Human Space Empires New Class

I have been watching too many episodes of the Clone Wars animated series.... and this game needs a Jedi class....

I present the PSYMURAI, oh yeah, I went there. Download the class here. Or in my download section.

Normandie Starting Area Map

I have been battling my inner ADD Gamer demon of late, and finally said "Fuck it, I am going to run Normandie". It is the most developed setting I have, and people seem to be attached to their jousting knights, so why not?

I have drawn up a map of the starting area, the castle town of Ar'Gentan which is just south of an old black water lake. In this lake there is an island known as the Fist of the First Men. The local fisherman of Noir-Lac (very creative, I know), shun this island and dare not set foot on it, as they claim it is haunted.

Old ruins can be seen along the shorelines, crumbled stone walls and the central hill (called the Knuckle) has what appears to be the ruins of a castle.

As I currently play in games on Tue & Thu, that only leaves a few days open to run. I am thinking of running on Sunday evenings at 9:30pm (eastern time). 

Who wishes to be in the player pool?


This game will be run on G+ as a hangout.

Armor for Yamatai

This is the armor I was envisioning for my setting. No katana in this setting either, just the straight sword (old school tachi).

YAMATAI

I have been helping Evan with his UZ documentation, and after seeing his take on the Pettigrew underworld tables, I just had to try something of my own. So I whipped up a UZ-like Japanese setting. I give you YAMATAI:

History of Yama

The Enlightened Past (~30,00 years ago): This was a time of peace and harmony. Mankind was at his peak of achievement, and had even reached the stars. Technology would be considered “magic” today.

The Saurian Invasion (~20,000 years ago): The reptile-like Saurians invaded from Planet X. They enslaved the human race and built their great cities on top of the displaced humans.

The Kaiju Era (~12,000 years ago): The Saurians brought wild new (and dangerous) technology with them, this polluted the environment and caused the rise of the great monsters “Kaiju”. They were primarily responsible for the demise of the Saurian culture, and with their dwindling numbers from lack of food sources and a meteorite impact made it possible for humans once again to expand.

The Jomon Era (~5,000 years ago): The first city state to re-emerge was Jomon.

The Kofun Era (~2,000 years ago): The Kofun were invaders from distant Mu, they established the city of Kofu.

The Yamatai (Now): Yama is the current city-state and adventuring locale. The city is built over 30,000 years of history and the underworld is ready to be explored.

Warband - Chaos Party for the Grim, Dark Broken Lands.

Over on G+, I have been hammering out house rules for playing in a distant future setting with power armor and saw-bladed swords. Basically a group of Chaos warriors tromping around and adventuring OSR style. The rules are coming along nicely, and I hope to test drive them soon using hangout. (This has totally killed my work on Normandie lately - stupid ADD).

Here are the twenty questions answered for my WARBAND sandbox:

1. What is the deal with my cleric's religion?

This is the “Grim-Dark” future, on a planet tainted by the Chaos of the Void, you follow the Gods of Change. Chaos is your master. There are many gods to choose from, some are actually gods! Some are self-made power mongers and live on your planet. However there are no clerics as players. So don’t worry too much about it.

2. Where can we go to buy standard equipment?

The starting boom-town of MORTGLUM

3. Where can we go to get Power Armor custom fitted for this monster I just befriended?

You will need to find a Tek-Priest of the god MEKANIK. They work wonders with their ability to craft suits of power armor, custom fitted for any size. They also craft many fine weapons of death and destruction for the Chaos Lords.

4. Who is the mightiest sorcerer in the land?

The Dun-Witch that dwells in the western hills upon the shores of the Lake of Voices is the most powerful Sorcerer in the Broken Lands. She demands a high price for any who request her services.

5. Who is the greatest warrior in the land?

Spitfire Rattlebones  has that distinction, he resides in a mighty fortress near the Mountains of Fire and Ash. 

6. Who is the richest person in the land?

Lord Ashmark of the city OSIRIAX has that honor. He is the current Magistrate and controls all trade and taxes in the city.

7. Where can we go to get some magical healing?

Old Sawbones in Mortglum can provide basic healing (at a reasonable rate). I would suggest investing heavily in medi-kits for emergency healing. For the removing of curses, you will need to visit the Dun-Witch or reach a high enough level yourself.

8. Where can we go to get cures for the following conditions: poison, disease, curse, level drain, lycanthropy, polymorph, alignment change, death, undeath?

Again, the Dun-Witch or reach a high enough level yourself

9. Is there a guild my Sorcerer belongs to or that I can join in order to get more spells?

Yes, there are Orders & Covens for Sorcerers. Though they are corrupt and full of vile, envious, sorts jealous of your power and willing to trick you into giving them all they need. It is a dog-eat-dog world and as Norm said, you are wearing milk-bone underwear.

10. Where can I find an alchemist, sage or other expert NPC?

Your best bet is the city of OSIRIAX.

11. Where can I hire mercenaries?

Well, you have your own retinue to start with in WARBAND, but you can always hire on new meat at most towns and OSIRIAX. There are orders of mercenaries that act much like a guild and offer reasonable rates, though professionalism and quality may vary.

12. Is there any place on the map where swords are illegal, magic is outlawed or any other notable hassles from Johnny Law?

Are you kidding? This is CHAOS! This is the wild-west with chainswords and bolt guns. You are the LAW!

13. Which way to the nearest tavern?

Step on it to Rotgut’s Saloon, owned and operated by Rotgut since M39.87. The finest (well the only) tavern / hostel in Mortglum.

14. What monsters are terrorizing the countryside sufficiently that if I kill them I will become famous?

There is the Slothrog roaming the mountains south of Mortglum which the Dun-Witch would pay handsomely for its carcass.

While not technically a monster, the warrior Spitfire Rattlebones has become a thorn in the side of Lord Ashmark, who would pay dearly to see the end of that noted warrior.

15. Are there any wars brewing I could go fight?

There are always wars brewing between warbands, and petty lords in their fortresses of stone. This is the Broken Lands, you will find war and plunder at every turn. Let’s not forget the Black-Elves that have recently been sited creeping from their hidden lairs in the north.

16. How about gladiatorial arenas complete with hard-won glory and fabulous cash prizes?

Of course, the city of OSIRIAX hosts many spectacular games in the grand arena.

17. Are there any secret societies with sinister agendas I could join and/or fight?

Sure, Orders & Covens are the go to for this sort of affair. Watch your back.

18. What is there to eat around here?

Well, there is always slug-meat, orana fruit (and orange-banana hybrid), steel-grass seeds (used for bread), milk from the sloth-goat. All of these yummy treats and more.

19. Any legendary lost treasures I could be looking for?

No. But there may be later.

20. Where is the nearest dragon or other monster with Type H treasure?

Did I mention the Slothrog earlier, that dude is one bad mother… I’m just talking ‘bout Slothrog.

A new class for my Normandie campaign

On a night in early summer, a terrible storm erupted over the realms of Normandie and a great show of lightning filled the air. There was a great roar as of dragons heard flying overhead and suddenly strange men were seen falling from the sky...

I present to you the Warriors of Currahee class for the Normandie camapaign.

These strange men are a sub-class of Fighting-Men. These warriors originated from an alternate realm where mankind wages war on a global scale with terrible machines of war.

Falling from the sky during a dark night of terrible lightning, they entered the Blessed Realms of Normandie in ones and twos.

Each Warrior of Currahee begins the game with a specific set of equipment that he has managed to bring with him from his realm. Some of this equipment is determined by random dice roll as the fates were fickle during their air drop of June 5^th 1944.

Each warrior begins with the basic kit of: Battle dress uniform (boots, socks, trousers, under-shirt, shirt), web belt, canteen, first aid kit (1 use to restore 1d6 damage), Helmet w/ liner, gloves, canvas backpack, rain poncho w/quilted liner, and 20’ nylon rope. 

You can find the full rules for the class here, and in my download section...

A couple of high powered magic items for Normandie

Ancient Armor of the First Men
This rare, magical armor of the First Men provides excellent protection as well as increased physical strength. The wearer of this armor has AC 0, and receives a +3 Strength bonus when rolling for damage. This armor is rare and very valuable, it can be sold for 10,000 gold or more.

Lightning Sword of the First Men

This rare long-sword crackles with blue-electrical energy. The sword strikes with a +3 to hit, and rolls 2d6 dice for damage. Another artifact of the First Men, this sword is worth 5,000 gold or more.

Vampira the Wight Queen

Vampira the Wight Queen

The peasants near Xemes tell of a terrible evil that haunts the marshes north of the castle town. She is known as the white queen, or the wight queen. Cows and flock animals have been known to go missing as well as a peasant or two.  Windows and doors are barred at night, and children are told to never forage into the woods for fear of the Wight Queen.

Vampira the Wight Queen is an immortal undead First Man. She has been isolated in her hold for hundreds of years. Content to fleece the local population to sate her desires.