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Paisan
USA
3 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 16:38:09
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Even though I haven't taken to playing Witchfinder regularly, I'm already thinking ahead. Something I really enjoy is campaigns/linked games. Has anybody else given any thought to that? I'd like to discuss what people have tried, and what might come in the future.
I didn't see anything that forbids mentioning other companies or products, so I hope this is okay. I know of a couple systems that I think would make for a good basis. Necromunda/Mordheim, with all of their territories, might be interesting. I think the only thing necessary would be updating the descriptions of the territories. And the game Hot Trod and Red Hand has a nice system that uses playing cards to determine how well a raid goes. Of course, either of these things would have to be done unofficially by players. If we wanted an official Witchfinder campaign system, that's something that would have to be developed for one of the supplements. :)
I can imagine a group of Withfinders scouring the countryside, looking for the lair of the witches and their evil cohorts. Meanwhile, the witchfinders need to be careful where they hang out, because the forces of darkness are looking for them, too. So, skulking around in villages, raiding the enemy stronghold, ambushing the other side's troops when they're vulnerable. Great stuff.
Personally, I'd want to keep the individual character development limited. Perhaps allow a villager to upgrade to a veteran after a time, and a veteran to become a witchfinder. But mostly, I think the campaign would be focused on managing resources and intelligence. You don't have balanced games because you want to concentrate your forces against your opponent. If you put everything into an attack here, you might lose the vulnerable village there.
So, what does everybody else think about this? |
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Morsleib
United Kingdom
21 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 16:58:56
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Being a veteran of Mordheim amd Legends of the High Seas (etc) I am very much in favour of progressive campaigns. I think that a GM run narrative would best suit the genre with maybe rival witchhunters trying to outdo each other in their zeal.
One aspect which would add to the period feel but doesn't appear in those other games is gathering information. Putting your suspects to the question seems to be a major pre-occupation of the WH.
Terry |
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Paisan
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 19:03:56
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Ooh, yes! Maybe have a couple of towns on the campaign map. The witchfinders don't know which of them, if any, has witches at the start. They have to investigate first. And if they guess wrong, they waste time and alienate allies they will need later.
Meanwhile, the player(s) for the dark side have to see which towns are ripe for infiltration.
And everybody is also trying to just survive everyday life in the 17th century, too.
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Big Al
United Kingdom
117 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 20:12:28
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Or you could have a single controlling vampire in the local manor house and controlling a number of villages (his food farms) with the help of some accolytes in the form of a couple of local witches, who select his victims by "doctoring" the villagers and making their deaths look like the result of illness. A local apothecary is suspicious and alerts the Militia or Witchfinder captain.
Alternatively, you could have a campaign where a pair of witches covens are competing for control of the local area. Their strife gets a little out of hand and comes to the attention of a new priest, who persuades the squire to raise a small force to assist in rounding up the local witch. The priest realises that the problem is beyond his capabilities and sends for his bishop. The bishop is unable to attend but sends a Witchfinder with a small army of sticklers.
How do they sound as campaign skeletons? |
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drusty
78 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 22:11:58
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| The six scenarios in the rulebook form a kind of linked narrative. They might be a good place to start. |
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Black Sheep
United Kingdom
263 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 07:37:54
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You have started a grand discussion Paisan  . Great scenarios gents. There will be suggestions for more linked games in the first supplement. I will share a few ideas that are in development (including the introduction of more vile abominations to smite)and hope to add more to this debate after a rather busy weekend ahead.
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sarge
United Kingdom
115 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 15:02:32
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I too have being having similar such thoughts about a linked games type campaign. I was toying with the idea of writting up the story after each game and presenting it on my games club forum for others to play the part of NPC's (non player characters) to help drive the story in one way or another.
This thread has given me a little push towards getting this started....  |
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drusty
78 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 12:55:35
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Black Sheep, Could I make a few suggestions/requests for the supplement? Could we have stats for Hardmen? Could we have a Captain Fantom character? And perhaps rules for Common Folk (particularly dismounted cavalry) to throw grenardoes?
Dont want to sound greedy. Many thanks. |
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Black Sheep
United Kingdom
263 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2012 : 00:28:50
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The supplement will contain linked encounters regarding a group of Witchfinders that accidentally unearth a particularly effective way of dispatching certain vile abominations. The Witchfinders then attempt to spread the word of their discovery. The vile abominations are of course most displeased and do all they can to prevent this. These encounters will allow characters to develop their gumption and improve other related abilities. At the moment we are still operating on the premise that players will play each encounter twice and swap sides. Everyone can therefore have a go at potentially dishing out some serious hurt on the enemy and be on the receiving end too.
As mentioned in the 'shield thread' Highlanders will be introduced and some new (to the game) vile abominations, including Faeries If you are thinking of Tinkerbell or similar butterfly winged females - please think again. These Faeries are more akin to a 17th Century version of Predator - scary, stealthy, hard to see and down right lethal!
Plague zombies : Will the Witchfinders be facing slow and shambling 'Romero' zombies emerging from the plague pits or fast moving 'rage' filled killing machines? If you are 'lucky' it will be the slow ones that are trying to catch you for lunch.
I was really intrigued by Mr Morsleib's idea of 'putting your suspects to the question' (Is it okay to e-mail you about this Terry?).
As for Captain Fantom and Hardmen  (top taste in literature Drusty) I think we can devise some suggestions in a free download this side of summer. I agree it is time common folk had the opportunity to throw a few grenardoes too and also perhaps barricade their doors (although doing this does not always seem to help Scooby and Shaggy).
Which side is the Green Man on? Any thoughts.
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Big Al
United Kingdom
117 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2012 : 06:42:41
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Well, because the Witchfinders are most likely Puritans, I suspect that the Green Man would be classed as a Vile Abomination. However, his image appears in almost all churches. Certainly the old ones. My cousin is a vicar and he showed my wife all the ones in his church when they were doing something about them in school. The Green Man is supposed to be for good.
For those interested, I highly recommend using Tor Gaming's Vaettir. These little chaps are based on the ancient faeries or elves of British mythology and would be perfect for these vile creatures.
http://store.torgaming.co.uk/Vaettir_s/1820.htm |
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drusty
78 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2012 : 11:12:51
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| Cheers, Black Sheep. Looking forward to the supplement with even greater anticipation. |
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Morsleib
United Kingdom
21 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2012 : 17:35:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Black Sheep
I was really intrigued by Mr Morsleib's idea of 'putting your suspects to the question' (Is it okay to e-mail you about this Terry?).
No problem. I presume you have my direct email? I am not entirely sure how to incorporate the idea. There was something similar which featured in a Mordheim campaign many years ago. Anyway it seems very appropriate to this setting.
Terry |
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ClivetheCelt
23 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2012 : 10:30:01
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Hmm. Showing my age here; I'd wondered about incorporating some of the stewardship/campaign elements from the old Chaosium Pendragon rules for this - very simple mechanics, minimal book-keeping, but they capture the spirit of the "Forest Sauvage" very well. For example, the travel/encounter rules are just as pertinent to the 1600s as to the 600s, and there's a nice list of "folklore" creatures to plunder - e.g. the Redcap (i.e. "Faerie" - but not the "at the bottom of the garden" type). The "Old Religion" elements might fit in with this; after all, many old churches are built on former pagan places of worship/holy wells, and the buildings have all the symbology incorporated into them, just as many of the Christian festivals have assimilated some pagan elements. I'd be perhaps inclined to think of some of those "Green Man" elements being more akin to what Edward Woodward found on a wee Scottish island - Lord Summerisle, Sumer Is Icomen In, etc, etc ... and there's a campaign in that plotline for sure! Not to mention Bri ... 
Pub quizlet (): The name of hostelry in the film mentioned above is ... ? |
Edited by - ClivetheCelt on 31 Mar 2012 18:07:59 |
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Black Sheep
United Kingdom
263 Posts |
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Black Sheep
United Kingdom
263 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2012 : 12:40:49
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quote:
Originally posted by ClivetheCelt
Pub quizlet (): The name of hostelry in the film mentioned above is ... ?
It is ... it is .. curses... memory failed me again and the answer is not immediately available on wikipedia. Now I will have to watch it again . Purely research for the supplement |
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Big Al
United Kingdom
117 Posts |
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Linked Games / Campaigns
. I really like the look of the Vaettir. Currently playtesting with some old clear resin Ainsty Sci-fi INAPs