Monday, 27 May 2024

May 2024: Per Ardua

Progress on getting Frozen Skies plods along at a admittedly slow pace, due in part to a somewhat busy job role and other factors. Regardless, progress is being made even if I cannot give a firm release date....it'll be done when it's done. Still, heres a glimpse at some of the changes.


Savage Skies

Probably a big part of Frozen Skies is it's air combat rules, still going with the more tactical approach of using a hex grid but still need to nail down some of manoeuvres. Been playing around a bit with how best to scale speed and weapon ranges, basically how best to calculate these for a hex grid to try and give a good balance. Now decided to go with 1 hex grid equals 10 inch for both speed and weapon ranges, this brings it in line from what I've seen of the new SciFi Companion.

Theres also some changes to movement and updating some aircraft mods and weapon stats, the latter to bring them more in line with SWADE.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13-1WcM_MoxMXGTMkLfLw9zTuD7rob9ey/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102228824939349988305&rtpof=true&sd=true

Other Stuff

Not included in this sample is changes to the rules for the Wulftouched, looking to showcase this once I'm happy with the rules for Frozen Skies' version of Weird Science. Beyond that would be lore changes to the settings to address some things that I've since grown dissatisfied with.

Wednesday, 1 November 2023

November 2023: Mutterings From The Shadows

 Tis been a while hasn't it?

First blog post in more than 18 months, but life has once again settled down into something of a routine and thus I am able to devote a bit more time to Frozen Skies. Figured it was high time that I put out a long overdue blog post, if anything to establish where things currently stand and couple of ideas I'm toying with at the moment. So draw up a chair, pour yourself a mug of your favourite beverage and settle down for a cosy little read.

 



Frozen Skies

It is being worked on.

 Still very much in the draft stage, but it is currently being proofread and edited. Still couple of things that I'm not 100% happy with (one of these is covered below), but I'm looking to see how I can improve these and may devote future blog posts to them. Once I'm satisfied with the writing I'll begin to look at layout and art, the latter I want to ideally reduce or completely remove stock art to ensure that nothing seems too jarring.

As for the release date, nothing set in stone as of yet (some stuff does take a while and no timescales yet) but I want to say some point in 2024....maybe the second half. Once I have something more concrete I'll be able to nail down a particular date.

Here Be Wulvers

Another revision, never quite been happy with how they've worked rules-wise and I've had an idea or two playing a Shifter from Savage Eberron. Part of this also stems from a desire to simplify the rules for Wulvers to help better fit the Fast Furious Fun ideals of Savage Worlds.

The Rage tokens (functionally similar to Bennies) idea feels like it would just end up being extra bookkeeping and potentially slow the game down. My new train of thought is having the Wulfblood character 'shifting' as a limited free action or when the GM considers the situation to extremely stressful that the character shifts. Regardless of what causes the character to tap into their wulver heritage, they must make a spirit roll and consult the table below;

Raise:- The character can change and retains full control, may change back at will.
Success:- The character changes, but suffers a level of Fatigue as the character fights to keep their inner beast in check. The Fatigue lasts for 1d4 hours after the character changes back.
Failure:- The character changes, but does not have control and will attack whoever is closest. Lasts for 5 rounds plus 1 for each Wulfblood edge the character has. Afterwards, the character has a level of Fatigue for 2d4 hours.
Critical Failure:- Character loses control and goes berserk, attacking whoever is in their way. The character may attempt a Spirit roll once every hour to retain control, though after three consecutive failed rolls the character is lost.

Of course it's still submit to change depending on feedback, but what do you guys think?

Monday, 3 January 2022

January 2022: Signing Off

 New Year, All Change.

Regular readers should hopefully be aware of a pretty major change in personal circumstances for me that is looming soon (the pic below is a good clue), though I have some pretty big news regarding that. Hand-in-hand with this is news of what's happening with Frozen Skies for 2022. So, should be something of interest for folk with this post.


For Crown And Country

So the pretty big change in personal circumstances that I've mentioned in previous posts and alluded to above is me joining the Royal Air Force. I had been given a spot on the Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC) at RAF Halton in March.

This has now changed.

Couple of weeks ago I was offered a spot on the BRTC starting at the end of January 2022, effectively three months earlier than the previous date I'd been given, and naturally I took the offer since I had nothing planned for the next few months and no real obligations in my current employment. Whilst I now have considerably less time to prepare before I ship out, it will prove beneficial in the long run which brings me onto my next topic; Frozen Skies.

Given that there is going to be a period of at least ten weeks where I am going to be otherwise pre-occupied, thus going to have very little time to devote to anything gaming related, I realise that I am not going to be able to get anything done regarding Frozen Skies. 

However.

I have taken steps to enlist some help with getting some elements of Frozen Skies sorted whilst I'm otherwise engaged, it is my hope that once I've graduated from basic training I'll be in a position where I'll be able to think about getting new artwork sorted along with the other things that need to be to publish a RPG product. At present I'm expecting to have something pretty solid done in six months time, though admittedly circumstances can and do change. But it is my hope that the SWADE version of Frozen Skies will be out in 2022 round summer/autumn time.

This is going to be my last post for quite some time, I'll be switching my Patreon over to a 'charge per post' model before the end of January but will do a Patrons only before I do so. Other than that, the last thing left for me to do here is wish everyone a Happy New Year and all the best for 2022!

Fly safe!

Stephen 'Stormwell' Hughes

Monday, 6 December 2021

December 2021: City of Rats

 We're coming to the end of the year and the Festive Season (at time of writing) is almost upon us!

This time of year it is typically customary to give gifts, so this is what this month's blog post is all about. Some years ago I ran a Savage Worlds campaign based on the video game Dishonored, something that I created a fan adaptation for. I've been wanting to run a follow-on game for some time, but we've had the Adventure Edition of Savage Worlds released since I originally ran the game. So my gift to folk this year is an updated version of my Dishonored fan adaptation for SWADE.

Enjoy!


Savage Dishonored

There is plenty of resources elsewhere that covers the setting of Dishonored, so this blog post will be focused on the mechanics side of things needed to run a game.

Making Characters

Creating characters for Savage Dishonored is the same as the process is in SWADE, though the characters will be Human and there are some restrictions on Arcane Background (see below). For Hindrances, Edges and Gear consult both this blog post and the SWADE rulebook.

A Note On Arcane Backgrounds: There is only one Arcane Background allowed, The Outsider's Mark which is a reskinned Arcane Background Gifted. A character may select this with the GM's permission either during character creation or as an Advance later on. The difference is that improving a character's Arcane ability such as buying Power Edges or New Powers, etc is a separate Advancement track that requires a Whalebone Rune to be spent in order to get an Arcane related Advance. This is done to both reflect the rarity of those who bear the Mark of the Outsider and mirror the video game.

NPC Arcane users are recommended to use the Arcane Background (Magic).

Hindrances

There are no new Hindrances, but Bad Luck from SWADE is removed due to a variant of the Hard Choices Setting Rule being used that allows unlimited Bennies for the players (explained later under Setting Rules).

Edges

Luck and Great Luck have been changed to allow a character to have additional tokens of Momentum, detailed below under Setting Rules, up to a maximum of three tokens.

New Edge(s) include.

Ghost (Professional Edge)

Requirements: Novice, Stealth d8+

May reroll any Stealth rolls made.

Street Forager (Professional Edge)

Requirements: Novice, Spirit d6, Survival d6

+2 to Survival and Stealth in urban environments.

Voidsense (Weird Edge)

Requirements: Novice

Your character is able to sense when there is something marked by the power of the Void close-by, be it a rift or bone-charm. You may attempt a Notice roll at -2 to try and locate where this thing actually is, with a raise you gain an idea of just how powerful it is.

Credit to Zoltan for alot of the following.

Powers

BLINK
Template: Teleport, p. 170
Blink is a Novice Power.
This power can only be used with Personal limitation.


Actually Blink is a very quick jump so if the hero tries to jump through hard objects like bars, chain link fences or even people, they will stop the motion and might damage him sometimes. But he can jump through glass which will break in the process. He cannot blink to places he cannot see.

MODIFIER
Swapping places (+1):
You may change the position of your hero with his doppelganger within range. He needs to know that power to use this modifier.

BEND TIME
Template: Speed, p. 167
This power can only be used with Personal limitation.

Only the Quickness modifier can be used.

DARK VISION
Template: Dark Sight, p.
This power can only be used with Personal limitation.

Detects living animals and people in every direction, even through walls. Black and white sight except living beings who appear in orange.

FAR REACH
Template: Telekinesis, p. 170
Trapping: black smoke tentacle

MODIFIER
Small objects (-3 PP)
: Grabbing small items up to 2 kg (4 pounds) is cheaper.

FOG
Template: Darkness p. 164

MESMERIZE
Rank: Seasoned
Power Points: 3
Range: Smarts
Duration: 5
Trapping: summoning a void spirit 

Summons an invisible spirit from the void which looks like a kind of crystal and attracts the full attention of the targets. They became easy targets in a fight, the attacker gets the Drop against them. Targets can be humans and animals.

Anyone sees the spirit’s place must make a Spirit roll (at -2 if the caster got a raise on her arcane skill roll). Those who fail will stare at the place of the spirit and cannot do anything else. They don’t perceive the environment and forget everything after the Power ends. Those who succeed also can see a small vibration in the air and if they continue to watch — which is a very typical behavior — they must make a new Spirit roll.

The spirit can mesmerize targets within a Small Blast Template centered around it. However, items and people may cover the sight.

Marked people see the spirit and aren’t affected.

MODIFIER
Medium visibility (+1)
: visible within a Medium Blast Template.
Large visibility (+2): visible within a Large Blast Template.

POSSESSION
Rank: Seasoned
Power Points: 3
Range: Smarts
Duration: 5
The hero may possess an animal or human. Possession means the caster disappears and travels in the body of the victim. When the possession ends the target gets stunned and your hero reappears behind them. Small targets like rats won’t survive this process.

The hero cannot possess Mark Bearers. Those with magical talents recognize they are possessed, but they cannot do anything against it. The hero can possess fresh corpses or unconscious people. Other Powers cannot be used while possessing someone.

SEMBLANCE
Template: Disguise, p. 158
The hero may steal the look of existing people from touch range. It can change only the appearance of the hero.

Modifiers cannot be used. Mark bearers cannot be deceived.

SHADOW WALK
Template: Intangibility, p. 163
Rank: Veteran
Trapping: black smoke monster
This power can only be used with Personal limitation.

The hero cannot travel through walls, only through holes.

SUMMON BLOOD BRIAR
Rank: Veteran
Power Points: 6
Range: Smarts
Duration: one week
The caster summons a Blood Briar, a semi sentient vine-like void creature described below in Bestiary. They don’t like to be close to each other.
 

SUMMON DEVOURING SWARM
Rank: Novice
Power Points: 2
Range: Smarts
Duration: 5
Trappings: rats

Summons rats who attack the closest targets. An alternative can be summoning bloodflies. They occupy a small blast template size. See the Swarm enemy type p.189.

MODIFIERS
Rat Piper (+1)
: The swarm follows you and attacks everyone.
Two small swarms (+2)
Medium swarm (+3)
Large swarm (+4)

SUMMON DOPPELGANGER
Template: Summon Ally, Mirror Self, p. 169

You may put a single command to the mind of your doppelganger when created, for example run to a certain place or attack a target. Otherwise, the doppelganger will follow you and will attack those who you attack.

With Blink, you may exchange places with your doppelganger.

Modifiers cannot be used.

THORNS
Template: Bolt, p. 156

VANISHING CORPSE
Rank: Novice
Power Points: 2
Range: Smarts
Duration: Permanent
Corpses disappear including their non-metallic equipment and body parts.

MODIFIERS
More targets (+1)
: The power may affect more than one corpse for 1 additional Power Point each.

VOID GATE
Rank: Legendary
Power Points: 5
Range: Smarts
Duration: 1 hour
Trapping: a painting
The hero can create a gate to the Void that everybody can use.

WINDBLAST
Template: Havoc, p. 162
Trappings: wind, scream

MODIFIER
Shockwave (+1)
: it deals 2d6 lethal damage in addition.
 

Gear

Just like in SWADE, characters get 500 coin to spend on gear.

General Equipment

Burglar's Tools, 50 coin, 1lb.

-2 Thievery without them.

Cheater's Tools, 30 coin, 1lb.

Free reroll when attempting to Cheat during a Gambling roll.

Climbing Gear, 50 coin, 10lb.

Allows the user to ignore up to 2 points of penalty when climbing. 

Concealing Clothing, 50 coin (though any concealing clothing that works in any environment are much more expensive), 4lb.

Grants +2 Stealth when worn in specific environment or +1 Stealth if made for any condition.

Disguise Kit, 50 coin, 8lb.

Grants free reroll on Performance rolls while using a disguise.

Fine Clothing And Accessories, 150+ coin, 10lb.

Forged Papers, 50 coin, - lb.

The better quality or rather the document being forged, the higher the cost.

Gives user +1 to Persuasion, +2 if high quality, when attempting to convince some official. The target can attempt an opposed Notice roll to spot that the document is a fake, the TN is the character's Persuasion result.

Physician's Kit, 50 coin, 1lb.

-1 Healing without it.

Spyglass, 100 coin, 1lb.

+1 Notice at range.

Tinkerer's Tools, 200, 5lb.

+1 to Repair on mechanical items.

Armor

Armored Mantle Coat (Torso), 120 coin.

+3 Armor, Min Str d6, 15lb.

Helmet (Head), 20 coin.

+3 Armor, Min Str d4, 3lb.

Masks worn by the Overseers only cover the face.

Treated Cloth, 60 coin.

+1 Armour, Min Str d4, 3lb.

Weapons

Crossbow, 100 coin.

10/20/40, 2d6, AP 2, RoF 1, Min Str d6, 5lb.

Cudgel, 10 coin.

Str+d4, Min Str d4, 2lb.

Grenade, 70 coin.

4/8/16, 3d6, MBT, 1lb.

Grenade, Chokedust, 70 coin.

4/8/16, Special, MBT, 1lb. 

Those caught within the blast template must make a Vigor roll (at -2 with a raise) or be Distracted and Vulnerable.

Knife, 20 coin.

Str+d4, Min Str d4, 1lb.

Knuckledusters, 10 coin.

Str+d4, Min Str d4, 1lb, Don't count as a weapon for Unarmed Defender.

Pistol, 150+ coin.

12/24/48, 2d6, AP 1, RoF 1, Shots 1, Min Str d4, 3lb.

Rifle, 300+ coin.

24/48/96, 2d8, AP 2, RoF 1, Shots 1, Min Str d6, 8lb.

Sword, 50 coin.

Str+d6, Min Str d6, 2lb.

Wristbow, 120 coin.

5/10/20, 2d4, AP -, RoF 1, Shots 1, Min Str d4, 2lb.

Ammunition

Bolt (Standard), 4 coin apiece, 1lb.

Bolt (Incendiary), 30 coin apiece, 1lb. Notes: Counts as Heavy Weapon and deals 2d6 damage even if fired from a Wristbow, may also set a target on fire with a SBT.

Bolt (Sleep), 20 coin apiece, 1lb. Notes: Deals no damage and is completely negated by metal armor, requires a Called Shot to be used. Those hit by this bolt must make a Vigor roll (-2 if hit with a raise) or fall asleep for one hour.

Bullet (Pistol), 3 coin apiece.

Bullet (Rifle), 5 coin apiece.

Setting Rules

Hard Choices & Variant Bennies

This adaptation makes use of the Hard Choices Setting Rule, though a key difference is that the players are allowed unlimited bennies to encourage them to spend bennies. In addition, there are two additional types of bennies used.

*Momentum:- When used, Momentum tokens work like a typical bennie but do not grant the GM a bennie and players may only have one Momentum token at a time (additional bennies normally awarded by Luck, Great Luck, etc count as Momentum tokens but do not count against this limit). They also do not reset at the end of a session/adventure.

*Chaos:- Chaos tokens are bennies that can be used to double any trait roll (even after a roll was made). They may also be used to reroll a critical failure, granting a +2 bonus in the process. However, when used the GM gains two bennies for each Chaos token spent. Just like Momentum, they also do not reset at the end of a session/adventure.

Bonecharm

Key to the Dishonored setting are bone charms, talisman carved from whale bones that provide lesser or greater powers. There are bone charms known as so-called 'corrupted charms' that incur a negative effect. Regardless of their actual type, the Abbey of the Everyman has banned their use and possession of a bone charm is considered a crime.

Bonuses and, sometimes, special effects are always passive abilities. No Power or any other ability that requires an activation can be incorporated into a bone charm. To use a bone charm you must wear it on your person, typically hidden under clothing. The amount of bone charms that you can benefit from any one time is the number of your character's Ranks plus one, a Seasoned Rank character would be able to benefit from three charms.

The Occult skill can be used to not identify bone charms, giving the character an idea of what effects are given, but also to craft new charms. Crafting requires a day work and costs 50 coin plus material, though the effects of the charm need to be decided and declared before work begins. A standard bone charm only requires a success, more powerful ones need a raise on the crafting roll. A failure means the charm gets made, but the GM chooses a negative effect thus turning the charm into a corrupted charm. Critical Failure just means the whole project fails with all materials involved consumed in the process.

A Networking roll at -4 can be made to try and acquire bone charms from less than honest sources.

Popular Bonecharms

  • Agility: +1 to Athletics rolls.
  • Bitter Blood: Bloodflies/rats avoid your hero when possible and attack only close to their nests.
  • Bloody Mana: Suffering a would level restores 3 Power Points.
  • Boar Skin: +2 to Soak, Injury, and any other rolls to survive wounds.
  • Calmness of Whales: +1 to Fear checks and any rolls to resist effects that provoke strong emotions, especially taunts.
  • Cat Eyes: Dim and Dark lighting penalties are halved (but not Pitch Darkness).
  • Elongated Power: The duration of a single, chosen Power lasts 50% longer. A 5 round duration will extend to 8 rounds. Every Power requires a separate bone charm.
  • Expansive Spirit: +2 to the maximum Power Points.
  • Familiar Scent: Wolfhounds cannot smell the hero.
  • Harming Void: +1 damage when using Powers.
  • Leviathan's Breath: Doubles the time the hero can spend underwater without drowning.
  • Malfunction: Nearby constructions used by enemies malfunction with 10% chance. Guns don’t fire, grenades don’t explode. This affect enemies who aim the hero.
  • Power Slash: +1 melee damage.
  • Separation Trauma: Hosts are rendered unconscious when you leave them using Possession.
  • Shadow: +1 to Stealth rolls.
  • Spirited: The hero heals slowly a Wound every day.
  • Spiritual Pool: The hero restores 2 extra Power Points per hour.
  • Tougher Allies: Allies summoned by the hero have +1 Toughness.
  • Twist of Fortune: Critical Failures turn into raises instead.
  • Underwater: +1 Movement when swimming (so an average hero may move 3+1” every round), +1 to
  • swimming Athletics rolls.
  • Unnerving Target: Enemies have +1 to difficulty when shooting at the hero.
  • Vengeance Suffering: Unsoaked Wounds grant the hero a Momentum token.
  • Vitality: +2 to Vigor rolls against poison and diseases. It affects sedatives as well.
  • Void Surge: There is a 10% chance the Power they use don’t cost Power Points. Heroes cannot use Powers without having the appropriate Power Points.
  • White Friends: White animals are friendly and won’t attack your hero unless the hero attacks them.
  • Zephyr: +1 Pace.

Black Bonecharms 

  • Bloodfly Alchemy: The first ranged attack which would hit your hero transforms into bloodflies. Can be used once per day.
  • Cornered Animal: +2 to melee damage rolls for every Wound the hero currently has.
  • Fickle Beasts: Summoned beings in the vicinity of the wielder turn against their summoner. Summoned Followers are the only exception.
  • Hardiness: +1 Toughness.
  • Whirlwind: Quicker melee attacks +1 to Fighting rolls. 

Corrupted Charms 

  • Bad Smell: Animals hate your hero. Dogs always bark at him. When combined with White Friends, white animals are only cautious.
  • Conspicuous: -1 to Stealth rolls and guards pick the hero more often for routine check.
  • Costly Effect: Every Power use costs another 1 Power Point.
  • Delayed: The hero must discard Action Cards of 6 or higher draw another until they have an Action Card of 5 or less (though Jokers are kept). Whilst using this charm, the Quick Edge cannot be used.
  • Doom of Machines: When you roll a 1 on the wild die using any machines, the machine fails and must be repaired. This includes even pistols and grenades. When no trait roll is required you still need to roll a wild die.
  • Exhausting Contact: When the hero uses Powers and rolls a 1 on the wild die, the hero gets a level of Fatigue.
  • Fragile: When the wearer gets a wound, roll a d12. A roll of 1 means the bone charm is destroyed. Soaked wounds don’t count.
  • Frailty: -1 Toughness
  • Leviathan's Smell: -1 to social rolls. The smell of whales can be suppressed by intense fragrance but the overused scent isn’t pleasant either. Intimidation isn’t affected.
  • Omission: Suffer a -1 penalty when attempting to use a Power.
  • Periodic: The bone charm works only during the day or the night.
  • Slow: -1 Pace.
  • Slow Restoration: Power Point regeneration is halved.
  • Unlucky Fighter: -1 to Fighting rolls.
  • Unlucky Shoot: -1 to Shooting rolls.

Bestiary

Blood Briars

Huge and aggressive supernatural plants summoned from the Void. They lash out at and sometimes grab any nearby enemies that they detect. When destroyed, their remains disappear.

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4 (A), Spirit d6, Strength d10, Vigor d10
Skills: Fighting d10, Notice d6+2
Pace: 0; Parry: 7; Toughness: 7
Edges: Alertness
Special Abilities:
• Size: 1
• Tentacles (1): A blood briar has one tentacle action and Reach 6. It may lash for Str+d6 damage.

Bloodfly

The black and red coloured bloodflies can grow as big as 25cm (10"). They prefer warmer climates, thus they found in the southern climes of the Empire. Bloodflies build huge nests, similarly to hornets, usually on walls but occasionally they build small ones on the corpses of their victims. They require fresh corpses to lay their eggs  that hatch after a very short time. Bloodflies are peaceful alone and aggressive in groups. They are attracted to rapid motion and sounds. Fire is deadly to them. The nests are flammable and their wings can be easily destroyed. Their stings may cause bloodfly fewer and multiple stings can be deadly.

Use stats for a Swarm in SWADE, though fire does an additional +2 damage to them. Anyone wounded by a bloodfly swarm must make a Vigor roll or be Stunned, failure on this roll requires a second Vigor to avoid being infected by Bloodfly Fever.

Clockwork Soldier

Extremely expensive and deadly constructs sought after by the rich and powerful across the Isles. Costing a king's fortune, these mechanical sentinels are a status symbol of both wealth and paranoia.

Attributes: Agility d4, Smarts d6, Spirit d4, Strength d12+4, Vigor d12
Skills: Fighting d10, Intimidation d10, Notice d8+2
Pace: 7; Parry: 7; Toughness: 13 (3)
Edges: Alertness (Sensors).
Special Abilities:
• Armor +3
• Blade Arms: Str+d8 damage.
• Construct: +2 to recover from being Shaken; ignores 1 point of Wound penalties; does not breathe or suffer from disease or poison and don’t Bleed Out.
• Extra Arms: The machine can attack twice per round.
• Fearless: Machines are immune to Fear and Intimidation.
• Hardy: The clockwork soldier does not suffer a Wound from being Shaken twice.
• Jump: The machine can jump 3” as part of its movement. In can jump up to 2”.
• Size 3 (Large): The clockwork soldier stands 10′ tall.
• Very Resilient: Can take two Wounds before they’re Incapacitated.
• Weak Point, Head: A successful Called Shot to the head can decapitate the machine if the hero wants it. It won’t get wounds but becomes blind and attacks the direction from which it was attacked. In the following rounds it moves and attacks that direction. But it receives a -4 penalty for all attacks. If attacked from another direction it turns and attacks that way. 

Gravehound

Undead hounds summoned by occultists to serve as tireless guards. Normally encountered as a dog's skull upon the ground, but when an intruder is sensed nearby it will transform into a terrible beast. Even after destroying the creature, it returns within 1d6+1 rounds if it's skull is still intact.

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d4 (A), Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d8
Skills: Athletics d8, Fighting d8, Intimidation d8, Notice d10+2
Pace: 8; Parry: 6; Toughness: 6
Edges: Alertness
Special Abilities:
• Bite: Str+d6.
• Fear (-2)
• Resilient: Can take one Wound before it is Incapacitated.
• Speed
: d10 running die.
• Undead: +2 Toughness; +2 to recover from being Shaken; no additional damage from Called Shots; ignores 1 point of Wound penalties; doesn’t breathe; immune to disease and poison.

Guard

Guards can be found all across the Isles, either as hired swords or enforcing the law as part of the Dunwall City Watch or the Serkonos Grand Guard.

Rookie Guard
Attributes
: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills: Athletics d6, Fighting d6, Intimidation d6, Notice d6, Shooting d6
Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5
Gear: Sword Str + d8.
Some guards in Gristol wear gorgets and helmet (see Gear above).

Veteran Guard
Attributes
: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills: Athletics d6, Fighting d8, Intimidation d8, Notice d8, Shooting d8
Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 6
Edge: Investigator, officers will have Command and other similar Edges.
Gear: Pistol, sword and armor.

Officer Guards will be Wild Cards.

Rat

Use Swarm from SWADE.

Tallboy (Wild Card)

The infamous silt walker used during the Rat Plague, Tallboys are dangerous foes to tackle.

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d6
Skills: Athletics d8, Fighting d8, Intimidation d8, Notice d8, Persuasion d6, Shooting d10
Pace: 3; Parry: 5; Toughness: 10 (4)
Edges: Combat Reflexes, Free Runner

Gear: Their incendiary bolts cause 2d6 fire damage when hit and in the following round. 3d6 with a raise. Range: 12/24/48.

Witch

Witch is the catch all name given to magic practising individuals, especially those who form a coven to pool their knowledge and power.

Apprentice
Attributes
: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills: Fighting d6, Notice d6, Persuasion d6, Spellcasting d6.
Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5
Edge: Arcane Background (Magic)
Powers: Blink; Thorns or Windblast with scream trapping.
Gear: Sword Str + d8 

Inner circle
Attributes
: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills: Fighting d8, Notice d8, Persuasion d8, Spellcasting d8.
Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 5
Edge: Arcane Background (Magic), Power Points x2
Powers: Blink, Blood Briar, Thorns, Windblast with scream trapping.
Gear: Sword Str + d8
They often use Blink in combat.

Wolfhound

Use Dog/Wolf from SWADE.

Monday, 1 November 2021

November 2021: Desert Days

 I've posted about the world of Darmonica beyond the shores of Alyeska, ever-expanding the overall setting of Frozen Skies. One of the things I've posted about has been the Commonwealth Colony of Orduesh, an outpost located in the southern deserts. This week we're going back to this little outpost and exploring some options to expand your games of Frozen Skies.


Fly the Scorched Wastes

Flying what's known as the Southern Wastes offers it's own set of challenges both like and unlike what aviators in Alyeska's chilly climes encounter. Heat and thirst will take it's toll on the unprepared whilst sand wrecks havoc on machinery. For the former keep the Heat and Thirst Hazards in mind, whilst the latter I'm toying with the following rule.

Due to the sandy nature of the Southern Wastes, all Repair rolls on machinery are made with a -1 penalty (though a shuttered hanger or workshop negates this). Similarly, mechanical equipment requires a daily upkeep Repair roll (with the aforementioned penalty) but each raise grants a whole where this roll is not required. Failure requires another Repair roll and d6 hours to fix the piece of equipment, a Critical Failure requires a proper hanger or workshop and d6 days to rectify the problem. 

If the piece of equipment was caught in a sandstorm, this inflicts another -2 on Repair rolls.

Motivations

Similar to Alyeska, the Southern Wastes are dotted with Ancient ruins and mining outposts in addition to boasting large swaths of unexplored territory. The Wastes are also host to border skirmishes between the Commonwealth and the Sultanate of Taramate and efforts by other Darmonican powers to woo the latter, thus giving some options for diplomatic or even spy based plots.

Threats

The most obvious foe would be the Sultanate which is openly hostile to those found within it's borders without permission, obtaining a permit for safe travel is a venture in of itself.

But what about beasties lurking in the desert sands?

One creatures I'm currently brainstorming is one that I've taken to calling the Burrower, simply because it spends most of it's time under the sands. This creature would be a predator and thus the Southern Wastes' counterpart to the Wulvers of Alyeska, though what type of creature I have yet to decide upon. It is tempting to make it a giant sand worm, but I'm considering some sort of mammal.

Another idea I'm mulling is desert dwelling Windryders, almost as a tie-in to Alyeska.


So, thoughts and comments?

Monday, 4 October 2021

October 2021: Savage Skies

 Recently had the chance to do a one shot where we ended up running an air combat for Frozen Skies, again it seemed like the air combat rules had a solid foundation and the hex grid certainly seems like the way forward. That said, it was also an opportunity to get some more feedback from my players and brainstorm ideas for possible revisions and improvements. As it turned out there were some good ideas to make movement more clearer and keeping it true to the Fast Furious Fun motto of Savage Worlds.


Fly the Savage Skies!

Think I'll the post air combat rules for Frozen Skies as they now stand with the recent revisions, especially for new people who have only just stumbled upon this blog and/or the Frozen Skies setting itself.

The air combat rules presented here are a more tactical alternative to the vehicle combat rules found in Savage Worlds and it's supplements. Biggest difference is that these rules require the use of a hex grid, thus giving them more of a tactical/wargame feel. There are a few changes to the rules for vehicle combat in Savage Worlds, but these are down to the use of a hex grid and can be adapted for use with other settings involving combat between fighter craft.

The Basics

Due to the use of a hex grid, scales work a little differently with these rules.

To get the speed of an aircraft, divide it's Top Speed by 60 and round up to get it's so-called 'Hex Speed' which is the number of hex squares it can move.

For weapon ranges, divide these ranges by 30 and again round up where needed.

Optional Rule: As a way to help speed things up, you can use the so-called Wingmen rule.

This divides aircraft into one of two categories, Aces who are Wild Cards and Wingmen who count as Extras under the normal Savage Worlds rules. The difference is that the Wingmen aircraft count as having two less wounds, so a base of one wound plus an additional wound for each size category above Normal/Medium. This means Wingmen have less staying power compared to their Ace counterparts, thus making them a bit easier to take-out and keep things moving reasonably quick.

Movement

All aircraft are required to move at least half their Hex Speed, moving any less requires a Piloting roll to avoid the aircraft stalling and going Out of Control.

Turning requires the aircraft to have moved one hex square before turning, once this is done the aircraft can then change it's hex facing and finish the rest of it's movement. Only one turn is allowed per aircraft per round and may require a roll with modifiers as shown in the picture below, but is considered a Free Action.


Changing the hex facing by one does not require a roll. Changing the aircraft's direction by two or more hex facings is subject to a penalty of -2 per hex facing beyond the first, so -2 for two hex facings and -4 for three hex facings (the highest penalty and is effectively a 180 degree turn).

Boost: A pilot can move his aircraft an additional 1d3 hex squares if he wishes. Though the pilot then suffers a -2 penalty to all their other actions when boosting their aircraft speed. This penalty is reduced to -1 by the Steady Hands Edge (similar to the penalty for running).

Maneuvers

The following maneuvers from the Savage Worlds Chase rules can be used for air combat in Frozen Skies with the necessary adaptions noted. For opposed Piloting rolls the aircraft with the higher Climb value (if used) gains +1, this increases to a +2 if the Climb value is doubled that of the other aircraft.

  • Evade: No change.
  • Flee: Change references to Chase Cards to Hex Squares.
  • Force: Change reference to 'same Chase Card' to 'adjacent hex squares'. Bump is changed to the target being moved to an adjacent hex square with a random facing chosen by the foe who caused the Bump.
  • Ram: No change.

Combat

Frozen Skies still uses the regular Savage Worlds for vehicle combat with respect to Recoil, Unstable Platform and modifiers due to Weapon Ranges, etc. Shooting still requires a TN of 4 to hit and is, of course, still effected by modifiers.

Fixed Weapons fire in a straight, whereas Pintle-mounted and Turret-mounted weapons fire in a cone and circle respectively.

Monday, 6 September 2021

September 2021: Lionheart

 As summer gives away to autumn and the final few months of the year, perhaps a good time to announce a project I've begun which I hope to have finished before the year's end. It's a supplement for Cold War Skirmishes that I hope to release via the Savage Worlds Adventurer's Guild on DriveThruRPG and may form the general format for CWS related products going forward. 

Oh and SWAGtember III: Return of the SWAG Bundle is how out. Check it out to find a ton of great community created content and my Operation Thule adventure.

 What is Lionheart?

 Lionheart is a supplement for my Cold War Skirmishes line that covers the British Forces during the Cold War period. The name references both Richard the Lionheart from English history and also the big NATO exercise Lionheart that took place in 1984.

As stated, the supplement's focus is on the British military during the Cold War era which I'm defining to be from the end of the Second World War in 1945 through to the start of the First Gulf War in 1991. This gives a time frame of some 46 years during which the British Forces saw constant action whilst undergoing changes in organisation, equipment and tactics. What this means content wise is an overview of structure and gear in the form of both weapons and vehicles with the focus on the British Army, though there will be a mention or two regarding the RAF and the Royal Navy.

Vehicles are going to be the bulk of the content and there is a surprising amount even going with what was actually used, so I'm going to focus on what was used on the frontline and thus more likely to be used by player characters. Aircraft wise, I'm probably going to restrict it to helicopters and light aircraft just to keep myself sane.

I'm including a draft below, which is far from finish due to stuff needing to be added along with the formatting needing to be sorted and pictures/artwork needing to be sourced. Though I am curious what level of detail people would like me to go into? Aka what years stuff was in service, etc?

Thoughts, comments and feedback muchly welcomed.

*Lionheart Draft*

Monday, 2 August 2021

August 2021: Alyeskan Gazetteer - Scrapper's Island

 Certainly been a while since we've had a Gazetteer post, so probably high time that was addressed. As ever this serves to explore the untamed wilds and expand the map of Alyeska, thus providing more fodder for people's games of Frozen Skies. In this month's entry we take a look at one of many ventures that failed to live up to their investor's expectations.


Scrapper's Island

Scrapper's Island is located in the Needles, north of Theda Air Station

The island has been used by fishermen for decades, originally being known as Dirgen's Landing since time almost immortal. Things changed with the end of the Great Darmonican War and the large amounts of war surplus flooding the market as the various militaries demobilised their forces. One enterprising businessman, a certain Sean Holden, sought to take advantage of this situation.

Spending no small amount of coin, Holden acquired the deed to the island and set about having a smelting plant and workers' housing constructed. Back in the Commonwealth's Home Isles he tendered contracts for disposal of surplus military equipment with the view of having it then transported to his island factory. It was Holden's intent to break up the equipment for salvage, either as spare parts or melt down the metals to be re-used for other purposes.

With a workforce in place, a few shipments en-route and operations already underway Holden was convicted for fraud and his assets within the Home Isles were seized by the Commonwealth authorities whilst Holden himself was imprisoned. Without it's main driving force, Scrapper's Island never achieved it's full potential. With no paychecks looking to be forthcoming, many of the workers upped sticks and left leaving those too stubborn or unable to leave.

Though looking mostly abandoned, Scrapper's Island continues in a state of limbo acquiring a tickle of junk that is broken down for spares by the so-called Scrappers that remain. The smelters stand silent, never really being used for their intended use as the island because more of a junkyard where various companies in Alyeska dispose of unwanted equipment.

Use In Games

Scrapper's Island could serve as the destination for a crew tasked with delivering a shipment of obsolete equipment, likewise the crew could visit the island in search of spare parts to make some repairs on the cheap. They could also be sent here to find something on behalf of a rich patron.

Monday, 5 July 2021

July 2021: To Pay Donn's Toll

 This month we're back in the world of Frozen Skies with a look at an idea for some background lore for the setting. The genesis of this stems from a recent discussion about the portrayal of the afterlife in fantasy settings and various different cultures. Focusing on the Commonwealth here whose beliefs are rooted in Celtic mythology but altered and adapted to fit the setting. 


Donn's Toll

Kinda playing on a number of different sources here for inspiration, though the main basis is the Celtic Otherworld believed to both be the realm of the gods and also of the dead. This concept of the afterlife known as the Otherworld I plan to carry over into Frozen Skies, though this Otherworld is also believed to be the home of various spirits like the fey thus making it, in some respects, similar to the Feywild in D&D. 

Passage to (and sometimes from) the Otherworld is conveyance via a ferryman, so alot like Charon in Greek mythology. Though in this instance the ferryman is based more of the Irish god of the dead Donn, just with a boat instead of a horse. With the Commonwealth's homeland being a bunch of islands I figured the ocean would have an influence on the cultural beliefs within the Commonwealth, hence the ferryman of the dead angle here. On a slight tandem here, funeral ships (for either burial on land or cremation at sea) could be popular amongst important families with ties to the ocean.

I like the idea of the Banshee from Irish folklore as a female spirit who heralds somebody's death, usually by wailing. Though I wish to expand on this, but keep the core idea of the Banshee being a herald of death. For the Frozen Skies version of the Banshee I'm thinking that when somebody dies, she either sings or wails depending on how good or bad the recently mortally challenged person was. This would then act as a herald for the person's spirit when it arrived in the Otherworld.

Another thing that I wish to incorporate is the Wild Hunt, least the concept of otherworldly hunters chasing after souls of the dead. My version would be led by a figure dubbed the 'Horned King' and the hunt itself targets the souls of those who have been bad in their lifetime. Course the idea here is that the soul is repeatedly hunted down depending on how bad they were, thus creating cycles where the soul is hunted down until they are considered to be 'cleansed' of their sins in life.

And that's what I have, though some parts may change as it gets refined and polished up.

Monday, 7 June 2021

June 2021: State of the Press

 Good grief, almost halfway through the year.

We're now heading into summer (or winter for those readers residing in the southern hemisphere) as signalled by it not raining for more than five minutes here in the UK, so it seems like a good enough excuse for an update on things. It'll be a short post, covering Frozen Skies and some personal stuff that still effect things.


Frozen Skies

One of the big changes with Frozen Skies is that I've managed to enlist some outside help, mainly to provide an extra set of eyes and opinions to counteract how much of Frozen Skies has been developed in relative isolation. For me this is great as I finally get some sort after feedback prior to going to print, thus hopefully leading to a much improved product when that happens. Obviously, that's a boon for everyone concerned.

The biggest change has been to make the Weird Science Arcane Background a NPC only thing, Weird Science was the only Arcane Background in the setting and it was hard justifying it. So now for player characters, Weird Science is effectively just the gizmos and devices side of things rather than powers. Weird Science would still remain a valid skill to operate said devices, though to acquire them a character would have to seek out a NPC mad scientist.

Another change is the inclusion of some alternative rules for air combat, which are just that; an alternative. The hex grid based more tactical rules are being kept, though GMs and their players are gaining more options to use. Whilst not being a be all and end all, it is hoped that this will provide greater choice for people wanting to play Frozen Skies.

Gonna try and get the revised SWADE update document, 'Frozen Skies Black Ice', done by the end of the month so that people can see the actual changes and thus provide feedback on them. As for the final product, I still can provide no ETA on that.

Personal Stuff

A potential boon/spanner in the works (depending on POV) that I've mentioned previously is that I'm currently in the process of joining the Royal Air Force. Needless to say, joining the British military can be and is a drawn-out process with the various steps being spread out over a period of a few months. As you can imagine, a global pandemic has slowed things down as well.

I'm currently at the Medical stage, though I did my actual medical back in April I failed on eyesight and need to re-do this section after acquiring a pair of glasses. Once this is done I have one more stage to get through, the Pre-Joining Fitness Test, before I finally receive a start date for recruit training. Presently I'm waiting on the medical to be re-booked, frustrating as the delay is it does mean more time to work on fitness and I'm currently estimating that it will be October time when I go off to recruit training.

As I said previously, hope to have something more substantial out for the SWADE version of Frozen Skies by the time that happens.