Month: June 2018

Mapping the San Empire #ArtofWar

Mapping attempt at the San Empire.

Campaign Cartographer 3 Plus has a unique overlay you can use to make classic Eastern Maps. And it is really kind of bad ass.  This overlay is part of the 2016 Annual called Empire of the Sun.

As with all Campaign Cartographer products, there is a bit of a learning curve and it helps to watch the youtube video tutorials out there. I have been using it for a couple of years in my home games and on a few products where maps where needed. I have found myself enjoying the mapping process and have spent hours pouring and sorting through map bits.

One of the biggest issues I am having is the scaling of maps symbols to the pleasing ascetic I want (hope) to accomplish. I want the traditional fantasy map with the traditional Eastern look. Many maps of this style tend to be exaggerating on the hillside landscape mimicking the view from afar. Or what I would like to aim for is something like this. This is the example they have for the Annual.

ca110-the-coast-at-jiabannan
Copyright: Profantasy

I really do love everything about this.

So inspired and in an attempt to save money, I need to do a map of the San Empire myself. And I have done my best to do so (See below).

San Empire

 

It’s a little crowded. The scaling of the map symbols is off. There are no roads to each village. But in an first attempt, I am getting to learn the overlay. Hopefully I can have a final rendered map soon. Back to the drawing board….or mapping.

~Tentacle Out!

Art of War (pregen): Silent Bell

A #savageworlds pregen for the South of the Wall adventure.

A pregen for the South of the Wall adventure.

Silent Bell
Born in the destitute slums of a feudal lord along the eastern coast, the one known as the “Silent Bell” did what was possible to survive. Silent Bell was taken in by an orphanage at a young age, however being unable to speak since birth caused her social issues. Only being able to put up with so much teasing, “Bell” left the orphanage to find a life as a street urchin stealing what was needed to survive. Bell found shelter and comfort with other children and kemonomimi in dire straights. An Araiguma, Tum-Tum, took a liking to the small Bell and taught her the secrets of surviving.
She did very well for herself, living a carefree life doing what she wanted, while never being under the authority of anyone. Her arrogance was answered by a hawk-eyed fruit vendor, leading to a chase through the market square on a sunny afternoon. Finding refuge over a wall, Bell sought shelter in a near by building. Upon shutting the door, she turned to find a room filled with monks sitting quietly watching her. A knock would usher several monks guiding her through a garden to a back entrance.
A month went by as Bell found herself continuously drawn to the White Lotus Temple where monks tended gardens and blended into the background as parishioners paid homage to the shrine. She felt kinship to those that held a vow of silence and worked hard to repay them. Years after being indoctrinated, Silent Bell works as an advocate for the poor and looks to use her newly acquired land to open her own temple under the banner of the White Lotus.

Race: Human
Clan: n/a
Trope: Buxist (internal)
Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d4, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills: Acrobatics d8, Fighting d6, Knowledge (ceremony) d4, Knowledge (history) d6 Healing d6, Lockpicking d6, Meditation d6,  Notice d6, Persuasion d4, Stealth d4, Streetwise d6
Cha: 0; Pace: 8; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5
Hindrances: Mute* (major), Vow (minor, poverty), Beyond the Borders* (minor)
Edges: Acrobat, Fleet-Footed
Max Chi Pool: 4
Chi Techniques: Clear Vision, Detect Inner Thoughts
Gear: Travel Kit (bedroll, blanket, water skin, rope (10”), 7 rations), 200 ki (money)
Special Abilities:
Trance: Spending a full turn, Buxist fall into a temporary trace where they roll a Meditation check. On a success they enter this trance for a number of rounds equal to half their Smarts die, or full Smarts die on a raise. Upon entering the trance their initiative card is always considered a Spade and they are able to ignore wound penalties until the trance ends. When the trance does end, a Buxist must spend a Chi point for each wound before incapacitation that was incurred or suffer an equal amount of Fatigue wounds. While in this trance, should a monk get to the point of incapacitation, they may spend a point of Chi to remain conscious for one additional turn.

Chi Technique
Detect Inner Thoughts
Cost: 1
This technique works as the mind reading power.

Clear Vision
Cost: 1/2/3
Duration: 3 rounds
For 1 chi point, the hero ignores any and all obscurement penalties (darkness, fog, blindness, invisibility, etc). Cover penalties for solid objects still apply as normal. The area that can be sensed is a small burst template focused on the hero.
For 2 points the character can extend this area of effect to a medium burst template and can sense all around him, negating all attackers’ Gang Up bonus against him.
For 3 points the character extends their senses to a number of allies equal to half their Notice die. They gain the senses as though they had spent 3 points so long as they remain in an area of a large template focused on the hero originating the power.

Hindrance
Beyond the Border
The hero suffers a -2 on all Common Knowledge and Notice rolls in situations recognizing ceremonies, events, honor, saving face, or analyzing styles of martial arts.

*denotes Hindrances to be found in Art of War

Art of War (pregen): Saeko

Saeko, Serpent Shinobi pregen for the South of the Wall adventure. (Savage Worlds)

PreGen for the Art of War (Savage Worlds)

A pregen for the South of the Wall adventure.

Saeko
Saeko was raised in the Serpent lands among the foothills of Mt. Rinzai. She lived a happy and productive youth, even coming from a loving home with two older brothers and a younger sister. She has never lived in a situation of strife and never had to struggle to survive, or go without. She has been blessed with height, a strong athletic build, and is well liked.
As a member of the White Scales Scorpion Temple, Saeko was sponsored by a Serpent Clan family and given clan honors. While attending school, she excelled in physical exams much to ire of her classmates. Gaining favor and special permissions, the others didn’t take to kindly to her presence. Those that tried to confront and challenge her, quickly learned that she was more than a match for them.
As fortune had it, and to the chagrin of the Serpent Clan, upon graduation she was given approval to join the volunteer forces on the condition to challenge her abilities. This was approved by the White Scales on the condition that she sends regular reports to the White Scales on the progress south of the wall.

Race: Inumimi
Clan: Serpent
Trope: Shinobi
Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d8
Skills: Acrobatics d6, Climbing d8, Fighting d6, Intimidation d6, Investigation d6, Lockpicking d6, Mediation d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Survival d4, Taunt d4, Tracking d6,
Cha: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Toughness: 8 (1)
Hindrances: Arrogant, Coldblooded (minor), Enemy (minor), Loyal
Edges: Absorb, Dire Wolf Breed
Max Chi Pool: 5
Chi Techniques: Chi Attack (melee), Koi’s Teachings
Gear: Reinforced clothing (+1 Armor), Ninjato (Str+d6), backpack, beadroll, blanket, 10 candles, flint, grappling hook, rope (10′), signal whistle, 40 ki (money)
Special Abilities:
Guard Dogs: Inumimi gain  a +2 bonus on checks based on smell and hearing.
Bite: Str + d6 damage

Chi Technique
Chi Attack (Melee)
Cost: 1
Once per round by spending a point of chi be for an attack, the hero adds +1d6 to either the attack or damage roll.

Koi’s Teachings
Cost: 1
Duration: 3 rounds
Range: Touch
The hero selects one Wild Card or Extra. When the selected target incurs a wound or fatigue wound, the hero must forego his wild die on his next applicable roll to allow the target to receive a second soak roll, if the first one failed. The target must accept the roll of the second soak roll.

Art of War (pregen): Silver Fang

A pregen for the South of the Wall adventure. (Savage Worlds)

PreGen for the Art of War (Savage Worlds)

A pregen for the South of the Wall adventure.

Silver Fang
The nekomimi samurai known as Silver Fang began as a humble servant of the Lao Family. Silver spent his youth as an attendant to Xiao Lao as he attended his studies in the morning and practiced with sword tutoring in the afternoon. It was one of these tutors that was abusive in his teachings to young Master Xaio. Only when a training session finally went too far did Silver act on instinct.
Silver never knew what happened to the tutor, but Silver earned the additional name of Fang and was sent away from the Lao family to attend an elite sword school in the capital of the Tiger Clan territory. Silver Fang spent several years honing techniques and training in the ways of a solider. Upon his graduation, the Lao Family dismissed him as a servant and began to employ Silver Fang as a personal guard to Master Xaio.
After many years of services, Silver Fang was given leave of absence to find his own way in the world. Fang decided to answer the call and join the voluntary services.

Race: Nekomimi
Trope: Samurai
Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d6
Skills: Fighting d8, Gambling d4, Intimidation d4, Investigation d6, Knowledge (Battle) d6, Knowledge (Security) d6, Meditation d6, Notice d6, Riding d6, Shooting d4
Cha: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 7; Toughness: 8 (3)
Hindrances: Curious, Internal Blockage (major), Loyal, Quirk (snoring)
Edges: Counterattack
Max Chi Pool: 2
Chi Techniques: Scorpion Sting
Gear: Samurai Full Plate (+3 Armor), Katana (Str+d6+2, AP 2), Travel Kit (bedroll, blanket, water skin, rope (10′), 7 rations), 125 ki (money)
Special Abilities:
Lucky: Nekomimi draw one additional Benny per game session.
Stoic: If a samurai is a defender in a Test of Wills, he may use Meditation skill in place of Smarts or Spirit. They also receive a +2 on rolls to recover from the Shaken condition and to resist Fear effects.

Chi Technique
Scorpion Sting
Cost: 1
Range: Touch
The when the hero succeeds on a Touch Attack, the opponent must make a Vigor check or suffer paralysis for 1 round. A raise on the Touch Attack, the target suffers a -2 to the Vigor roll.

Tai, the Scheming Shadow

Tai is a petty thief that likes to use his talents to scheme…

Arrrg!

It is hard to keep up with the world and finding time to do a blog. As you may have noticed I have not relaunched the kickstarter just yet. I want to finish the module named: Shadow of Stork Borough. Named so after the villain named Tai, the Scheming Shadow. Tai is a petty thief that likes to use his talents to scheme, but he is also a coward and a pacifist. The below is a pre-edit clip from the adventure that introduces Tai.

———————-

Tai is a wandering petty crook and disgraced shinobi of the minor Viper Clan. Several months ago while spending time in the seedier parts of the Empire, he overheard conversations about lost treasures of Four Corner. Lifting the maps from those that congregated to explore the ruins, Tai followed the trail to a mountain temple. Inside he found artifacts from the First Temple of Daji.

The original explorers knew of Tai’s greediness and allowed him to cut his way through the hazards, so they didn’t have to. From a distance, they watched Tai enter the monastery and waited for his exit. After several days, they entered the compound to find Tai waiting for them. Using his prior training with a little help from the Sacred Goblet, Tai was able to alter his image and make a grand escape.

Since then, he has used the disguising powers of the goblet to carve out a living by selling it to merchants and stealing it back. As he has done to Da and Riku. The one flaw in the plan Tai did not count on, is that the two merchants are stubborn and deeply competitive. Taking advantage the shops being closed, he returns to the scene of the crime to make off with a bigger score. As the Heavens have it (or by a curse of stealing Daji’s goblet) the night he shows up, is the same night the Wild Cards are executing Xiao’s plans.

Tai, the Scheming Shadow*
A middle aged bald human wears the outfit of a shinobi. Tai is opposed to fighting if at all possible. He leaves confrontation to his shadow clones.
Race: Human
Trope: Shinobi
Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills: Acrobatics d6, Climbing d6, Fighting d8, Investigation d6, Lockpicking d6, Meditation d6, Notice d6, Stealth d8, Streetwise d6, Survival d6
Cha: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 5
Hindrances: Greedy (minor), Pacifist (minor), Yellow
Edges: Thief, Extra Chi
Max Chi Pool: 7
Chi Techniques: Clone, Bamf
Gear: Grappling hook, Katana (Str+d6+2, AP 2), Lockpick, Travel Kit (bedroll, blanket, water skin, rope (10”), 7 rations), Sacred Temple Goblet ($125)
Special Abilities:
Shadow Clone: For 1 Chi point, Tai can create a living shadow clone that last for 3 rounds.
Bamf: For 1 Chi point, Tai can use the teleport power. For every additional point spent at the time of activating this technique, he can reappear add an additional 10” away.

Shadow Clone (extra)

A physical manifestation of shadow in the shape and appearance of it’s master.
Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills: Fighting d6, Notice d6
Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5
Special Abilities:
Fearless: Clones are immune to fear and Intimidation
——————

And there we have a sample of a “shinobi” trope for the game. A few game mechanics for the Chi Techniques: Clone & Bamf. A little character history, and a decent entry.

Until next time
~Tentacle Out!