Strange Aeons 2nd Ed. - Points/Players and Monsters

[Ssendam]

I received the Strange Aeons 2nd Ed. rules recently and they are astoundingly good looking. However, I was trying to put together a fairly specific scenario and using the PP's to guide me as to the balance of Threshold Agents/Investigators versus creatures. 

I was looking to have a group of 'Agents' (actually a ships captain and some of the crew) go up against some Deep Ones but with Deep Ones at 16 PP ea. and a starting band of Agents at 15 PP it seems hard to match the teams in terms of power and numbers.  In fact in many cases just one creature is the equivalent of 2 or more starting bands.

A Character with rifle and some body armour is only 7pts (A Lurker character is 9pts before add-ons).

I looked at having a Character and 7 Agents all armed with ranged weapons (Rifles) = 34pts versus 2 Deep Ones = 32 pts

Does that sound like I've calculated it right? Is it just a case of playing with numbers to find what works?

 

[Tsu]

Just spamming some ideas in here...

Scenario Rule
The Deck - Scrounged - Replace Stick with Club

Sailor (Civilian) [1]
> Bolt-Action Rifle [2]
-------------------------
>> Total [3 Points]

And do not forget
Whale Hunter (Big Game Hunter)
> Replace the bear trap with a net or something similar that can cause a wound

harpunes - see Spear

Perhaps use Fishmen?
Perhaps create lesser Fishmen at ~ 4 Points each?

[Uncle Mike]

Deep Ones are a very nasty Lurker. Possibly you could use Fishmen and Hybrids?

[infinite_array]

What's the scenario going to be?

If it's a "Get the maguffin and get back to the boat" scenario, maybe a balanced points limit isn't necessary? Start the scenario with hybrids, then escalate to fishmen, and then a Deep One? So it's a race against time, as the ship's crew will eventually be overrun if the Lurker player can delay their escape.

And since it's a specific scenario, why go with the starting 15 points limit? Toss some skills onto the humans (I think they're each worth a point, right?).

[Ssendam]

The scenario is a 'rescue' where the Threshold Agents, (I'll call them that but actually there is no 'Threshold' faction in the game I'm playing), have to get to a European explorer stuck on an island in the South Pacific.  There's a group of spear wielding locals from a nearby island who are not happy with the Agents visiting the sacred island and then there's the Deep Ones ... who's objectives are unclear.

I thought of maybe playing the game in specific scenes and resetting after each so I can lock down the danger present at any one time.  So for example the first scene might be for them to get to the hut in the middle of the Island whilst the Locals have to cross the sea in their canoes.

I'm not so worried about the points, it's just that what I wanted originally, 10 Deep Ones vs 10 Humans, and on a points basis is sent a clear message ... no!

I probably need to trial a few games ... I like the idea of scaling the threat level and putting the Threshold Agents under time pressure.

[Grumbling Grognard]

I think Uncle Mike's orginial point about using "Fishmen" and maybe even a few "Hybids" (at least for points and stats) instead of true "Deep Ones" would work.  The models can remain the same, heck you can even call them deep ones, who's to know/care?   

Then for the "good guys" you may just need to give them a few extra skills or pieces of equipment.  Since it is just a one-off scenario, maybe even a special weapon or agent to get the points up so you can afford more fishies.   

Scott