Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Gothic Horror => Topic started by: Vagabond on November 13, 2016, 02:52:53 PM
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Just had my 1st full game using the Chaos in Carpathia rules and thought I would post it for comments as to how I could improve on the gothicness and horrorness of it.
Chaos in Cambridge
For the part few weeks strange doings have been happening in Little Piddling in the Marsh. (sorry Lord Snapcase)
First a sheep was found savaged, throat torn out, lots of blood but the carcase was mainly intact. This was put down to wild dogs, foxes or even as one or two of the older folk muttered - wolves.
They knew it was common knowledge that wolves had been eradicated 150 years ago, but in the dark of the night, with the full moon shining, what else could have made that chilling howling.
Then a few nights later 4 of the village guard dogs disappeared without a trace. Great big beasts they were, steady and reliable dogs. Just disappeared into the night! People were starting to get nervous.
When farmer Prendergast’s bull was found dead, again with his throat ripped out, things were getting really scary. This was not the work of foxes or dogs.
Word was sent to the big house.
Finally when Mary Scroggins didn’t return home after visiting her friend in the next village Big Piddling over the Hill, Sir Marmaduke Langdale the local landowner with 3 of his friends and comrades in arms decided they would have to intervene.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_03_58.jpg)
Little Piddling in the Marsh on a moonlit but overcast night. The year is 1655, shortly after the bloody Civil War, what evil lurks still in the dark!!!
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_05_49_0.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_05_49_1.jpg)
Views of the village from the south. The inhabitants sleeping fitfully hoping that daylight will arrive sooner than last night, and they will live to see it.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_05_49_2.jpg)
Most of the animals are penned in the fields to the north of the village.
Sir Marmaduke Langdale (ML), Jeremiah Pile (JP) and Baxter the dog are hiding in the hut just in view to the south. Simon Dark (SD) and Jonathan Hawke (JH) who drew the short straw are hiding in the pig pen in the field. It is late and they are all getting sleepy, if they fail their activation 3 times in a row they will fall asleep.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_07_40_0.jpg)
My houses don’t have lift off roofs so I borrowed Geektacticas idea and created 130% ground plans of the houses to place the figures. Sir Marmaduke is in the hut lower left.
This is a solo game and I am playing the humans, so I had a number of monsters allocated a card, with a greater number of counters than monsters so that when a counter was spotted a card was turned over and that denoted if it was a blind or a monster and which monster. Hope that makes sense. Probably not.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_07_41_1.jpg)
The monsters entered the board from here, 8 counters move left through the woods and 2 to the right towards the village. Their objective was to slaughter a goat and escape undetected off the board. The humans objective was to discover who was creating mayhem and stop them.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_07_41_2.jpg)
The wind is blowing right to left, the monsters counters have been moving forward for 4 turns, they can smell the humans but are fixed on the animals up ahead.
Sir Marmaduke has failed his activation for the 1st 3 moves and is fast asleep in the hut as they go past. Baxter the dog is also asleep and because of the wind direction does not smell the monsters and wake.
In the pig pen JH and SD have failed their activation twice and are almost asleep as well, must have been the wine they drank earlier.
Not looking clever for the good guys.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_07_41_3.jpg)
The start of turn 5 and the monsters move forward to within 6”, of the pen, in the dark that is finally insight. JH passed his 3rd activation and did not fall asleep so sees them to be revealed as 2 hairless werewolves (quite rare I believe) a green ghoul and 3 of the village dogs, red eyed and slavering.
Food - thinks the animals and attack.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_07_41_4.jpg)
Shit – thinks the good guys and fire.
JH’s shot goes wide but SD hits the Ghoul, good start I thinks but it shrugs off any damage and keeps coming. Humm not so good.
Savage fighting ensues but even though they are so outnumbered the good guys stay on their feet and even inflict some damage on one of the dogs.
The shots wake everyone.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_09_13_0.jpg)
Just out of camera Baxter the dog erupts from the hut barking a challenge, which is taken up by the howl of a werewolf as it turns to face him.
SD goes down under the teeth of the dogs and claws of the ghoul but JH remains standing inflicting some minor damage on the other werewolf. It is now odds of 5 to 1, it’s a good job he said prayers before setting out today.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_09_13_1.jpg)
Not a good shot I’m afraid, but the werewolf has charged at Baxter. Sir Marmaduke and Jeremiah emerge from the hut in time to fire at the Werewolf as it charges, they both hit and cause enough damage ordinarily to kill it, but it passes the KO test and carries on (Should have brought the silver bullets). Baxter only has to bite it once and it’s curtains for the werewolf. Not that easy as the Werewolf is 2m high and Baxter is only .4m. Werewolf wins but fails to inflict any damage.
The Ghoul and one of the dogs have left the fight against JH and are going to help against Baxter and co. The remaining werewolf and dog continue the fight and inflict some damage on JH. This is a real ding dong battle, all three of them have now taken damage.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_09_13_2.jpg)
The Ghoul and dog rush to the fight howling, not to be thought slackers ML and JP draw their swords shouting their battle cry, For King and Country (guess which side they were on in the recent war) and attack the abominations. The Ghoul is injured but otherwise the fighting is inconclusive. Not so in the background where you can just see (if you squint) the werewolf has fallen to the keen sword of JH but he is still fighting 2 of the dogs.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_09_13_3.jpg)
A better shot of that fight.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_09_13_4.jpg)
The hairy Werewolf and another dog start to make their way to the fight but …
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_11_26_0.jpg)
Richard Howe is looking out of the window and sees the dog, but not the wolf and shoots, hits and causes some damage but not enough.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_11_26_1.jpg)
Whoops, ohh bugger, Richard sees the Werewolf as it passes the window, he is trying to reload his matchlock musket but is shaking so hard (bad Resolve roll) as the outer door bursts in. Just one door between him and destiny, and he just knows that he is not going to get that gun loaded in time.
Meanwhile Baxter has finally bitten the Werewolf in the leg and it is down and out. Baxter moves to help his master Marmaduke.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_11_26_2.jpg)
The fights have finally reached a conclusion, total victory for Marmaduke, Baxter and Jeremiah. Ghoul dog and werewolf lie dead on the ground but disaster for Jonathan Hawke, he has killed one of the dogs but the other one has torn his throat out and he is down bleeding to death.
The dog looks around, all is lost and he runs away.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_11_26_3.jpg)
The final footnote, Ki the hairy Werewolf breaks down the bedroom door and devours poor Richard, before leaving with his hound at heel.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_13_11_16_3_11_26_4.jpg)
Our heroes in happier times - from left to right Jonathan Hawke RIP. Simon Dark RIP. Sir Marmaduke Langdale. Jeremiah Pile. Baxter the dog would not stand still for his photograph.
These figures were bought and painted last century, if anyone can tell me the manufacturer I would appreciate it, as I would like to get some more if they are still in production.
This was my first full game of Chaos in Carpathia, the fights seemed to last an age, and I amended the rules as I saw fit, especially activation, as this was a solo game my opponent agreed with every change.
If you are still with me – thanks for reading so far.
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Great little game 8) 8)
cheers
James
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Lovely stuff. Certainly looks like you had fun!
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Lovely board and a lively AAR. Excellent.
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Really cool to see ECW horror! Great looking game board, I like all the extra bits, that make it look like a real village.
Its interesting that the rules allow a dog to survive being shot by a musket. I'd expect a very big hole in the dog after being shot by a musket ball. Or are the dogs extra tough as they are undead or something?
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Wonderful looking table and a fun game.
The ECW figures there are from Wargames Foundry. Excellent range of figures and still in production, some lovely character figures. They also do a few Gothic Horror types (historical Witch Hunters etc) in their "Casting Room Miniatures" range which are compatible.
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Great looking table.
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Really fun looking game! :-*
LB
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Beautiful table and a brilliant battle report.
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Very, very nice, looking game. Lots of lovely touches and a great scenario. :)
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What a beautiful board
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Awesome scenery, great minis and AAR, CONGRATULATIONS! :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
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JB - OSR - SM - WI15 - MG - M - M - CF - DHpoa
Thanks for your kind comments, very much appreciated. I'm back home for the winter and this was my first game for about 7 months, so looking forward to ODing on gaming.
Mary Scroggins has still not returned home and her body has not been found yet, so maybe Sir Marmaduke will go looking for her.
robh - thanks for the info, I didn't think of WF I suppose because I remember buying these as singles and I thought they had always supplied in blisters. Shows how long ago it was. lol lol lol
fred - My 1st time out with the rules apart from a trial, so I maybe missunderstanding some things. The dogs were stand ins for wolves and I used the wolf pack stats, wolves have the same vitality (life force) as a man, indeed as most creatures. I used them as individuals rather than used the pack rules so maybe that's where I went wrong, or maybe wolves are one set of tough hombres. :)
Thanks again
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strange doings have been happening in Little Piddling in the Marsh. (sorry Lord Snapcase)
No problem at all, you carry on, dear boy!
A great looking table and a really good game report, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can only hope that my 17th century horror game looks that good when it's ready to play.
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I set the table up and started on the storyline and the only name that seemed right for the village was Much Piddling so changed it a bit to avoid a legal suit and as a homage to your games.
Really looking forward to seeing your AAR using witch finder general.
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Really looking forward to seeing your AAR using witch finder general.
Thanks, Vagabond. it will be a while as I currently have no 17th century buildings, working on a graveyard and an inn currently.
Much-Piddling certainly does have a lot of unexplainable nocturnal occurrences going on. The next village over, Greater-Snoring has rumours of evil-doings but we villagers of Much-Piddling dare not venture that far at night to investigate (so far!).
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Just had my 1st full game using the Chaos in Carpathia rules and thought I would post it for comments as to how I could improve on the gothicness and horrorness of it.
Vagabond, I was thinking that maybe moving the figures to a sideboard when they enter a building detracts somewhat the focus of the action, thus reducing the dramatic tension and consequent horrorness of it IMHO... So maybe you will have to build several other buildings with lift-roofs to allow figures to be played inside, and move to a bigger table with lots of friends around, candle lights and the soundtrack of Coppola's DRACULA in the background! ;)
EDIT: In my personal experience, multiplayer games are more fun with a GM full of shocking secrets to be revealed and nasty surprises for the players! :)
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Lord Snapcase - is Greater Snoring the village close to Little Trumpington, I think I have been there on holiday lol lol lol
When your inn is finished it would make a good venue for a game. See Piljie's blog
http://pijlieblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/another-night-at-slaughtered-lamb.html
Where he sets his witch finder general games. :)
dinohunterpoa - and I was so proud of my house plans. :'( :'( :'( lol
I agree with you that house interiors are vital in a skirmish game of this sort.
I built these these maybe 35 years ago, thrown them out once but gave them a reprieve and repainted them, similarly had the ECW figures for a long time and this is their first outing. So utilising the plans they get a new lease of life and I get to game with the minimum of fuss.
Recently I have been doing as you suggest samurai houses, Viking long house, pulp buildings etc all have lift off roofs, and even some have furniture!!!!
Read the other day a comment that was basically "having buildings on a wargames table with the roofs off detracts from the visual aspect of the game"
I am not sure he was wrong, it certainly made me think about the way I was going with my models.
Would love to game with some like-minded mates but none around here so until I can decode the map you sent me, looks like it will have to be solo for the time being.
Thanks for the comments though, appreciate you taking the time.
Take care out there ;)
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Lord Snapcase - is Greater Snoring the village close to Little Trumpington, I think I have been there on holiday
That's the place, you must have had a pint in the Gruntfuttock Arms at Little Trumpington!
Thanks for putting me on to Pijlie's Blog, some great ideas there, I do like The Slaughtered Lamb building and the game that runs inside it. A clever idea. :)
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Thanks for the comments though, appreciate you taking the time.
Take care out there ;)
Vagabond, I'm glad to be useful; you're always welcome! Just keep gaming and posting your AARs! ;)
Hope you find a nice gaming group soon! I consider myself a very, VERY lucky guy, because I have the same GREAT group for more than 25 years now, PRICELESS! :) Even when we were a decade apart by one or two oceans, we somehow managed to keep our gaming universe alive - be it by snailmail (check out the DE PROFUNDIS lovecraftian RPG) or by electronic means!
And take care too... never forget the night is long and full of horrors! ;)
EDIT: Pijlie's Blog is really AMAZING, a great source of joy and inspiration! Be sure to check out his VSF stuff - he has 3 very nice swashbuckling scenarios that can be adapted very well for gothic horror! (and a marvelous excuse to scratchbuild on or two airships and have battles with flying creatures and inside lost temples full of mad cultists!) ;)
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Lord Snapcase - I think I saw old Scrotum in the Gruntfuttock Arms, but then I saw his brother, and then I saw his other brother, indeed all the villages looked like his brother, even the women. Maybe a bit of inbreeding don't you know. lol lol lol
Wonderful pub :o :o
Dino - I've been having some thoughts on how to create a bit more suspense in a solo game will post in a while if I succeed.
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Dino - I've been having some thoughts on how to create a bit more suspense in a solo game will post in a while if I succeed.
Looking forward to see that, good luck! ;)
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I think I saw old Scrotum in the Gruntfuttock Arms, but then I saw his brother, and then I saw his other brother, indeed all the villages looked like his brother, even the women. Maybe a bit of inbreeding don't you know.
Ah yes, the Scrotum family have always been noted for their fertility, along with their hereditary wrinkled skin! There has been a Scrotum in service at Snapcase Hall since the time of Henry V when young Bob Scrotum first started as an under-under-footman-bottler-bugger.
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lol lol lol lol
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Ah yes, the Scrotum family have always been noted for their fertility, along with their hereditary wrinkled skin! There has been a Scrotum in service at Snapcase Hall since the time of Henry V when young Bob Scrotum first started as an under-under-footman-bottler-bugger.
Ahem - may I remind your Lordship that Scrotum was originally my bag, so to speak.....? :D
Doug
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Ahem - may I remind your Lordship that Scrotum was originally my bag, so to speak.....?
Definitely your bag! lol lol lol lol lol
The wrinklies should stick together! (or maybe that needs re-phrasing!).
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Wow! What a fun read and an excellent 'conversion' of CoC to your setting. I think it works well and it all looks excellent on the table. Good job.
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What a wonderful table and fun sounding game.
When you get some new victims players, they will be in for a real treat.
:-* :-*
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Doug - Mad Lord - I'm getting a little worried about your relationship with old Scrotum, is this an individual or a collective/communal thing. ::) ::)
Malebolgia - Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, I still have a way to go with the rule set but overall I'm pleased with them.
I think the problem I had with the game was that I wanted the scenario to be an ambush but solo I played the humans doing the ambush, so it was difficult to create enough suspense in the game. However I did enjoy writting it up afterwards. :)
Mason - Thanks for commenting, I appreciate it. I have posted a few AAR's and they are a lot of work which is why I am so impressed with quantity and quality of your output.
I do have a bone to pick though, I have spent literally days reading through your Old West and Strange Aeons threads - think of all the figures I could have painted in that time. lol lol lol lol lol
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Doug - Mad Lord - I'm getting a little worried about your relationship with old Scrotum, is this an individual or a collective/communal thing. ::) ::)
As I recall, I introduced M'lord Snapcase to Scrotum (the Wrinkled Old Retainer of many a noble house) on the Pulp Alley board and his Lordship was so taken by the old boy that he sought to take him into his employ. Fortunately, the Scrotums are a fecund family and there are several of them of a similar age and experience so that there's enough Scrotums (Scrota?) to furnish butlers to various titled gentlemen.
No social event would be complete without one of these dignified servants in attendance. As Sir Gilbert Hill always says "My Balls wouldn't be the same without Scrotum"....
Doug
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Mason - Thanks for commenting, I appreciate it. I have posted a few AAR's and they are a lot of work which is why I am so impressed with quantity and quality of your output.
I do have a bone to pick though, I have spent literally days reading through your Old West and Strange Aeons threads - think of all the figures I could have painted in that time. lol lol lol lol lol
Thank you, sir.
:)
As for your bone-picking....just think of how much I could get done if I didnt mess about posting stuff on here.
;D ;)
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Of course, it could be worse....
...instead, we could be comparing scrotum's like the other chaps.
:o :o ;)
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lol lol lol lol lol lol
You don't think it will get us banned from the forum do you.
It wasn't us it was them, your honour.
Doug - I am begining to understand it must be a south western thing, the Scrotum appreciation society. :o :o :o
Thanks for making me laugh so much. Ha - Gothic Horror
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That's the most action Cambridgshire has seen for decades!
C17 East Anglia was rife with folk tales and stories - I blame the beer!
ESSEX
Henham
Robert Winstanley of Saffron Walden wrote a pamphlet titled ‘A True Relation of a Monsterous Serpent seen at Henham on the Mount in Saffron Walden,’ published in 1699. The creature in question was a winged serpent (it would have been called a gwiber in Wales) that appeared in May of that year. It was around nine feet long and as thick as a man’s leg. Its eyes were as large as sheep’s eyes and it had several rows of sharp teeth. It was also furnished with small wings.
Despite having caused no trouble, its demeanour was sufficiently alarming that a group of villagers armed with farm implements and stones chased it off.
Horndon
The dragon of Horndon was said to have been imported in the Middle Ages by Barbary Merchants (presumably as a youngster) from whom it escaped. It set up home in the surrounding forest and grew to huge proportions.
It was eventually killed by Sir James Tyrell who managed to dazzle the dragon by wearing highly polished armour.
St Osyth
A broad sheet produced in 1704 refers to a dragon of “marvellous bigness” being discovered here during the reign on Henry II. Nothing more is known about this creature.
Saffron Walden
The pamphlet that deals with the Henham winged serpent also relates the story of a basilisk dragon that held siege to Saffron Walden centuries before. It was described as:
“…not about a foot in length, of colour between black and yellow, having very red eyes, a sharp head and a white spot hereon like a crown. It goeth not winding like other serpents but upright on its breast. If a man touch it though with a long pole it kills him: and if it sees a man far off it destroys him with its looks. Furthermore it breaketh stones, blasteth all plants with his breath, it burneth everything it goeth over; no herb can grow near the place of his abode.”
The basilisk killed so many people that the town was becoming severely depopulated. Finally a wandering knight delivered the townspeople by covering his armour in crystal glass. On seeing its own reflection, the monster died.
SUFFOLK
Bures / Wormingford
Confusion and controversy surround this legend on the Suffolk / Essex border. Both the town of Bures and the village of Wormingford lay claim to the story as their own.
In a 19th century translation of a document from 1405, the story is told of a fearful dragon that had a hide impenetrable to arrows and which disappeared into the marsh after having caused “much hurt”.
Wormingford begs to differ, saying that the creature resided there and was finally killed by Sir George de la Haye.
The description of this dragon sounds very like a crocodile. Indeed, many think it was such a beast that got free from the Royal menagerie at the Tower of London and made its way to Suffolk. One can readily imagine the fear a 20-30 foot reptile would have struck into the hearts of the peasants.
Little Cornard
Two dragons did battle here. A spotted red dragon from Ballingdon Hill on the Essex side of the River Stour came down to fight a black dragon from Kedington Hill on the Suffolk side. After a long battle the red dragon won. Both dragons survived the fight and returned to their respective lairs.
A contemporary document recording these events is held in Canterbury Cathedral.
NORFOLK
Ludham
A fire-breathing dragon struck fear into the hearts of the Ludham residents. Upon discovering its cave they tried blocking the entrance, but the dragon merely tore away the rubble. Finally one man found a boulder that was the exact shape of the cave entrance and blocked it up whilst the dragon was out.
On finding its cave blocked the dragon moved to the vaults under the ruins of the Abbey of St Benadict.
Don't forget the giant black dogs too
The Black Dog of Bungay
One of the most frightening incidents ever reported took place in the quiet market town of Bungay, in Suffolk. On the Sunday morning of the 4th of August, 1577, during the Morning Service at St. Mary’s Church a terrible and violent storm broke out. The sky darkened, thunder crashed and rain fell heavily from the skies. Lightning flashed wildly as the storm broke upon the church. Inside the congregation knelt to pray.
Suddenly to the horror of the congregation from out of a flash of lightning there appeared in the church a huge and monstrous Black Dog. Howling wildly as the lightning flashed and thunder pealed, the beast ran amok attacking the terrified parishioners and causing havoc.
Two people at their prayers were killed and a third man was badly burned from being mauled by the beast, but did survived the ordeal. There was great damage inflicted upon the church, as the tower was struck by lightning and the clock destroyed, before the Black Dog finally ran wildly from the church to the relief of the petrified congregation.
Around twelve miles away in the Holy Trinity Church at Blythburgh, at a about the same time the Black Dog, or another beast like it, appeared and also attacked the frightened congregation at prayers killing three people. There are scorched scratch marks on the church door that can still be seen to this day.
Some excellent potential scenarios amongst them I reckon
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I recon so ;)
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Thanks for pointing this out to me, I really enjoyed reading the story and looking at all the nice scenery you have on the table. A wonderfully constructed setting with lots of character and charm to it and as a sometime solo player myself (although I'm lucky enough to belong to a gaming club) I appreciate the time and effort spent playing the game, taking all the pictures and writing it all up. It's not done in a flash lol!!!
I think the loose floorplans are a great idea as you haven't got lift off roofs on the buildings (I think there are many MDF alternatives nowadays though) and work well.
My parole is: "It's MY game and I play it ANY way I like to, as long as I enjoy myself!"
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Cheers - I'm glad you liked it, thanks for commenting I appreciate it.
When I built these houses it was for use on a big table with my 1st ECW army with no thought for access. Times have changed and now I only have a small table and 28mm skirmish is all that fits, I enjoy it much more.
Currently I am more constrained by money rather than time, and so MDF is probably out but I have learned from the past and my new Viking houses do have lift off roofs and for a man on a budget are a big saving on mdf :)