down a bit, so they can adjust to the changes the character's receive. Which also leads to point two, which is more one-off sessions where they can handle one shot cases before diving back into the main plot. I reskinned a few Society Scenarios to pad out the length at the start. Third, I structured the game to have kind of a syndicated TV show feel. Sessions begin in media res with the group handling something in Flint, then I play the series' theme song (Kevin Macloud - Industrial Revolution, if anyone wants to YouTube it) and the players describe what they're doing in the opening montage, then we get to the meat of the session. So far they've loved it.
I think that's everything so far for set up. Onto the characters.... the intrepid investigators of Task Force: Berling (apparently it's a reference? I didn't get it though)
Detective Adolf Goodwyne - Lawful Neutral Human Investigator: Once a rural boy with a bright mind, he came to Flint to refine his intellect and joined the Royal Homeland Constabulary seeing it as the best outlet to do some good. After his deductions resulted in the apprehension of the Stray River Strangler, he was given a promotion and tasked to put together a capable team of specialists. Naturally, first he knew of another brilliant man that would be an asset...
Dr Grigori Basch - Lawful Neutral Human Mesmerist: Only child in a wealthy family, Dr Basch attended some of the finest schools but his morbid interest in the psychology of the criminal mind made his recruitment to the RHC only natural. Obsessed with craniology, he often requests to measure people's heads... which can be off-putting to many. Some accuse what he does as spellcasting, but he doesn't believe in relying on such superstitious nonsense. What they call "spells" are simply advanced psychological techniques with scientific explanations. Hearing that his colleague Det. Goodwyne is putting together a crack team, he felt he knew just the right "man of the people" to help them do the dirty work that scholars just can't...
Constable Mikkel Orel - Neutral Good Human Gunslinger (Docker) - Having spent years as a general labourer in the many shipping companies around Flint, Mikkel had no patience for the shady illegal nonsense he saw as putting added pressure on an already overworked populace, and he was able to back it up with his gun when necessary. He joined the RHC as a way of helping to get at those shadowy organizations that extort and bully the common person. Of course he accepted Dr Basch's invitation to join the new Task Force, provided that his new duties doesn't take away from his cause. That said, if it's some muscle they're looking for... there's someone at his Wednesday night tavern gambling circle that would fit the bill...
Constable Threm - Neutral Good Human Swashbuckler - Once a capable recruit of the RHC, Threm was able to get results through a bizarre combination of brash bravado and just plain dumb luck. Those results keep him in the agency's good graces but his drinking and gambling habits always keeps him a close shave away from "turn in your badge, you're a loose cannon". He was excited when Mikkel approached him for this new team, and he reassured his recreational drug provider would make for a good addition...
Dr Teko Brinolt - Neutral Good Tiefling Alchemist (Chirurgeon) - Originally a resident of Danor, the last war put a sour taste in his mouth, so he and his family fled to Risur where it would be presumably safer for them. Unfortunately his wife and children didn't survive the journey. Originally he wanted to open a physician's practice in Flint, but with little money to his name the best he could find was being a chemical consultant to the RHC as well as crafting non-addictive recreational drugs to keep rent paid. Joining the Task Force of course meant he would have to join the RHC properly, and they made it crystal clear that side dealing of illegal substances wouldn't be simply ignored like before. To help him stay on the narrow path of the law, he asked his cousin to join as well...
Cysgod Awyr - Neutral Good Aasimar (Plumekith) Ninja - Due to severe family debts, Cysgod spent many years as a saboteur in the West Breland Market Consortium's smuggling channels. Until one day a job went bad and the RHC busted a specific warehouse they were working through. The young Cysgod was apprehended, but for his skills he was allowed a clean break if he puts his shadowy skills to use for the government. He was hesitant at first, but accepted and settled in, even reconnecting with his cousin Dr Brinolt. He was hesitant to join the new Task Force, stating "you know I work alone", but he's slowly coming to find this group like an extended family. Of course, he's always on the lookout in case the Consortium returns looking for their lost agent.
That should do for a first posting. The team was put together through the natural movie trope of "getting the team together", which took about the first 1/3rd of the session. With that done, the "pilot episode" began. Something to do with the launch of a new naval vessel called the Coaltongue.
Having finished up running Rise of the Runelords for one of my groups of players, we were looking for something fantasy but less traditional. I never really enjoyed big steampunk things, but the gritty industrialized fantasy nature of the old Thief trilogy of games made me want to give this a shot. Recently we had finished part one, Island at the Axis of the World and everyone's enjoying the heck out of it.
So long story short, I made a thread to showboat about how good it's been, and if I have any questions about things that don't make sense I can trust in a decent community of gamers to flesh things out.
So far, the only thing's I really changed were three points. First, Leveling Up happens at story appropriate moments. Rise of the Runelords had a very fast paced advancement system. The players requested that things get slowed down a bit, so they can adjust to the changes the character's receive. Which also leads to point two, which is more one-off sessions where they can handle one shot cases before diving back into the main plot. I reskinned a few Society Scenarios to pad out the length at the start. Third, I structured the game to have kind of a syndicated TV show feel. Sessions begin in media res with the group handling something in Flint, then I play the series' theme song (Kevin Macloud - Industrial Revolution, if anyone wants to YouTube it) and the players describe what they're doing in the opening montage, then we get to the meat of the session. So far they've loved it.
I think that's everything so far for set up. Onto the characters.... the intrepid investigators of Task Force: Berling (apparently it's a reference? I didn't get it though)
Detective Adolf Goodwyne - Lawful Neutral Human Investigator: Once a rural boy with a bright mind, he came to Flint to refine his intellect and joined the Royal Homeland Constabulary seeing it as the best outlet to do some good. After his deductions resulted in the apprehension of the Stray River Strangler, he was given a promotion and tasked to put together a capable team of specialists. Naturally, first he knew of another brilliant man that would be an asset...
Dr Grigori Basch - Lawful Neutral Human Mesmerist: Only child in a wealthy family, Dr Basch attended some of the finest schools but his morbid interest in the psychology of the criminal mind made his recruitment to the RHC only natural. Obsessed with craniology, he often requests to measure people's heads... which can be off-putting to many. Some accuse what he does as spellcasting, but he doesn't believe in relying on such superstitious nonsense. What they call "spells" are simply advanced psychological techniques with scientific explanations. Hearing that his colleague Det. Goodwyne is putting together a crack team, he felt he knew just the right "man of the people" to help them do the dirty work that scholars just can't...
Constable Mikkel Orel - Neutral Good Human Gunslinger (Docker) - Having spent years as a general labourer in the many shipping companies around Flint, Mikkel had no patience for the shady illegal nonsense he saw as putting added pressure on an already overworked populace, and he was able to back it up with his gun when necessary. He joined the RHC as a way of helping to get at those shadowy organizations that extort and bully the common person. Of course he accepted Dr Basch's invitation to join the new Task Force, provided that his new duties doesn't take away from his cause. That said, if it's some muscle they're looking for... there's someone at his Wednesday night tavern gambling circle that would fit the bill...
Constable Threm - Neutral Good Human Swashbuckler - Once a capable recruit of the RHC, Threm was able to get results through a bizarre combination of brash bravado and just plain dumb luck. Those results keep him in the agency's good graces but his drinking and gambling habits always keeps him a close shave away from "turn in your badge, you're a loose cannon". He was excited when Mikkel approached him for this new team, and he reassured his recreational drug provider would make for a good addition...
Dr Teko Brinolt - Neutral Good Tiefling Alchemist (Chirurgeon) - Originally a resident of Danor, the last war put a sour taste in his mouth, so he and his family fled to Risur where it would be presumably safer for them. Unfortunately his wife and children didn't survive the journey. Originally he wanted to open a physician's practice in Flint, but with little money to his name the best he could find was being a chemical consultant to the RHC as well as crafting non-addictive recreational drugs to keep rent paid. Joining the Task Force of course meant he would have to join the RHC properly, and they made it crystal clear that side dealing of illegal substances wouldn't be simply ignored like before. To help him stay on the narrow path of the law, he asked his cousin to join as well...
Cysgod Awyr - Neutral Good Aasimar (Plumekith) Ninja - Due to severe family debts, Cysgod spent many years as a saboteur in the West Breland Market Consortium's smuggling channels. Until one day a job went bad and the RHC busted a specific warehouse they were working through. The young Cysgod was apprehended, but for his skills he was allowed a clean break if he puts his shadowy skills to use for the government. He was hesitant at first, but accepted and settled in, even reconnecting with his cousin Dr Brinolt. He was hesitant to join the new Task Force, stating "you know I work alone", but he's slowly coming to find this group like an extended family. Of course, he's always on the lookout in case the Consortium returns looking for their lost agent.
That should do for a first posting. The team was put together through the natural movie trope of "getting the team together", which took about the first 1/3rd of the session. With that done, the "pilot episode" began. Something to do with the launch of a new naval vessel called the Coaltongue.