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Miniatures Adventure => Call of Cthulhu => Strange Aeons => Topic started by: Uncle Mike on August 23, 2014, 09:50:15 PM
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The playtest team has been hard at work getting everything ready for Strange Aeons: Second Edition. As the rules are mostly worked out now we have a bit more time for other things. Welcome to the Second Edition Playtest. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have.
First, I have decided to ramble on about my Threshold list and their many and various victories and defeats. My hope is to have a bit of fun and show some new rules and figures before the launch of Strange Aeons: Second Edition...later this year.
Our story will begin not at the start but quite a way along. Many players already know and love the campaign system from first edition. Second edition has clarified and expanded this with a number of Promotions which grant the team certain bonuses...but at the same time, make the Lurkers they face stronger. My list, 'Winchester's Wildmen' has been at the good fight for 22 games. 12 losses and 10 wins. We will begin our tale here...on the eve of Samuel Winchester`s second promotion...
Agent Winchester regarded the box on his desk. He supposed it must be some sort of service medal. The citation hung loosely in his right hand, `For Gallantry in Action` the note had said. He closed his eyes and exhaled sharply. In his head, hammering for release, were the screams and moans of the dead; fallen comrades, innocent bystanders, even those misguided wretches endlessly working toward his destruction. Sometimes he felt remorse for all of them. Sometimes none of them. It was easier not to think. Placing the letter on the desk, he rose, slowly and with great effort, the weight of his conscience holding him down even more than his many injuries.
Sounds a bit foreboding...more to come...soon...ish...
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He crossed the room to the decanter of whiskey and extending a shaking hand, poured himself a generous glass. He drank it down. It helped; with the pain, with the voices. Catching his reflection in the mirror, Winchester straightened and watched himself. Shirtless and wrapped in bandages he looked like some sort of nightmare fiend. "Specter at my own feast," he mused aloud, watching his doppelganger mouth the words back. The shrieks and whispers growing louder as he observed the story etched in his skin and remembered those things that he drank to forget. He poured another glass and returned to the mirror.
Winchester's face was devoid of emotion as he began to remove the wraps around his midsection, occasionally he would see himself wincing, or straining not to. His chest was a criss-cross of thick scars. Many of the wounds were still fresh but he couldn't stay still any longer. Madness was creeping in every corner of his room. Memory clawed at the door. He felt himself shrinking from his own gaze. He needed to go back to work.
Next were the bandages around his head. He hadn't made out so well; a fierce gash ran down the side of his face and his blood-shot and swollen eye gazed back lazily. Well, that was the worst of it. Nothing that a fresh suit and shave wouldn't fix...
Returning to the desk, he took the box and note and placed them in the drawer, next to the others. Seeing the medal was irrelevant. It wasn't the sort of thing you could wear, at least not until you were lying in a coffin. A decoration to be pinned on a battered corpse some time in the future...
Rather than following this chain of reasoning to it's logical conclusion, Winchester began to fill out the various requisition forms for more personnel and weaponry. As he wrote, the screaming inside his skull continued.
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So, as you can see Agent Winchester isn't without his issues...mental and physical. Here is what he looks like in game terms:
Agent 'Shotgun' Samuel Winchester
Cost: 9PP + 4EP = 13 Total Points
M Dex. Con. A W Res. Skills
4 3+ 7 3 2 4+ Command, Heroic, Lucky, +1Con, Ambush, -1Dex, +1Con.
Weapons: Double Barreled Shotgun, Cleaver, Lucky Hat, Garlic
Special: Human
Injuries: Head Trauma, Chest Wound, Leg Wound, Basket Case
Becoming a Basket Case actually helped...older injuries of Claustrophobia, Ballistophobia and Hate (for Cult Leaders) were superseded.
Next, onto the new team...and some action in the field! >:D
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Here is the team after a re-equip. I'll go into more detail later...gotta get a game in against Darth James...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/18/1338_27_08_14_2_18_40.jpg)
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GREAT i really like that theres a way to have another team after nearly everyone died now :)
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Thanks...it really helps if you want to play a longer campaign...or if you are very unlucky. >:D
The photo above from left to right: Agent Ablett (pronounced Aubleah...he's French you know!), 'Shotgun' Samuel Winchester (my long suffering Character), 'Hot' Cas (Special Agent: Psychic), Agent Lovie (resident book worm and spell caster).
Winchester has been alive from the start and seen many a comrade fall (around 17 at a guess... :o) everyone else is newly recruited, with the exception of old Lovie who has seen his share of action...but having a librarian's combat prowess has taken a few wounds along the way. Being Weakened, suffering a rather nasty Chest Wound and becoming Mysophobic (Fear of dirt...so you don't need to look it up ;)) have left him a bit quirky but still usable in the field.
The list has 5 Map Pieces at present and only three spells left...I'd guess a few games revolving around securing some Ancient and or Evil Tomes would be possible in the very near future...
The other two are, as I said, new to the team. Agent Ablett is just a standard Agent with a Tommy Gun while Agent Cas is a Pyrokine who has joined the team permanently (One of the bonuses gained from the latest Promotion).
They are suited up and ready for action. Hope to have a battle report with pictures next week...
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Hot damn! This is looking great. :-*
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Just wait 'till we get going!
Also, worth pointing out, the team is now at a Points Total of 31. Personnel Points: 20. Equipment Points: 11. The scale of the game has been broadened with this edition allowing me to build a list above 30 Pts. The Godling has become a 40 Pt Lurker and there are plenty new monsters to fill the gap. If things go poorly you may see some of the larger creatures in the upcoming games...
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That's very good news Mike, broad is good... Gives the campaign game legs.
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Oh, yes!
This is looking good.
8) 8)
Our group is really looking forward to 2nd Edition so that we can get a new campaign going.
:D
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Thanks guys. The campaign has been expanded quite a bit since 1st edition and I am having great fun with it. Now that the team has received their second promotion I also need to write up a Nemesis for them. One of my favorite new rules...essentially create a Lurker that gains skills and takes injuries in every game that it is used in. Still not sure who the Nemesis should be. I can't decide between a Rogue Character or a Mummy...both have their appeal for me...once I get a suitable figure ready all systems will be a-go. Hope to get a battle report done after the long weekend.
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The Nemesis addition is inspired and fits in beautifully with the campaign aspect. I'm sure this new edition of the rules will be everything that a Wargaming Mythophile could hope for. Anxiously waiting to learn more.
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Enter the Nemesis: Slithiss the Overlord...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/18/1338_02_09_14_12_28_30.jpg)
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Love the Nemesis idea.
(And the paintjob on that fella, obviously).
8) 8)
We had something similar going on with Dr Hugh Jarse, who turned out to be a right pain in the....
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Thanks Mason, you may recognize Slithiss form my Kulten Serpent Worshipers cult. Many and various are his evil schemes...but those will have to wait. The team has been mobilized to recover some sort of objective at a Supply Drop.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/18/1338_03_09_14_5_30_50_0.jpg)
The supplies had been dropped quite a way from the intended location, several miles walk from any sort of conventional road. By the time the team arrived on the scene they were worn out from traversing the low hills and rocky plateaus in this part of...well, wherever it was. They could see the drop zone...and also, behind it, coming closer, their adversary. It looked like some sort of gigantic worm. This wasn't going to be easy.
Could this newly recruited force hope to rescue the goods? How would they stop such a monstrous opponent? What exactly does Government Agent taste like? Stay tuned for the horrifying answers to these questions! Will it shock you? You bet!
More later...
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What exactly does Government Agent taste like?
Chicken....everything does!
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Before we descend too far into the madness of the game a quick run-down of the lists. You already know about the Threshold team...all 31 pts. of them...but what did my opponent choose? Supply Drop allows for any number of Lurkers to be used, Elton (my opponent...) decided to only use one. A Great Wurm - 30 pts. and gave it Dodge for the additional point. After the first promotion the Lurkers gain a free Plot Point for each game. Elton decided on Outrageous Fortune, forcing me to re-roll two dice this game...of his choice. :-[
"Enough!" I hear you exclaim. And O.K.
On with the game!
The Threshold team approached the crates with caution. There were more than first anticipated and they would take considerable effort to move effectively. Agent Winchester barked orders at the men as they approached their target. Lovie looked over his ancient manuscripts for a suitable spell and Agent Cas meditated to bring out his Pyrokinetic abilities. Agent Ablett, new to the team and eager to prove himself rushed forward heedless of the squelching horror that was fast approaching. The beast let out a mighty roar and burrowed forward with lightning speed. Momentarily startled, the Frenchman pauses, stunned by the eldritch creature.
In game terms: The agents move up for a couple turns, Cas tries and fails and then tries and finally succeeds in unlocking his Psychic Potential. Agent Ablett gets close enough to the Wurm to fail his Terror test and go Face Up, then return to normal...without being able to shoot. :( Winchester moves up and stays in a central location to be within Nomination range of all his men.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/18/1338_03_09_14_5_30_51_1.jpg)
It could smell them, and they smelled divine. A succulent aroma which aroused the pallet of a monstrous thing accustomed to cuisine slightly less fresh. Too long had it supped on the moldering carcasses in the old cemetery. True, it had grown to a great size and enormous strength fating itself on those foul remains but everyone deserves a good meal now and then! Excited by the scent of these delicious man-morsels the beast advanced and with a mighty belch disgorged the hard bits of Mr. Paul Chesterfield; last nights dinner. The bile was thick and caustic and it burned on the mouth-parts. Yes, a change in diet would do a world of good...
Elton moves the Wurm forward...straight up the gut as they say. For a bit of fun he launches some Expectorate And critically misses. Models hit by the goo suffer a +1 Dexterity...so, good news for those Agents. ;)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/18/1338_03_09_14_5_30_51_2.jpg)
More to come in a bit...all this talk of eating has made me rather hungry... :P
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Those new agent models are looking awesome in action. Also pleased to see one of my beasties wreaking appropriate levels of havoc!
For now though, back to redesigning the website...
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The havoc has yet to begin!!!
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looking mighty fine.....theres only one thing i dislike
and thats a strong petpeeve of mine !
I HATE IT when people place models on water !!!
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Don't fret! He is actually burrowing under the water...now it is cool right? ;)
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EEEWWW! expectorant :o poor Mr.Chesterfield...wishes he had paid for the cremation now, i think! lol
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What's wrong with a giant wurm in the water? You wouldn't take the bridge...You're a giant wurm burrowing through the ground, you do want you want and go where you want...stopping only to eat tasty agents when you come across them...
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As the creature swayed drunkenly from side to side disgorging the contents of its stomach the Agents wasted no time securing the cargo and moving it out of harms way. Ablett let fly with his Tommy gun, spraying the beast at close range, but just as he shot the wurm darted sideways, avoiding the hail of hot lead that could have been its demise.
Lovie creeps ever closer...to get within range with one of his nastier spells. Ablett shoots and gets a critical hit...oh, wait. Outrageous Fortune strikes and he fails to wound. :-[ Then moves the boxes to Winchester who drags them back a little further. They are -3 Movement penalty, so it is a bit of a slow go!
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/18/1338_03_09_14_5_30_51_3.jpg)
The smell of the Frenchman is overpowering, a life spent eating fine food has lent him a particularly pleasing aroma. The Wurm can stand it no longer and rushes forward. Realizing he is about to be swallowed by a giant corpse-eating thing Agent Ablett lunges head long into his would-be-assailant shouting (as we were all taught in French class those many years ago...) "Zut Allores!"
Wurm charges Ablett but is held off...helped by the fact that the Agent Frenzies, rather than curl into a tiny ball...which is what usually happens.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/18/1338_03_09_14_5_30_51_4.jpg)
Stay tuned for the shocking conclusion...is it as bad as I remember? I think it may be!
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Mike,
You may want to add a bottle of Tequila to their equipment. That would have made the worm flee in terror!
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lol
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(http://bowendragon1.com/zencart/images/248109-01.jpg)
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How very prophetic...
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Brilliant!
8)
Love that Wurm.
:-*
Wants one.
;D
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Sadly not our worm...we have one sculpted, just not molded or painted. This particular creature is from the deranged mind of Mr. Murch. It is still available from RAFM...if memory serves.
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The situation was dire. Ablett had no chance of surviving a fight with that gigantic horror unless he had some help. Lovie opened the old scroll and began to read aloud the arcane text. He focused on the creature and in his minds eye envisioned it growing smaller, weaker. He felt a great surge of power within and released it with deadly intent. The beast let out a groan and paused momentarily...long enough for Ablett to wiggle free. Then it was on him again, extending its horrible bulk high into the air and crashing down on the powerless agent. Ablett lay smashed and bleeding out, possibly with some damage to internal organs.
Winchester paused and waited for the perfect moment, exhaled and fired his shotgun directly at where he supposed the things brain must be. Again, at the last second the wurm burrowed away and avoided the killing shot. Not deterred the agent ran to the edge of the hole and fired another blast. Blindly he stumbled backward, eyes stinging from the errant ichor that had sloshed him and that was when he heard them. A squelching, sucking, grinding sound. Clearing his eyes he saw large fat grubs crawling from the hole...toward him.
We are getting blackouts due to the summer/winter storm...I'll post a few of these shorter story elements to avoid having all my longer ones wiped out when the power goes out...again. I've already lost it twice!!! Ithaqua be damned! More later...
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Agent Cas calmly strode forward, his whole body alight with tiny motes of flame. The larvae-things were scorched to a cinder as he extended his hands and the flames cleansed them. Erupting from the ground the wurm lashed out, battering the pyrokine against a stand of trees and leaving him nearly lifeless before turning its might on the remaining agents...
:o
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Translation: Ablett is removed as (thankfully...) a Minor Injury. Winchester rolls a critical hit when shooting the Wurm...but (for the last time this game...) Outrageous Fortune strikes again. No wound. :? Using both Heroic and his Lucky Hat he finally manages to wound the thing. A feat that should have been easy enough to accomplish thanks to Lovie casting Curse Characteristic.
The Wurm spews out some grubs, which are quickly dispatched by the Pyrokinetic. The Wurm (being a Beast) strangely isn't afraid of the fire...better luck next time. :? A brief tussle ensues and again the Wurm is unafraid of the fire! :'( And then proceeds to chew on Cas resulting in another Minor Injury.
Things aren't looking good for the team. Two men down...two men left...
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Sorry for the delay on this...been a busy week around the secret lab as we get ready to launch the Kickstarter...
Winchester had no chance to think...his men were dropping like flies. Throwing caution to the wind he closed with the creature and drew his cleaver. The thing was stronger than he had imagined and a nasty bite was all he got for his troubles. Backing off and bandaging his wound the agent loaded his shotgun and prepared for the worst. As the eldritch fiend came ever closer he fired and the shell stuck in the gun. Thankfully Lovie, now out of useful spells also had a sidearm. Unfortunately the .45 was simply unable to penetrate the thick hide of the thing.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/18/1338_03_09_14_5_31_40_0.jpg)
Lovie could smell the foetid breath as the snapping mouth parts struck out at him. Realizing his plight he curled into a ball on the ground, his mind unable to deal with so much horror and death and the wurm consumed him in one bite. Using the break in fighting Winchester cleared the jam and fired into the beast and this time he did not miss. A torrent of bile and sputum shot from the ragged wound as did more of those grotesque larvae. How could he win against such odds?
Let's just say he couldn't...after jamming his gun yet again Winchester is finally removed by the Wurm as a Minor Injury. An abject failure for the team. Fortunately only one Major Injury, on Lovie...who managed to become Hardened from his ordeal. The supplies would no doubt feed the thing for another while and the team left the area empty handed and bruised.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/18/1338_03_09_14_5_31_41_1.jpg)
Sometimes you eat the worm...sometimes the worm eats you.
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Ouch!
Dont feck with the Worm!
8)
Now, about that Kickstarter...?
:D
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Just played another game, hope to get some of that report posted up soon.
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Just played another game, hope to get some of that report posted up soon.
Fine, just rub our noses in it! You get to play the new edition! We're still playing yesterdays edition! :(
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If it helps I'm not sure if second edition is any easier on the poor Threshold team...
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If it helps I'm not sure if second edition is any easier on the poor Threshold team...
I tend to enjoy wearing the "Team Lurker" shirt more. :D
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I've been passed the Solo rules for further testing, and just got my backside handed to me by a deck of cards! Once I get the hang of things and print off some better cards, I'll reset my Threshold list and see about posting some battle reports.
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Sounds great, really looking forward to the solo play aspect as that means I'll finally get to play the game.