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Miniatures Adventure => Pulp => Topic started by: mikedemana on January 19, 2014, 07:23:58 PM

Title: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil (AAR added 2/17/14)
Post by: mikedemana on January 19, 2014, 07:23:58 PM: It is about time for a new chapter of
(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakLogo.jpg)

Here's the briefing that the Western archeological leagues will be getting. The scenario is planned for next Sunday, Jan. 26th. My goal is to set up the board the day before and take some good scenic shots of it. If I get real energetic, I will create a little slideshow previewing the action, and post it here...

Western Archeologist Briefing
Near the Ta-bo Mountains, French Indochina
December 15, 1930

   After collecting all the clues you could from the site of the attack on the Portuguese missionary post, you have pieced together a partial story. This area is called the Ta-bo Mountains because, over the years, it has been subject to irregular raids by a diminutive tribe called the Ta-bo. If this was Africa instead of Southeast Asia, you’d call them Pygmies. You’ve learned the Indochinese fear them. They spit when they talk about them and make a sign to wards off the “evil eye.” The Indochinese peasants say the Ta-bo are cannibals. They raid when game is scarce in their jungle homeland, and they need food. They are just as happy taking an unfortunate villager back for the tribal cook pot as a goat, chicken, or cow.
   You follow their trail down out of the hills, towards what appears to be an nearly unbroken canopy of green jungle. It is pierced here and there by mountain peaks, looming like watch towers over a landscape choked with trees, bushes, vines, and every plant imaginable. Occasionally, you catch flashes of sunlight from muddy, greenish-brown rivers slithering through the landscape. It gets hotter and hotter as you descend, and the insects begin to swarm as you descend beneath the canopy of trees.
   The attackers seemed to stick to a muddy trail. Tracking them is much easier than you’d dared hope. If you are to have any chance to find the lost city that Brother Virigi wrote about, you’ll need to rescue the monk before he becomes the pygmies’ next dinner! Two days into the jungle, you hear the drums in the distance. Soon, you seem to be passing between them, as you can hear their menacing throbbing to each side. Still greater numbers seem to come from ahead — where the trail appears to be heading. There are numerous side paths and forks on the trail, but each choice you make seems to lead you towards the sound of the loudest drumming.
   Finally, you come to what appears to be a crossroads alongside a jungle river. Trees have been felled that could easily be bound together into a raft. Another path leads up a rocky hill, looking like it circles around behind the area where the drumming is concentrated. The path through the jungle forks, tunneling through dark trees and vine-clogged limbs — looking as inviting as the maw of a giant serpent. You stare into the jungle, feeling the persistent drum beat in your chest, trying to decide which way looks best. Your leader’s voice startles you when it barks, “All right, here’s what we’re going to do…”

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Miscellaneous/Map_ComingtoaBoil_zpsc359b64e.jpg)
The map I am using as a guide to create the board for the scenario

More to come...!

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: Wolf Girl on January 20, 2014, 02:47:48 AM: The board looks like it's going to be awesome. Can,t wait to see the battle report :)
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: Mad Lord Snapcase on January 20, 2014, 09:55:19 AM: Really looking forward to this game! :-*

Now we are going to see your rope bridge in action. The map looks fascinating, how big is your game board for this?
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: mikedemana on January 20, 2014, 12:28:36 PM: Thanks..., the board will be 4 feet square. It will also inaugurate the slip over game board I designed and built to go over my living room coffee table.

One week to go...!

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: aggro84 on January 20, 2014, 03:53:22 PM: Looks great. I am a big fan of your work, so I am looking forward to seeing how it all plays out.
:D
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: Bluebear on January 21, 2014, 12:10:56 AM: This looks very interesting, sir.

If you can, it would be nice to see the various Leagues photoed and profiled a bit so that we will know which figures go with which League.

-- Jeff
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: mikedemana on January 21, 2014, 03:37:48 AM: Quote from: Bluebear on January 21, 2014, 12:10:56 AM
If you can, it would be nice to see the various Leagues photoed and profiled a bit so that we will know which figures go with which League.

Good call, Jeff. I will attempt to do that. After scenario one, I gave the players the option of re-buying their leagues. Two took me up on it, and a third is saying he will. My guess is he'll try to send it to me Saturday or Sunday, and I may just tell him that it will be in play for next time. I've got the new cards I made for the leagues, which I should be able to simply put in as images.

Thanks for the kind words. I am working on the last of the terrain pieces necessary -- jungle/forest paths. I'll post something up on how I did them, but I essentially used a method others on the forum (like Wirelizard) have done, with acrylic caulk. Of course, I know me. So, once those are done, I'll try to squeeze in another batch of jungle pieces because I can't possibly be relaxed and costing into the game...

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: d phipps on January 21, 2014, 09:05:00 AM: Looks awesome! Your Pulp Alley games keep getting better and better. ;D

HAVE FUN
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: mikedemana on January 21, 2014, 10:16:57 PM: Quote from: d phipps on January 21, 2014, 09:05:00 AM
Looks awesome! Your Pulp Alley games keep getting better and better. ;D

Hope that's what the players say Sunday...! lol lol

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: mikedemana on January 22, 2014, 04:04:12 AM: Here are the leagues...not sure if all of them will be in attendance, Sunday. Notice that I am going with the 3-man leagues (Leader, Sidekick, Ally) suggested by Dave and Mila for larger games. I will probably let them purchase backup and stuff this scenario. I didn't do that last time because I wanted to see how quickly 3-character leagues played. I feel the game went fast enough I can allow in a 4th character for the league if they want to spend experience on it, or earned bonuses on it.

On some of the cards below I have the League perk listed, but on others I do not. All league perks are "suspended" until I figure out a balance for everyone having a 3-character league. That is why, for example, the Fire Coral shows "Stealthy Agents," but then the characters each purchase Stealth. I'll redo the cards once I figure out a more fair way to do it (since I'm not using the 10-slot league in these games). Hope that all makes sense.

So, without further ado, here are the dramatis personae...

DAKOTA SMITH'S LEAGUE
(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakotasLeague_zps36be3eee.jpg)
It was Dakota Smith -- renowned archeologist from Portland State University, who received the fateful letter from Brother Virigi about the lost city he'd discovered. The Portuguese monk had left on a mission trip to the mainland when Dakota and his companions arrived in Macau. They tracked down the Portuguese Mission only to discover it had been raided by a pygmy tribe called the Ta-Bo. Dakota is in hot pursuit of the cannibals, hoping to be in time to save Brother Virigi from the cookpot!

VON JAEGER'S LEAGUE
(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/VonJaegersLeague_zps4d8489bc.jpg)
A spy in Dakota's office tipped off German archeologist Von Jaeger to Brother Virigi's letter. The appearance of the trigger-happy Nazi and his thugs were an unpleasant surprise for the other archeologists. Von Jaeger wants to get ahold of Brother Virigi, too, because the lost city he supposedly found is rumored to have a powerful artifact hidden there -- the Tears of the Buddha. His superiors hope a military use can be found for the artifact, if it is found.

HARRIS MCLEOD'S LEAGUE
(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/McLeodsLeague_zps317257db.jpg)
This agent of the British Museum was tipped off about Brother Virgi's supposed discovery by their contacts in Hong Kong. McLeod and his companions arrived hoping to score big by being the first to discover a new lost city. McLeod knows that the first team in gets first access to valuable acquisitions for the museum in London -- which pays him well to keep it stocked with Southeast Asian antiquities.

PIERRE FOURNEREAU'S LEAGUE
(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/PierresLeague_zps5cefa4ae.jpg)
Son of the famous discoverer of Angkor Wat, Pierre thirsts to make his own discovery. When the French Indochinese government tipped him off to the arrival of the American, German, and British archeological teams, he knew someone had found a tip. He is hot on the heels of the others, hoping to get there first, and see that his name takes his rightful place in the newspapers next to his father's.

SHANNON'S IRISH LEAGUE
(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/ShannonsLeague_zpsd20b1225.jpg)
Fortune hunter Lady Shannon was on the trail of a smaller prize when she bumped into the other archeological teams at the Portuguese mission. She interrogated survivors to learn that the Portuguese monk knew about a bigger discovery than she'd been tracking down. She and her guns-for-hire quickly switched targets and are tailing the others, hoping to dash in and snatch the prize from under their nose (whatever it ends up being...!).

THE ORDER OF THE FIRE CORAL
(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/FireCoralLeague_zps923c8097.jpg)
The mysterious and secret order of the Fire Coral is sworn to protect the religious artifacts of Asia from defilement and theft by the Western devils. They know the prize that lays in the lost city that Virigi spotted -- its spies at the Macau monastery having told them of the monk's tales. A team of martial artists was sent to frustrate the Westerners' plans and see that either Virigi or his discoveries never fall into their hands.

That is the tale up to this point. The story arc should last for a good four more scenarios before it comes to a final conclusion. It could be more, if my feverish mind generates even more outlandish ideas... o_o lol

I'm pretty excited about this game, Sunday. It should be one of the most -- if not the most -- visually spectacular games I've run. It will feature flickering cannibal cookpots, rope bridges, skull cave, mysterious idols, pygmy cannibals, and more...! Stay tuned to this channel for more exciting action of...Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures...!!!

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: Mad Lord Snapcase on January 22, 2014, 12:38:28 PM: Your various terrain items that you have been posting are fantastic, really looking forward to seeing them all in your game. I wish I could pop over on Sunday and watch but I think it's about 3,750 miles in a straight line from me to you!
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: FramFramson on January 22, 2014, 08:28:55 PM: Great bunch of leagues. What League perk is "Irish Archaeologists" supposed to represent? Or did you just use the League Perks as League names? (Since your Company of Heroes doesn't actually have two sidekicks either)
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: mikedemana on January 22, 2014, 10:09:58 PM: The Irish are the creation of one of the players. Painted and designed his own league. Not sure what the storyline for them is other than I got the impression they're fortune hunters. At least that's how I'm portraying them in my story...!

Ditto, Snapcase! I wish I could play in YOUR game. As you say, though, a bit of a haul for an evening of drinks and gaming...

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: FramFramson on January 23, 2014, 03:28:23 AM: What I mean is that except for "Irish Archaeologists" the name for each league is also the name of a League Perk you can give your League in the PA rulebook. I thought that those were the League Perks you'd given each league. So "Network of Supporters" meant that Dakota Smith's League had the "Network of Supporters" league perk, etc.
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: mikedemana on January 23, 2014, 12:58:07 PM: Quote from: FramFramson on January 23, 2014, 03:28:23 AM
What I mean is that except for "Irish Archaeologists" the name for each league is also the name of a League Perk you can give your League in the PA rulebook. I thought that those were the League Perks you'd given each league. So "Network of Supporters" meant that Dakota Smith's League had the "Network of Supporters" league perk, etc.

Yep, you're absolutely right. And they were the league perks for our first game, which featured 10-slot leagues. In the second game, I tried the 3-character league suggestion and "suspended" all league perks. I kept them on the cards, anyway, in case I went back to them. The guy with the Irish archeologists never chose a perk because I wasn't using them when he created the league (for the second game).

Sorry for the confusion!

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: FramFramson on January 23, 2014, 05:00:44 PM: Ahh, okay!
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: Ramirez Noname on January 23, 2014, 05:07:13 PM: Looking good, especially like the clear league cards you've developed.

Consider the idea "borrowed"

RMZ
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: d phipps on January 24, 2014, 07:34:58 AM: Quote from: Ramirez Noname on January 23, 2014, 05:07:13 PM
Looking good, especially like the clear league cards you've developed.

Consider the idea "borrowed"

Yes, indeed! THANKS so much for sharing the your character cards. It's fun to see all the different abilities you've selected. :D

HAVE FUN
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: mikedemana on January 26, 2014, 04:38:10 AM: See if this link works...a little video preview for the game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj9oPKg84gM&sns=em

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: Mad Lord Snapcase on January 26, 2014, 08:35:41 AM: Brilliant! Simply superb, the scenery looks fantastic! Great video! :-*
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: mikedemana on January 26, 2014, 09:38:35 PM: Thanks...but our game may be cancelled tonight. We have a "Level 2" snow emergency. I just cleared about a foot of snow off my driveway earlier today. Some of my players have already called off...so my guess is it will wait until next week at the earliest.

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: d phipps on January 26, 2014, 11:02:37 PM: Awesome video, Mike! :-* :-*

Quote from: mikedemana on January 26, 2014, 09:38:35 PM
our game may be cancelled tonight. We have a "Level 2" snow emergency. I just cleared about a foot of snow off my driveway earlier today.

Stay safe!
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: Mad Lord Snapcase on January 27, 2014, 12:07:13 PM: Sorry to hear about the snow delaying your game, I'm really keen to see all those marvellous terrain items in use. Keep us posted.
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: pauld on January 27, 2014, 10:46:47 PM: That really is the way to set a scene :o

- I'm off to get a bucket of popcorn and a large drink, then settle down before the lights dim and the main feature begins

Excellent
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: Doug ex-em4 on January 28, 2014, 07:40:19 PM: Nice video- better than nice, actually. Congratulations.

I'm hooked now.

Doug
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: Dr Mathias on January 28, 2014, 09:10:35 PM: Excellent!
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: mikedemana on February 16, 2014, 08:44:21 PM: Things are finally coming to a boil!

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/Dakota3_zpsef5e5ef2.jpg)

The game board is set up again, the forecast does not call for snow, and the players should be arriving in about 3 hours...

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: d phipps on February 17, 2014, 12:20:55 AM: Looks awesome, Mike! Did you make some new Pulp Alley character cards as well?

HAVE FUN
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: Mad Lord Snapcase on February 17, 2014, 11:55:55 AM: The board looks fantastic! I hope the snow held off?
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil
Post by: mikedemana on February 17, 2014, 06:30:18 PM: (http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/Dakota3_zpsef5e5ef2.jpg)
An overview of the most elaborate table I've ever set up: the river encircles an island in the center of the table. White steam marks where the cannibal cookpot has Brother Virigi on "simmer". The cliffs and pathways represent the various entry points for the five archeological factions.

The drum beats and howling from the pygmy cannibal village unnerved the archeologists as they crept towards it. Through the trees, they could see the glow of flames. Would they be too late? Would the Portuguese monk, Brother Virigi, already be the village dinner by the time they arrived? Caution and haste were called for at both times.

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakotaCookpot01_Players_zpsd3ed7621.jpg)
The players study their initial fortune cards and try to map out a strategy to be the first to rescue Brother Virigi

On the river, Harris McLeod poled his hastily-built raft to shore, motioning his companions to follow him. The monk knew the location to the hidden city, and God alone knew the riches he could find there for the British Museum! Not far away, Pierre Fournereau hissed instructions to his men, "Zee monk must be rescued at all costs! Only with him, will we find zee ruins we seek..." Far above them, Von Jaeger and his Germans surveyed the scene from a rocky cliff. Giant stone idols loomed out of the jungle -- doubtless showered with riches by the savages of the jungle. Hurrying down the path leading to the cannibal village, a step ahead of the Germans, Dakota Smith and his friends also were eyeing the same giant stone heads, and the riches that may lay hidden near them. Another group of fortune hunters, Lady Shannon's Irish, looked down from a rocky hill at the two paths ahead of them. Should they cross the perilous looking rope bridge -- the quickest way to the village -- or detour to the temple below them and search it? Meanwhile, hidden in the jungle, three agents of the Order of the Fire Coral watched the approach of the westerners -- vowing the foreign devils would not succeed.

The leader of the secret martial arts society, Opay, saw the Irish head towards the temple and acted first. He found a way into the temple and discovered the skeleton on the floor. The satchel of the long-dead foreigner carried maps, he saw, maps that must not fall into the hands of the foreign devils! Before he could escape the temple, though, the rugged Irish mercenary Ryan O'Shea burst through the door and the two struggled over the satchel. Eventually, Opay disengaged and dove out through the window. There, he had to dodge a fusilade of shots fired by Ryan's companions. Unscathed, he scampered off into the jungle. Here was one clue to the Forbidden City's location that the Westerners would never find!

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakotaCookpot02_IdolGermansAmericans_zps5b48c1c8.jpg)
Both the German and American archeologist leagues close in on one of the stone idols. Dakota Smith's band would spend the game frustrating their rival Germans, snatching treasure after treasure from under their nose.

On the other side of the village, Dakota Smith and his pal Harold found their way to one of the giant stone idols. Together, they pried out the immense ruby eyes, and disappeared into the brush as the sound of German voices drew near. Von Jaeger, cursing that Fraulein Blucher had fallen and knocked herself out climbing down from the cliff, let off a stream of Teutonic obscenities as he saw his rival Dakota disappear into the jungle. The empty eye sockets of the idol seemed to be mocking him. He and Otto hurried out onto the path, where they saw Dakota Smith and Dolly Flanders clambering up a cliff path towards another one of the savage's stone idols. Chuckling evilly, he and Otto Tulmann fired bursts of automatic fire above the Americans, which set loose a rockslide. Dakota reached for Dolly's hand as she slipped, but missed and watched her fall, knocked senseless onto the rocks below. "Zat is for Frau Blucher, mein American..."he growled. Dakota leapt up and blazed away at the Germans with his six-shooter, who ducked, then fired back. Harold Fortwine, who had made it to the bridge leading to the village, hearing the firefight, turned and pulled out his revolver and joined in, as well.

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakotaCookpot03_ShootoutAmericanGerman_zpsef1f8600.jpg)
Dakota blazes away at Von Jaeger and Otto Tulmann below, while Dolly takes a tumble from the rocky cliff path

Harris McLeod and Maj. Speke-Eastman had looted an idol of their own when they were surprised by the Fire Coral agent Jaz Minh leaping onto the path next to them. Inexplicably, all were too stunned to attack each other. Instead, the speedy martial artist raced up the path towards the cannibal village. Dumbfounded, the two Brits looked at each other, "Bloody Hell...?" Harris cocked his head, and asked, "Say, my good major, have you seen Clara?"

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakotaCookpot04_BritsFireCoral_zpsc5d343a0.jpg)
A "Parley" fortune card made for this comic moment as Jaz Minh leaps out from the underbrush at Harris McLeod and Maj. Speke-Eastman, only to have all concerned stare at each other until she darted off.

The major looked back on the path and shook his head. "She was behind us just a moment ago..." In the woods a ways off, Harris' niece lay unconscious. They pygmies looming above her noticed the two Brits, and turned to stalk them next.

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakotaCookpot06_RopeBridge_zpsf73f6cfb.jpg)
Tex becomes my rope bridge's first (and probably not last) victim as his cowboy boots break through the rotted slats and send him hurtling towards the river below

Meanwhile, Lady Shannon's American mercenary, Tex, swallowed and tread softly out onto the rope bridge. His cowboy boots seemed to sink into the soft, almost rotted wood until there was a crash. He caught himself, though, and slowly dragged himself onto the next wooden slat. Beneath him, the waters of the jungle river writhed with evil dark shapes. Tex watched them for a few seconds, then pulled himself up and raced for the end of the bridge. There was another crash, and the American screamed as he fell towards the river below.

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakotaCookpot07_RescueVirigi_zps7d026999.jpg)
Cue climactic orchestra music: With a display of athletic prowess, French leader Pierre Fournereau kicks aside pygmies and rescues Brother Virigi from the cookpot

There was a chorus of shouts and the drumming ceased when Pierre and his Frenchmen came charging across a bamboo bridge into town. Pygmies ran towards them, but Pierre kicked them aside. Dr. Lambert swatted another with his stout leather briefcase, while Jacques Nero blazed away with his shotgun, scattering the crowd of cannibals. Pierre hurled himself across the village and up the wooden plank that led to the boiling and hissing cookpot. He picked up the two pygmies who were poking the flames with their spears and hurled them to the ground. With a display of superhuman strength, the athletic French archeologist snapped the leather bonds holding Brother Virigi and lifted him bodily out of the cookpot. The monk was flushed red and looked slightly scalded, but seemed not unduly hurt. Pierre half-dragged, and half-carried him back down the plank towards his companions.

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakotaCookpot08_FrenchBridgeBattle_zps7da39586.jpg)
Jaz Minh bravely hurls herself on the three Frenchmen to keep Virigi (and his knowledge of the Forbidden City) out of the hands of the foreign devils

There was a shout and the martial artist Jaz Minh raced towards Pierre and began kicking and punching the Frenchman, who fended off her blows. There was an even louder shriek of fury, and the pygmies of the village converged on the intruders. Jaz Minh gasped as a pygmy spear laid open her leg. The Frenchmen knocked away pygmies from all sides, gathered up the monk and moved towards the bridge. Pierre handed the monk off to the doctor, and stood as a valiant rearguard, battering aside any pygmies that tried to follow.

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakotaCookpot05_IrishFireCoralFight_zps34ace09e.jpg)
Another agent of the Order of the Fire Coral, Tatko, bravely holds off the Irish leader and sidekick for several turns -- keeping them out of the action

Not far away, the martial artist Tatko and the Irish fortune hunters Lady Shannon and Ryan were engaged in a fierce brawl themselves. Tatko showed blazing speed in avoiding the attacks of the two Irish. The furious clamor from the village prompted them to break off their melee, and sneak towards the path to investigate. When they saw Dr. Lambert hurrying the monk down the path, they knew the French had been successful. Tatko stepped out onto the path for a clear throw, and zipped two shuriken at the archeologist. Dr. Lambert calmly ducked, then opened his briefcase, pulled out a revolver, and blazed away, wounding Tatko. Lady Shannon and Ryan appeared and both raised their weapons. "The monk comes with us!" they shouted. Lambert trained his revolver on them and fired. The Irish clucked in disbelief, "Och, bad decision, laddie..." They aimed at the doctor and squeezed their triggers..."Click! Click!" Out of ammunition -- both of them! The two let out a stream of curses in Gaelic as the Frenchman scooted past them, laughing.

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakotaCookpot10_LambertsRun_zpsee349477.jpg)
Clutching the monk's arm, Dr. Lambert runs the gauntlet of Tatko, Lady Shannon, and Ryan -- aided by not one but two "Out of Ammo" fortune cards

Meanwhile, far away in the jungle, Dakota Smith was definitely not laughing as he fled from the angry orangutan, whose frustrated howls rivaled those of the pygmies. Although he had not rescued the monk, he was somewhat relieved to see the French had done so. Now, all he would have to do would be to follow the French to the hidden city! He'd calmly finished looting the last of the pygmy idols and had been sneaking off into the jungle when he'd surprised the massive ape. His shots back at it did not seem to deter it from its chase, though. Eventually, he blundered onto the path, where he met Harold Fortwine, carrying Dolly Flanders. "What's that sticking out of your tail end, Harold?" Dakota asked.

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/DakotaCookpot09_DakotasChase_zps0758a730.jpg)
A comic end to the tale was a great ape chasing a wounded Dakota Smith out of the jungle

The burly academic grunted, "Cursed pygmy arrow!" Behind them, they heard more howls, though they could not tell if it was pygmies or apes. The two giggled and fled off into the jungle, not sticking around to find out.

Our third game of Pulp Alley was a blast. I had six players -- five archeological leagues, and one martial arts society whose job is to frustrate the objective of the others. Each team except for the martial arts society had a Leader, Sidekick, and Ally. Humorously, four of the five allies ended up being knocked down and out -- and all by the play of Fortune Cards. Both Frau Blucher and Dolly Flanders took tumbles on perilous cliff paths, while Tex was the first character to try to cross my rope bridge (and failed). British Clara was ambushed by pygmies in the woods early on. The only Ally to survive was the French Jacques Nero.

The French won the scenario, with the heroic charge led by their leader, Pierre Fournereau. They were really the only faction who made a concerted effort to go for the major plot point -- Brother Virigi stewing in the cookpot. All of the others were distracted by the minor plot points of idols and temples. The Germans in particular, spent the game chasing after Dakota Smith and his band after they snatched a plot point from under their noses. The Irish were also frustrated, but by the Order of the Fire Coral. First, Opay stole the plot point out of the temple just ahead of them. Then Tatko was a one-man wrecking and dodging crew, holding off the Irish leader and sidekick single-handedly. The Order of the Fire Coral has three sidekicks instead of the Leader/Sidekick/Ally combination. They played masterfully this time. They did not win, as the French had the major plot point, but they prevented the Irish from being a factor. The British succeeded in looting one idol, and seemed content with that. Dakota Smith surprisingly ignored the quick pathway to the village and left it to the French to rescue Brother Virigi, while he went off idol hunting. The Americans snagged two plot points, and escaped off board.

The players all seemed to have a good time...well, except for the Germans! We are getting better at creating the storyline of what happens in each perilous area, and making up what form each challenge takes. In the extremely perilous river island -- the cannibal village -- the perils were simply pygmies rushing at the players. Easier challenges represented lone pygmies, while difficult ones were swarms of them. The systems forces us to tell the story as we go along, and it often turns out to be a fairly hilarious one, too! Seven friends sitting around the table can be pretty ruthless when it comes to thinking of embarrassing things that happened to your characters when they fail challenges...!

The next chapter will find the archeologists finally exploring the hidden city that Brother Virigi had spotted so long ago. Stay tuned to this channel for more thrilling Oriental Adventures with Dakota Smith...!
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil (AAR added 2/17/14)
Post by: FramFramson on February 17, 2014, 06:44:31 PM: (http://p.funnypicker.com/pic/480/39/img_2348039_529db1531e037471544.gif)
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil (AAR added 2/17/14)
Post by: Vonkluge on February 17, 2014, 07:21:39 PM: Bravo! Top Drawer stuff! ;D

(http://www.historicalhobbies.com/images/HHgifs/funnyanimal60.gif)
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil (AAR added 2/17/14)
Post by: d phipps on February 17, 2014, 07:40:41 PM: Fantastic!

If I remember right, this is the first time one of the leagues captured the Major Plot Point? Well done!

I think you've done a remarkable job hosting these Pulp Alley games for your friends, and I'm glad you all are having fun! :D

THANKS
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil (AAR added 2/17/14)
Post by: Amalric on February 18, 2014, 02:04:57 AM: WOW :o
just Wow!
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil (AAR added 2/17/14)
Post by: Marine0846 on February 18, 2014, 03:16:19 AM: Story, figures and terrain,
all just super.
Love everything you have done. :-*
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil (AAR added 2/17/14)
Post by: Mad Lord Snapcase on February 18, 2014, 03:13:21 PM: :-* Everything just perfect. That game must have been worth waiting for after the delay from the snow! Everything a Pulp game needs was in there and a brilliant story line to boot. :-*

When's the next game? Presumably starring that lovely temple you made?

Quote
Stay tuned to this channel for more thrilling Oriental Adventures with Dakota Smith...!

I will!
Title: Re: Dakota Smith's Oriental Adventures, Part 3: Coming to a Boil (AAR added 2/17/14)
Post by: mikedemana on February 19, 2014, 04:04:35 AM: Thanks, everyone! I appreciate the kind words.

The next chapter will probably be in a month or so. I have all the terrain done (as you saw with the temples I've been building). So, it is just a matter of scheduling. When they get to the lost city, they'll find inscriptions and such that lure them on to find the fabled artifact, the Tears of the Buddha :o. That will take them across jungles and mountains -- long untrod by the foot of man. Who knows what dangers lurk there...? ;)

I'm glad folks are enjoying the story. My players seem to be having fun, and that is all you can really ask when you spring a new period and rules set on them...!

Mike Demana