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ShortQuests -- individual adventure modules! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed to plug in to your game.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 9880384" data-attributes="member: 42582">ShowdownThe first thing to do in this game is to settle on a genre. We agreed on Napoleonic-era duel between nobles, although our approach to history was fairly relaxed.Then we had to build our PCs. Here they are:Me: Bertrand, Heir to the Duke of Burgundy Weapon: muzzle-loading flintlock pistol (pair) Details:• Gold-embroidered coat • Blazing eyes • Missing left arm • Stammer Qualities: I think that• I deserve respect for my nobility • I will lead my class to its full restoration • I am valiant under pressure • I am measured in all that I do [USER=7044566]@thefutilist[/USER] James ‘ The Baron’ Chiswick Weapon: A used duelling sword. Details:• Chiselled face • Warm smile • An easy gait • Fine black leather gloves Qualities:I think that • The poor are scum • I have nobility of soul • I am level headed • I have a rogue’s charisma We agreed that the duel between us was in a clearing in a forest in the South of France. It was a formal duel - we each had a second, and servants, as part of our entourage. The disparate character of our weapons had to be explained: my second had brought my brace of pistols; but "the Baron" had only one. We were both unhit after the first discharge; but I was now ready to fire my second pistol, whereas James had to draw his sword. The way this game works is through a series of plays, to work out both (i) how the duel unfolds, and (ii) how we ended up in this duel to the death. Very roughly, two dice are rolled (from d4 to d12 - the player chooses which size) and getting high on the "duel" die gives advantage in respect of (i), whereas getting low on the "flashback die gives advantage in respect of (ii). The loser in the duel side has to discard that pair of dice, and when one player runs out of dice the game is over and the outcome of the duel is narrated. As is the final flashback, which is the moment that lead to the duel. I started with the advantage in the duel, and generally played to maintain it. There was only one point, out of five "rounds", that I had control over the flashback. In the duel, I took my second pistol. James ran into the woods, trying to hide behind a tree, but I was able to close with him. He tried, desperately, to take me down by using his sword behind my knees, but I was able to shoot him at point-blank range. This didn't kill him, but left him badly injured in his face. I then picked up his sword and ran him through. But ultimately I think it was a win for James. The flashbacks begin with the first meeting between the PCs, and then unfold - in time, as specified by the one who frames the flashback - up to the duel. Each player has a goal for their PC in the flashback, and whoever wins gets their goal. And gets to change one of the qualities of the other's PC, reflecting how the flashback has resolved. In our five flashbacks, I had all four of Bertrand's qualities re-written, while I only got to rewrite on of James' qualities. The first flashback was when we met, 5 years ago and when the Revolution had just broken out. James was an English ex-highwayman who had come to France. I was hiring him (and his entourage) to fight with us. He wanted me to acknowledge his nobility; I was obliged to, and my quality I deserve respect for my nobility was rewritten to I don't deserve respect for my nobility. The next was 6 months or so later, fighting against an enemy force. James led the attack, sword swinging; I kept my cool, shooting my foes as my second handed me a reloaded pistol after each shot. This was the only flashback that I won, and so (in the fiction) I picked off an enemy who was about to take James from behind, and I rewrote James quality from I am level headed to I am a bloodthirsty brute. About 18 months later, we had to take a fortified manor. Whoever led the charge was sure to suffer terribly, probably die. I wanted to persuade James to lead the charge. And he did. Successfully, and victoriously - he was covered in blood and gore, but all the soldiers could see who was the true leader on that day. [USER=7044566]@thefutilist[/USER] made me rewrite I am valiant under pressure as I am expedient under pressure. The next flashback, about 6 months before the duel, was in a room where we were all drinking. James leapt to a table, bottle in hand, and proclaimed that the old order was dead. There would be no restoration of the old nobility. I took a sip of brandy, to steady my stammer, and told the room, "Ignore him. He's drunk." But they didn't ignore him. And [USER=7044566]@thefutilist[/USER] made me rewrite I will lead my class to its full restoration as I deludedly hold on to my previous status. The fifth flashback, about 2 months before the duel, was in a warehouse (in Paris, or another city). We were meeting with young radicals, some anarchists, some even monarchists but wanting a new king with a new order. James was aligning our forces with them. I spotted the spy from the mainstream revolutionaries, and handed him a note, stating where James would be at midnight, so he could be assassinated. I lost the flashback roll, and so the alliance with the anarchists and the radical reactionaries was forged, and James's entourage caught the assassin before they even got into James's room. Rather than I am measured in all that I do, my quality was rewritten as I'm desperate in my doings. When [USER=7044566]@thefutilist[/USER] spent his final card - thus, giving me narration rights in respect of the outcome of the duel - he was entitled to narrate the final flashback, the moment that made the duel inevitable. This followed the uncovering of the assassination attempt. James's entourage wanted to kill me outright, but James - noble of soul - sent me a letter offering me a formal duel. So the duel I won was a pity duel. Which was a pretty devastating blow. And the rest of the flashbacks told us that my second, and my servants holding our horses, were all that was left of my entourage. As I rode off, James's entourage carried off his bloody body, with his duelling sword. A Nietzschean moment. ******** This game was epic. The first flashback left me hating my character: he was not who I thought he was! But I did my best to play him faithfully through the rest of the game. And performed my stammer when I had to speak in character, during the flashbacks. [USER=7044566]@thefutilist[/USER] framed really strong flashbacks (the only one I framed was the assault on the fortified manor), which put both our characters to the test, but where he continually got the better of it. The only point where it was a little uncertain which of my qualities he would change was after the drinking scene - I thought he might instead go after my being measured (perhaps swigging on my brandy). Our characters, and their arc, unfolded in a really compelling way. I would strongly recommend this game.</blockquote>

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