Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Call of Cthulhu => Strange Aeons => Topic started by: jbemmett on 11 February 2016, 07:00:06 PM
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For the last few years I’ve been considering running some sort of game at one, or more, of the East Coast historical miniatures conventions. I finally pulled the trigger this year and submitted the following for Cold Wars being held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17-20 March.
“MI6 has been receiving reports of strange events and sightings – dimensional rifts, nightmarish visions, unearthly beasts – in the vicinity of Isigny-sur-Mer. As part of the multinational counter-occultism force Majestic, you have been sent to investigate the activities of Clementine Thalberg, a chief operative of the Nazi occult society The Black Sun. Will you and your fellow players be able to keep your sanity in check long enough to thwart her plans in this co-op Lovecraftian/WWWII mash-up?”
Using the Strange Aeons rules as the core and adding in elements from Arkham Horror, I’m running a co-op Lovecraftian game in a WWII setting. Some of the story elements came from the Achtung! Cthulhu source books. Here’s the “briefing” that the players will be receiving at the start of the game.
“As part of the multinational counter-occultism force Majestic, you have been sent forward to further investigate the activities of the Nazi occult society Die Scharze Sonne (The Black Sun). French Resistance in the area has provided credible reports that Clementine Thalberg, the leader of the Shub-Niggurath worshiping Handmaidens of the Dark Mother, has been operating in the locality of Isigny-sur-Mer. It is possible that Thalberg may be in possession of the Hanseatic Codex – a medieval manuscript that purportedly describes the pagan practices of an all female sect of Shub-Niggurath worshipers.
Upon rendezvousing with your Maquis contacts, Daniel Say and Audrey Mainville, they inform you that the recent occult rituals and arcane practices taking place in the vicinity have caused several inter-dimensional portals, or “gates”, to open in the outskirts of Isigny-sur-Mer. These gates have allowed mysterious and horrifying creatures to enter our world, and have altered the energies in the region causing strange events and nightmarish visions that bend and strain the psyche and constitution of even the most resolute.
Daniel and Audrey tell you that the local priest, Father Ancar, is a student of the arcane and occult and has been keeping a careful watch on the ongoing activities of Thalberg and her followers. Perhaps it would be worth your while to seek him out in the local church…”
I’m starting this thread to document my progress and experience as a first time GM at a convention and to share some of my work in progress. Perhaps others will find something valuable or inspirational within.
Cheers!
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Here's the 4'x6' board I'll be using. The characters will start on the short edge by the village square, make their way to the church and then to the woods beyond. The small Elder Sign tokens represent areas where players may have optional "encounters". The larger circles represent "gates" where random monsters spawn from. Since the last playtest I've reduced those from 6 to 4.
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_2347.jpg)
(http://[https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_2355.jpg/img]
[img]https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_2356.jpg)
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_2353.jpg)
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_2351.jpg)
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_2350.jpg)
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_2348.jpg)
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_2354.jpg)
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_2349.jpg)
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For some reason, your pictures are not showing on my screen. Did you reduce their size and make the .pngs?
Lembit
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For some reason, your pictures are not showing on my screen. Did you reduce their size and make the .pngs?
Lembit
No, they're embedded links to Google Photos. If it's a common issue, I can host them elsewhere.
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Same for me. I suspect the Google location is secure in some manner.
I post mine here, to my gallery, then link to them.
Scott
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I can't see them either, just getting a no entry sign.
I think you might need to change the google album to be public
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Thanks all.
I think I've fixed it - maybe?
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I can see them, and it was well worth the wait! :-*
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Wow. Very nice indeed.
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I see them now. Very nice terrain and buildings.
Lembit :)
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Lovely table :)
Where are the buildings from. Grand Manner?
cheers
James
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Fantastic! Can't wait for the gaming report.
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Lovely table :)
Where are the buildings from. Grand Manner?
cheers
James
Thanks much. They are from Grand Manner.
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That is a stunning table.
I would love to game on that!
:-* :-*
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That is a stunning table.
I would love to game on that!
:-* :-*
Aye, that's two of us. Bravo sir!
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Beautiful table, looking forward to the AAR.
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Thanks all for the wonderful compliments. Anyone finding themselves in Northern Virginia is more than welcome to come visit for a game.
For the Strange Aeons Vets, here are the modifications I've made to the rules. After three rounds of play testing, they all seem to work well within the framework of the scenario. Many of these are borrowed elements from Arkham Horror.
1) Card based activation like Savage Worlds - each player/monster is dealt a standard playing card face up and models are activated in descending order from the Joker to the Ace. Ties are resolved by a suit hierarchy.
2) Any time a Joker or a Spade - Jack through Ace - is dealt a monster is spawned. I have a deck of monster cards, so a random draw is made and that monster is placed D6" in a random direction from the gate nearest the model(s) triggering the spawn. That model then receives the next activation card drawn.
3) I changed the wounds stat to "Stamina" and added a value called "Sanity". If either of these drop to zero a roll on the injury table is made.
4) Sanity may be lost through spell casting attempts, events, and sanity rolls.
5) There are four card decks that contain monsters (as discussed), events, items and spells. Players have the option of spending an action to have an event in certain locations which may result in the drawing of an item or spell...or not.
6) The scope of the game is a little larger than your standard Strange Aeons scenario, so I dropped critical hits, parry and AP to streamline it. In testing most players were forgetting about them anyway.
I think that covers it. I'll try and post some of the player aids and components for the protagonists next.
Cheers.
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Hopefully this is visible. After trying several card types, I ended up going with full size sheets for the players. The game is set up for 4 Allies each running two models. The reverse of the sheet has a player briefing and a rules summary.
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/allied-cards-page-1.jpg?w=735)
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Here are the miniatures I'm using for the protagonists for the game. Most are two person teams - singles are NPCs that may join the party, others are backups in case things go horribly wrong early on.
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/dsc_0008.jpeg?w=490)
Alan Partridge - British Commando Demolitionist
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/dsc_0007.jpeg?w=490)
Bill Millin - British Commando Bagpiper
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_20160121_092617.jpeg?w=490)
Craig Harrison - US Sniper/Shapeshifter
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_20160121_092537.jpeg?w=490)
James Nicholson - US BAR Gunner
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/dsc_0009.jpeg?w=490)
Daniel Say - Game Warden
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/dsc_0003.jpeg?w=490)
Audrey Mainville - Psychic Operative
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/dsc_0005.jpeg?w=490)
Warren Ames - US Airborne K9 Handler
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/dsc_0006.jpeg?w=490)
Riley - US Airborne Attack Dog
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_20160121_092256.jpeg?w=490)
Lt. Allen Barham - US Airborne Platoon Leader
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/dsc_0002.jpeg?w=490)
Cliff Hughes - US Rocket Trooper
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_20160121_092433.jpeg?w=490)
Thomas Bentley - British Airborne Medic
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_20160121_092032.jpeg?w=490)
Father Ancar - Exorcist
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/dsc_0004.jpeg?w=490)
Marcel Langer - Undertaker
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I like the backgrounds and the figure choices are excellent, full of character and fit the bill perfectly.
8) 8)
Oh, and I love the rules for the bagpipes. They often have the same effect on me.
:D :D
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I like the backgrounds and the figure choices are excellent, full of character and fit the bill perfectly.
8) 8)
Oh, and I love the rules for the bagpipes. They often have the same effect on me.
:D :D
Why thank you Sir.
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Last week I was able to spend some time on the "desktop publishing" piece of the game - typing up some narratives, GM notes and, more importantly, the cards. Here are a few samples of the card decks I'm making. Fortunately I had held on to some Fantasy Flight sleeves which worked out pretty great. Here's some samples:
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/encounters.jpg?w=980)
Encounter Cards
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/items.jpg?w=980)
Item Cards
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/spells.jpg?w=980)
Spell Cards
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/monsters.jpg?w=980)
Monster Cards
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/img_20160228_171500.jpg?w=980)
And here they are sleeved in Litko card trays.
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This week I've been polishing off a few odds and ends for the game
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_123823.jpg?w=490)
The rest of my Litko tokens came
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_125608.jpg?w=490)
Some markers for satchel charges, the shapeshifter's gear, a trap and some bait
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_121634.jpg?w=490)
The animals the shapeshifter may randomly shift into, based on a die roll - penguin, cobra, rat, bear, owl and wolf
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_114350.jpg?w=490)
The ritual circle for the summoning ceremony
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That looks AWESOME! Love the cards! :-* :-* :-*
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Fantastic!!!
Shame that for the first time in about 7 years I can't make it to Cold Wars 2016.
:-[
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That looks AWESOME! Love the cards! :-* :-* :-*
Thanks - mostly "borrowed" from Arkham Horror.
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Fantastic!!!
Shame that for the first time in about 7 years I can't make it to Cold Wars 2016.
:-[
Thanks. Do you attend any of the other HMGS East conventions?
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Stunning markers and beasties!
:-* :-*
Not a fan of plastic tokens, though, as I feel they would detract from your lovely scenic board.
Horses for courses, of course....
;)
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Do you attend any of the other HMGS East conventions?
I'm usually a regular at Fall In and Cold Wars.
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I'm usually a regular at Fall In and Cold Wars.
So if it goes well at Cold Wars, I may run it at Historicon and Fall In.
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The summoner turns into Gunter....
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So I have about a week and a half before this needs to go "live". I had a pretty successful dry run over the weekend, and have finished all the miniatures. Here are some of the "bad guys".
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_124931.jpg?w=980)
A Watcher from Uncle Mike
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_125259.jpg?w=980)
A Conglomerate from Reaper
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_125243.jpg?w=980)
A Werewolf - I think this is from the old Deadlands range
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_124427.jpg?w=980)
A Night Gaunt from Avolak
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_123244.jpg?w=980)
Some Cultists from Pulp Figures
More to come...
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While they are all very nice, the eye on that Watcher is exceptional!
:-*
And damn creepy!
:o
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Love the eye on the Watcher :-*
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Very very cool stuff :o
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Is that a real eye?!!! >:D
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Thanks all.
I cheated a bit with the eye. I painted it white, then made a decal from a photo of an iris/pupil I found on the web. I sliced it almost like a pie so it would lay over the spherical shape. I then hit it with a few applications of decal solvent. Once it had set I "varnished" it with Future Floor Polish, and then washed it with some diluted Scale75 ink.
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Thanks all.
I cheated a bit with the eye. I painted the white, then made a decal from a photo of an iris/pupil I found on the web. I sliced it almost like a pie so it would lay over the spherical shape. I then hit it with a few applications of decal solvent. Once it had set I "varnished" it with Future Floor Polish, and then washed it with some diluted Scale75 ink.
Bloody clever and a great result.
8) 8)
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Bloody clever and a great result.
8) 8)
Thanks!
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Some more Lurkers lurking...
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_123655.jpg?w=980)
A Leng Spider from Reaper w/swarms, egg marker and cocoon
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_124154.jpg?w=980)
Some Grave Grubs from Uncle Mike
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_124057.jpg?w=980)
A Flying Polyp proxy from Fantasy Flight
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_124337.jpg?w=980)
A Shambler from RAFM
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_124526.jpg?w=980)
A Yithian from Pazio
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Fantastic painting!!!! :-*
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These look fantastic! But that eye is the best I've seen...and I've seen a few!
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Thanks all.
I cheated a bit with the eye. I painted it white, then made a decal from a photo of an iris/pupil I found on the web. I sliced it almost like a pie so it would lay over the spherical shape. I then hit it with a few applications of decal solvent. Once it had set I "varnished" it with Future Floor Polish, and then washed it with some diluted Scale75 ink.
Is the ink how you got that fantastic bloodshot red look?
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These look fantastic! But that eye is the best I've seen...and I've seen a few!
Thanks Uncle Mike, and thanks for such a cool mini.
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Is the ink how you got that fantastic bloodshot red look?
It is, and thank you.
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Here be the last batch - the next update will be a post-convention AAR (I hope).
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_125228.jpg?w=490)
A Fire Daemon from Reaper
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_124907.jpg?w=490)
A Byakee from Fantasy Flight
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_124752.jpg?w=490)
A Daemonic Hound from Ral Partha (maybe?)
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_124633.jpg?w=490)
A Mi-Go from Pazio
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_124250.jpg?w=490)
A Formless Thing proxy from Fantasy Flight
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_123401.jpg?w=490)
Some Goat Spawn from Fantasy Flight
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_123138.jpg?w=490)
A group of She-Wolves from Pulp Miniatures
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_122755.jpg?w=490)
Some Black Sun Troopers from Pulp Miniatures
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_122624.jpg?w=490)
A Banshee from Reaper
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_122329.jpg?w=490)
Some Ghouls from Avolak
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_122141.jpg?w=490)
A Blasphemous Construct from Reaper
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160303_122029.jpg?w=490)
A Mad Scientist from Artizan and some zombies from Modiphius
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Outstanding!!!! :o
Love the glowing eye effect on the Daemonic Hound. I'll have to track down some of the Fantasy Flight minis.
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Nice work! Is your formless thing proxy something from FF's Descent (I dont recognise it from their CoC ranges)?
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Nice work! Is your formless thing proxy something from FF's Descent (I dont recognise it from their CoC ranges)?
Thanks!
It's this one:
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/arkham-horror-premium-figures/products/child-of-abhoth/
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Well, fortunately both sessions of the game went off without a hitch and apparently my write up sparked enough interest. I had slotted for four players both sessions and Friday I ran it with eight and Saturday with seven. There was a lot of positive feedback so unless they were being overly polite I think everyone had a genuinely good time. The protagonists won both games and saved the world.
It was also a very satisfying and fun experience for me being a first time GM at a convention. So much so that I'll be running two more sessions at Historicon and I've already started to work on Chapter II of a now planned tribology. The next installment will be titled "Run Silent, Run Deep Ones" and will feature some sort of raid on a docked U-boat (German Deep One Hybrids anyone?).
I was so busy running the game that I didn't have time to take notes for an AAR. I did grab a few pics though.
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160317_203052.jpg?w=980)
A sampling of the Elder Sign cookies my wife made for the players.
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160318_105140.jpg?w=980)
My corner of the universe back by the loading dock - where I belong.
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160318_121424.jpg?w=980)
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160318_121415.jpg?w=980)
(https://herrbrush.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_20160318_121404.jpg?w=980)
A few pregame shots from Friday.
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That table looks great!
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What splendid biscuits. Your game was clearly an irresistible tour de force.
Also, biscuits. Just sayin'. .
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This looks great! Hope to find out more...also, another vote for biscuits.
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Great looking board.
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Your thread is always inspirational, great stuff. Any chance of marketing the cookies? ;)
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Your thread is always inspirational, great stuff. Any chance of marketing the cookies? ;)
Thanks so much.
I've told my wife many times she should have a side business baking. If you're in the states we'll send you a batch.
The cutter came from Etsy, BTW.