Super System!

I have recently re-visited an old game I played years ago; Super System! It is a game of superheros and larger-than-life comic book style fights. The most fun part of the game is making your characters. Super System uses generic powers that let your characters do nearly anything you have in mind, you just need to allocate your build points smartly. I will be playing this game fairly frequently, so I decided to give an introduction to the two teams I currently have.

First is my original team from 2008, the Red Star Operatives.

The Red Star Operatives have their origins in the WWII Soviet Atomic Bomb Project. The Soviet Atomic Project was initially overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, in 1944 jurisdiction was given to the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD). The NKVD was the law enforcement agency of the USSR. The head of the NKVD as Lavrentiy Beria, a man of considerable influence. Beria saw potential in atomic research not just for a bomb, but for a super solider. Using his power and influence, Beria began a secret research program in the Gulag Labor Camps, as part of the Experimental Design Bureau, or sharashka. This secret project was called Red Star.

No Major advancements were made during the war, and soon after, the NKVD was disbanded, however, Beria kept his pet project. During the post-war years, Beria slowly fed resources to the Red Star Project, and in 1952 the project made breakthroughs in Human Psychic Potential.

In 1953, Beria was the victim of a coup. He was found guilty of treason, terrorism, and counter-revolutionary activity. He was executed in December 1953.

However, the Red Star had been very carefully hidden, and it became a secret society with tendrils all throughout the Soviet Union. This was made possible by the burgeoning research into Human Psychic Potential. The goal of Red Star became to make a Super Team that could combat the likes of Steve Rodgers, a.k.a Captain America, as well as the host of other troublesome Nazi threats that still loomed. Red Star soon found their next advantage, when Richard Feynman gave a lecture at Caltech in 1959 entitled; 'There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom.'

Red Star used their considerable spy network to amass brilliant minds to study the theory of nanotechnology. What made Red Star's endeavors possible was the use of precision telekinetic manipulation of atoms. The process took a decade to even be possible, but it was eventually successful.

In 1970 Red Star created their first Nanotechnology-enhanced solider: Ivan Limonov a former Spetsnaz sniper. He was given superhuman agility and manual dexterity by replacing much of his nervous system with artificial nano-tube conductors, all of which exponentially increased his shooting prowess. Unfortunately, the initial success with Ivan's enhancements began to degrade. Ivan retained his physical agility, but his mind began to fracture. He remains to this day steadfastly loyal to Red Star, but is unable to assume any form of leadership role.

The next Operative to be inducted was Daniil Smekhov, a member of the Soviet Space Program. Smekhov was lead test pilot for a prototype EVA suit, powered by a miniature fission reactor. However the reactor proved unstable and leaked excessive radiation during one of its early tests. Daniil was protected inside the suit, but the exterior was terribly irradiated. Red Star was able to stabilize the suit's reactor using telekinetic manipulation. However, the suit exterior had become a death trap. There was barely any way to approach Daniil's suit, let alone, remove him from it. Red Star took the opportunity to recruit Daniil. Using Telekinetic manipulation Red Star was able to augment Daniil's suit recycling systems and upgrade his motive systems. Using an experimental electromagnetic field generator they were able to confine the suit radiation to itself. This means that Daniil, now the Cosmonaut, can be in the same room as un-shielded people, yet no one can touch him, lest they suffer the radiation's effects.

The next member was the second Nanotech solider created by Red Star. The solider has only been known as Siberion, his past and real name are a blank. It is theorized by low ranking Red Star members that Siberion is a mutant from outside the Soviet Union, and that it was his mutation that spared him a fate like Ivan. Regardless, Siberion has muscles like corded steel, a fighting prowess few can match, and a berserk rage fewer can stand against. Outside of combat, Siberion is kept docile with relaxants and gentle psychic suggestion. However, when his adrenaline spikes due to injury, he becomes unstable, having difficulty separating friend from foe. It is whispered that this is not the failing of the nanotechnology, but Siberion's past mind fighting free.

The leader of the Red Star operatives is Zzarina Vatayeva, 1st rank Psychic and Telekinetic Expert. She is the end product of over thirty years of Human Psychic Potential research conducted by Red Star. Red Star grooms dozens of psychics at any one time. Most are dispatched as spies. Others cross-train in the sciences to further Red Star's research. However, few show the mental fortitude to become Field Agents, pitting their minds against other super humans. Zzarina is an expert telekine, using her powers to move her teammates into advantageous position. She also uses her telekinesis to mend broken bones and re-knit flesh, keeping her team up and moving. Finally, she uses her psychic powers to invade the minds of her foes disabling them from the inside out.

Veronika Kusnetsov a.k.a Night Witch, is another member of the Red Star Psychic Field Agents. Night Witch possesses more limited psychic abilities than Zzarina. However, Night Witch uses her powers in different ways. Night Witch is unable to manipulate objects larger than a few micrograms, however she has been trained to slightly displace the cone and rod cells within a target's eyes, rendering them temporarily blind.  Night Witch wears a suit made from a psychoreactive nanofiber that is attuned to er mental waves. The suit allows her to mentally propel herself as easily as any bird.

The newest member of the Red Star Operatives is Viktor Gribkov a.k.a. Red Shift. Red Shift is the first fully successful Nanotech solider. Red Shift is the culmination of joint research between nanotechnology and psychic potential. His individual psychic prowess is minuscule, but it is enhanced by several amplifiers worn on his person. His psychic powers are not channeled outwards, however, they are channeled inwards to monitor his nano-tube nervous system. In the thirty years since Ivan's misfortune the hyper-agility augment has been perfected. Red Shift is able to move at lighting speed; his  cellular metabolism and reaction time boosted to insane levels. His musculature is less imposing than Siberion, but Red Shift is able to modify his cellular output on-the-fly, enabling him to squeeze every ounce of performance out of his body. Finally, Red Shift is armed with experimental psychoreactive gauntlets that allow him to manipulate objects that are out-of-phase with our dimension.

Red Star always seeks new scientific minds to fuel their research. They also perform counter-operations against rival Super Teams. 

Securing the Raven's March pt 6

* During the process of calculating the armed forces available to the human rulers of the Raven's march, I found that I had under-titled the human rulers. For the rulers to have the forces available to them that I envisioned they should, I needed to upgrade the size of the realms. Thus Barons Valerio and Grunwald are now Marquis. And Marquis Hallvard is now a Count. This makes sense, allowing for the small forts on the maps to be ruled by Barons. I will not re-edit the previous posts, but will use the new titles moving forward.


May 30th Caudex Annales 71 AUP

The party arrived in Rythey Tower, and received an audience with the Court Wizard Azarius. They explained what they had found of the goblins and what had happened. Azarius found this interesting, but explained there was currently nothing to be done about it. Count Hallvard had made a call to arms in the realm. There was a looming Troglodyte Incursion from the south, and Hallvard intended to meet it head-on. The party was paid their reward, and dismissed.

At this time, Trebor parted ways with the party. He had been seeking adventure, but had found far more than he desired. Trebor took Trouser with him, as well as Erick Celtigar's Shield, and returned to Westbrook. 

This left Korian the Bard, Osparagus the Wizard, Ogden the Fighter, and Aalis the explorer in the party.

The group had acquired some magic items during their dungeon delve, and decided to go to Ravenholm, the largest city in the March, and seat of Count Hallvard, to try to sell them.

The Raven's March, as known to the Players (dark grey is approximate locations of mountains)

The party decided to cut cross-country through the forests, instead of sailing around on the river. A journey of 3 days, they met wild boars twice. However, they kept their distance and avoided provoking the territorial beasts.

Let's go around, shall we?

The group arrived in Ravenholm with little incident. They were able to sell some of their more expensive loot, and Osparagus found he was ready to learn some new spells. Thus it was decided that the party would stay in Ravenholm for a month. The wizard would learn his new spells, and Korian would look for more hirelings.

Securing the Raven's March Pt 4 & 5

The following recap covers two sessions of play.

May 27th Caudex Annales 71 AUP

The party of adventures traveled to the hamlet of Kale. Along the way they met some merry barbarians who were questing to slay a Hydra. 

The Goblins open fire at long range!

After arriving in Kale, the players were met with rumor and hear-say concerning the goblins. However, they were soon directed to some ruins outside of town. The party found the ruins easily enough, and came under fire from two goblin look-outs in a huge gnarled tree! 

The party took cover behind trees, and advanced upon the snipers. The party traded shots with the goblins to little effect either way. But then Osparagus non-nonchalantly pointed his fingers and his magic missiles unerringly killed the goblins.

The party then made their way down the stairway hidden beneath the great gnarled tree. The first room they found was empty, but they spent a few minutes mapping it out, and searching for secret passages, to no avail.

The second room, deeper down, contained 6 goblins, eager to repel the interlopers. However, courage soon left the goblins as they were assaulted by Trouser the war dog, and his deadly master Trebor. The goblins scrambled through the mouth of a great carved face in the far wall, and tried to go across a bridge suspended over a gully. But the last goblin was struck by a crossbow bolt, and tumbled over the side.

A one-page dungeon I found here

The party then sortied across the rickety goblin-made bridge, after having sent Trouser across first.

They found a chamber with a spiral staircase going down, at one end, and a curious hole in the ceiling. However, the party had been exploring for nearly an hour, and needed to rest. So they spread out in the apparently empty chamber to take a breather.

As they relaxed suddenly a rope uncoiled from the hole in the ceiling and five goblins rappelled into the room! Somehow, the party was not caught unawares, and scrambled to the defense!

The fighting was brutal and swift, and as the goblins from above were cut down, more came running up the spiral stairs! Quick thinking, and some military oil, bottle-necked the goblins on the stairs in a screeching conflagration. The remaining goblins backed down the steps and were pursued and cut down by the stalwart Trebor.

However, during the fighting, Frega had suffered a nasty blow to the side of the head, rupturing her ear-drum. She would require a month's bed rest. 

The party searched the upper room and found the goblin's hoard. They also searched the lower chamber and found a large stone door. They opened it, and were greeted by a horrible ooze thing creeping up the walls of this deep chamber. Two of the party fled, and the others backed out and closed the door. It was decided to retreat outside the dungeon and camp for the night.

On their way out, they were met by a goblin scouting party that had returned to find their home destroyed. The party tried to lure the goblins onto the bridge, and cut it, but only managed to cause one goblin to fall to his doom. The remaining goblins made good their escape.

 After mending the bridge, there was still time in the day for Rothus to help the wounded Frega back to Kale. The rest of the party set watches, and rested undisturbed through the night.

The next day, bolstered by renewed spellcasting ability, and inspirational tales from the bard, the party returned to the stone door to confront their gelatinous foe. The party planned to use the split-level room to their advantage, and prepared their military oil as molotovs, as well as a small bundle of flammable ammunition. Their preparations done, Wervay opened the stone door, and they waited. 

The Black Pudding negotiates the narrow door

Soon, a Black Pudding made of molten flesh surged through the open door. The wizard, the explorer, Ogden, and Trouser quickly fled at the sight of it. Fortunately, they had not been carrying any of the oil, which Trebor threw to great effect. However, the Pudding was not slowed by the split-level room, and oozed up the wall to attack the defenders. The party threw everything they had at the pudding, and struck it with their weapons, however, they instantly learned that Puddings split-in-two when struck! 

Wervay fell under a fleshy pseudo pod, and the courage of the remaining group faltered. Trebor and Korian made for the stairs, but Erick rushed towards Wervay and tried to pull him out. The implacable ooze then smothered Erick as well. Trebor and Korian were backing up the stairs, but they were soon joined by Osparagus, whose courage had returned. Together, they beat back the Pudding, splitting it into smaller pieces which were then sizzled to a crisp by Osparagus.

After the Pudding was slain, the party rushed to mend their comrades, but unfortunately, they could not be saved. The survivors briefly considered returning Erick to be be Restored to Life, but realized they were too far from a suitable cleric. Somberly, the group buried their fallen comrades, and then went over the dungeon carefully, looking for any secret doors.

They found one, and inside were two old elven corpses. Their swords were still in fine condition, and each glowed with continuous light. Behind this antechamber, they found an old storage room, with a statue made of quartz. When one of the group touched something the statue animated and attacked. Before the statue was shattered, it felled Ogden, who was revived, though he suffered gruesome scarring.

Their exploration complete, the group paid their respects to the fallen, and then returned to Kale for the night.

In the morning, Korian gave severance pay to Frega, and Rothus, relieving them of service. The group found healing for Ogden who was soon fit for travel. The party then returned to Rythey Tower.

-I enjoyed the dungeon-crawl very much. The Exploration Turns mechanic adds so much interest to the process! I Took my largest d6 and left it on the table, and after every 10 minutes of in-game time I would advance the die side. At every odd interval I would roll for a wandering monster, which only happened once. Keeping accurate time like this allowed me to know that the party had been exploring for 2.5 hours, thus making it about 5pm when the wounded characters set off for town. I have not had a dungeon experience that felt so organic and alive like this before. It was very rewarding!

My players learned that there are some encounters that you should just run away from. The Black Pudding is a 10 hit-die monster! It is not to be trifled with. The encounter with the Pudding was a learning experience for all of us, because none of us have ever been truly prepared for encounters that are beyond our character's ability. My players and I have played many RPGs that have scaled encounters, where retreat rarely ever needs to be an option. I enjoy this aspect of ACKS; the fact that you should probably let sleeping monsters lie!

Securing the Raven's March Pt 3

May 19th Caudex Annales 71 AUP

The Party are unleashed upon the town of Rythey Tower! Fortunatly for the populace they seem content to wile away their time browsing the markets, and carousing the pubs. During the week of the 19th, the group manages to sell their remaining loot to a few agreeable merchants, and post help wanted ads in the public spaces.

At the end of the week a very motley assortment shows up for Korian's Hiring Seminar. Seven peasants were available, but only four were hired:      

-Wervay (A strong woodsman with false teeth)

-Frega (An aspiring mercenary with a stutter, and a pet talking parrot)

-Ogden (An alcohol-fueled deserter) *

-Rothus (A failed mage apprentice) *

*Accepted with élan (+1 Morale)

Korian also hired Aalis, a Level 1 Explorer. She had grown up in this wilderness and was looking to make some coin as a guide.

Trebor spent the week with his new War Dog, Trouser. Trebor spent this time gaining proficiency in handling animals.

The party also approached Burdoon, a thief. However, Burdoon was not keen on the adventuring life and decided he liked living in town better, even after a second attempt by Korian to appeal to the man's lust for glory.

The party then outfitted their new henchman appropriately, and set out for the hamlet of Kale to follow the rumors of Goblins.

-This entire session was devoted to the recruitment of henchman. I realize now that extended stays in town would be better dealt with between sessions, but we needed to do the first session in person. From it I learned to make a to-do list of needed actions for any extended stay in town. (The players received free room and board!)

Also, we made our first house rule: In order to expedite the selling of loot, the characters may sell to a merchant. Represented by half gold profit, and triple availability of a buyer.

We felt this was necessary because the party was weighed down by goods that they could not try to sell again for a month.

Securing the Raven's March Pt 2

May 16th Caudex Annales 71 AUP

Less terrifying than REAL ones!

The party left Westbrook, giving their farewells. They journeyed on foot through the forest and came out into the plains that late afternoon. They came upon a destroyed merchant's wagon. There were no bodies, but the party managed to track where the bodies had been dragged. In a fallow field they encountered a giant rhagodessa slumbering in a freshly dug pit. The party did not maintain surprise for long as the beast heard their approach and awoke!  In the short combat that followed, Osparagus accounted for the majority of damage with his fiery magic missiles, and Korian added to it with his crossbow. However, their attacks did not fell the beast before it charged Trebor and mortally wounded him with its crushing jaws! 

Fortunately for Trebor, Erick had been standing next to him, and immediately cast Lay on Hands. It turned out that Trebor had received some broken ribs and a notable scar. Trebor would require a day's bed rest or magical healing to be of any use. So the party decided to camp for the night, and use Lay on Hands in the morning. In the beast's den they found the mangled bodies of two wealthy merchants from the south. On their bodies they found a large amount of gold and valuable gems and jewelry.

The next day the party arrived at Rythey Tower at mid-afternoon. They spent the remainder of the day attempting to sell their loot in the bustling market. After they sold what they could, they retired to an inn for a luxurious night's stay. 

The next day, Trebor stayed in the inn to recuperate his health, and Erick stayed with him. Osparagus and Korian went to the Baron's Keep to seek audience with him. They arrived at the start of the Baron's public audience hour, and Korian's silver tongue secured them the first spot in queue. 


The Baron had other things on his mind and received the news of the kobold attack without much response, however, he offered for his court wizard Azarius to translate the note. Korian also quickly stepped in and offered the magical leather armor and a splendid silver broach directly to the Baron. This piqued the Baron's interest, and he bought both items! The wizard Azarius then escorted the two adventurers to an antechamber to conduct business. 

The wizard cast Read Languages and quickly transcribed the note. He then copied it again leaving one for the Baron, and one for the party. Azarius had no knowledge of who MX might be. Azarius then recruited the adventurers for a job. Azarius told the adventures that beastmen sighting this side of the Great Barrier Mountains were rare. And that evidence of their presence was troubling. He asked them to investigate conflicting reports of goblin sightings on the north edge of the Baron's territory. The adventurers accepted, and then returned to their inn to count their coin.


--My players reached Level 2 in their second session! I had my doubts about how quickly they would be able to level up, but their encounters, and the treasure rolls, worked in their favor! I informed them that Rhagodessa are encountered in groups of 1d6. And that they got lucky in both number of enemies, and the amount of loot. However, I am ok with this. My players now have considerable coin, and they are looking to hire henchmen and buy horses. 

Trebor's brush with death cemented my player's need for more bodies and allies on their side. I enjoy this aspect of ACKS. It is realistic that to conquer the horrors of the wilderness, one should travel in groups. My players are looking to hire a Thief, and I recommend they hire an Explorer as well. They also wish to hire 4 0th level peasants to groom into fighters.

There was more book keeping this session than last, as well as more thumbing through the rules, however, the plot was advanced, and more importantly, the players leveled up!

Securing the Raven's March Pt 1

Right under the "O"

I have started an ACKS campaign, set in the world of Proxima. I am starting the players off in Northeast Elysion.
This area has only been settled for the past 70 years or so, and the players will inhabit an area at the edge of this civilization. I imagine this area is filled with hardy woodsman villages and small farming hamlets. The players are starting in the small village of Westbrook, in an area under the control of Baron Valerio.

I have two players that each rolled up two characters each. The party consists of a Fighter (Trebor), a Mage (Osparagus the Bitter), a Cleric (Erick Celtigar), and a Bard (Korian Lightheart).

Trebor the Fighter was living with his uncle, a woodcutter, after Trebor's father had died in a military campaign. Osparagus the Bitter was trying to be a hermit as he slowly approached middle age. Eric Celtigar was apprenticing at the small parsonage under the local aging priest. And Korian Lightheart had been entertaining for his meals at the small public house.

The locals have heard of the failed excursion through the Green Pass recently. Also, in the past two days, there have been reports from Westbrook's neighbor, Applethorn, of dead and missing livestock, as well as theft and ransacked storehouses. The inhabitants of Westbrook have thus been uneasy and on edge.

May 14th Caudex Annales 71 AUP

Just before dawn, smoke and the glow of fire was seen in the direction of Datherby farm. Elder Silas, the leading authority figure in Westbrook formed a posse of the town's best combatants: Trebor, Osparagus, Erick, Korian, Silas himself, and three able-bodied peasants. Had it not been for the troubling news as of late Silas would have formed a bucket brigade instead.  The posse marched determinedly towards the farm, while Korian Lightheart bolstered their courage with an inspiring tale.  

*Only 2 feet tall

The group arrived at the farm just as the sun rose. In the dawn light, and the flickering flames they saw a gang of cavorting and shrieking kobolds. The kobold's bloodlust was at a frenzy and they charged the approaching humans. However, Osparagus immolated the lead kobold with a fiery magic missile. Seeing their comrade meet his demise stole the courage from the kobolds and they made a fighting withdraw, only to be cut down by magic and sweeping strikes from Trebor's polearm.

In the farmhouse the party found Mr. and Mrs. Datherby. Mr. Datherby had been killed instantly by the kobolds, but Erick Celtigar was able to save Mrs. Datherby by using Lay On Hands. Mrs. Datherby would eventually recover, but her wounds had left her lamed. 

Silas instructed the peasants to take Mrs. Datherby back to town, and send runners to the nearby Fort Bragendale. Meanwhile, Erick, and Korain had been moderately wounded in the exchange, and the party decided to rest at the farm for the day. During this time they burned the kobold corpses, and buried Mr. Datherby. Before nightfall, a very winded peasant arrived to say that a contingent of guards would arrive from Fort Bragendale in a day or so.

Intense life or death struggle!

In the morning, the party set out following the Kobold tracks to their source. Half a day into the wilderness the party found an abandoned campsite near a stream. Korian again bolstered the party as a bellow of challenge issued from the other side of the stream. A hulking Lizardman and several more kobolds rushed across the stream. The Lizardman nearly smashed Silas into the ground, but Silas was able to just barely survive the blow. A the kobold charge was blunted by polearm and warhammer, but the little beastmen's courage held. however, after the third magic missile, the Lizardman brute was finally slain, and with him went the kobold's taste for fighting. They were cut down as they fled, with the final kill being claimed by the mage's staff!

The party then recovered some of the raider's stolen loot, chief of which was a set of +1 Leather Armor! The party also found a note carried by the lizardman written in a language they could not decipher.

Silas recommended the party take the note to Rythey Tower, to inform Baron Valerio of what happened, as well as to seek someone capable of reading the note. With that, the party returned to Westbrook.

Overall I enjoy the ACKS system very much for skirmish level encounters. I was very worried about the mortality of my players, but the morale system for monsters and NPCs really balanced that out. The combat felt very heroic thanks to the Cleave attack rules, which let a character attack again after killing a monster. Also, charging with spears and polearms featured heavily in our two combats. Despite owning both encounters, my players felt mortal, and I like that. The ACKS system has rules for just about everything, giving the Game Master a clear idea of what should be happening. The trouble is finding those rules in a timely manner. I will be working on a GM screen of useful tables to have close at hand.

Introduction

Hello reader! I enjoy strategy and role-playing games. Until recently I always felt that large and complicated games were out of my reach. However, my good friend Edward Hamilton over at A Wilderness of Tygers showed me just how fun and achievable big huge games can be.

I will be using this blog to chronicle my experiences playing such games.

"Praxis is the process by which a theory, lesson, or skill is enacted, practiced, embodied, or realized. 'Praxis' may also refer to the act of engaging, applying, exercising, realizing, or practicing ideas." -Wikipedia