Classic Traveller Adventure 03 - Twilight's Peak

Introduction

Running the Classic Traveller adventure Twilight’s Peak solo using 5D SF PPS RPG.

There are minor spoilers for the adventures in this post but have tried to steer away from most of the surprises.  It is 40 years since the adventure was released after all.

Background

I am attempting to replay solo Classic Traveller adventures.  I started with Traveller RPG but then moved onto writing my own, streamlining them as I go.  I ended up replacing all of that with 5 Dice SFRPG for Annic Nova.  It worked fine and is great as it uses the same mechanics for both combat and non-combat encounters. 5 Dice SFRPG does not provide the level of granularity of characters compared to other RPGs but for running solo adventures I find I am just looking for the main difference of the characters.

Adventure Structure

Here is the outline of how I plan to run the adventure:

Act 1: Set in space, covers collecting rumours to hopefully point to the location of the correct planet.

Act 2: On the planet, getting directions and travelling to the Octagon

Act 3: Searching the catacombs.

Act 4: The Zhodani and conclusion.

Notes

Act 1’s aim is to collect rumours while trading across a lot of planets.  This is not going to translate well into solo play so what I have done for Act 1 is have the act aim to scout around (collect a certain number of experience points) across space scenes. This should generate around 3-8 scenes of tasks to undertake to gather rumours.

Act 2 is random number of scenes in Rough terrain

Act 3 is a fixed number of scenes (5) that correspond to major tasks required while searching the catacombs.

Act 4 is also a field number of scenes (3) that are the main climatic scenes at the end of the adventure. 

Prologue

The date is 300 1105 on Regina. The party is:

OCF is a Robot from an industrial background with good skills and a mini-missile. OCF has 3 decades of adventure; decade 1 yields an item, one blast; decade 2 sees a serious injury but recovered; decade 3 supplies general experience with great improvement.

Iui, a male Aslan from an industrial background with good skills. Iui has 2 decades of adventure; decade 1 supplies general experience with great improvement; decade 2 just drifts past.

Gia Choi, a female Human from a military background with great skills and a big slug pistol. Gia has 3 decades of adventure; decade 1 yields an item, a weapon; decade 2 supplies general experience with great improvement; decade 3 supplies general experience with great improvement.

Melany McBride, a female Human from a poor background with average skills and a laser pistol. Melany has 2 decades of adventure; decade 1 yields an item, a weapon; decade 2 yields an item but already has one.

The team need to find a treasure – the secret behind the Twilight’s Peak epic of what lost Scouts discovered.

Act 1: Rumours

The crew move from system to system trading but at the same time picking up rumours.

Scene 1 Dinomn Colony

No one is really around but it is not surprising considering the lack of anything around here of note.  The team walk into a bar for a drink.

“It is quite an amazing story.”

The team cannot help but overhear the conversation of three well dressed women going on next to them.

“Do tell.” They continue.

“Well, there was this scout…” the speaker notices Gia eavesdropping.

Gia looks sheepish but says enthusiastically, “Do you mind if we listen in?  I do love a good story about scouts.”.

“Sure.”

OCF orders drinks for everyone to maintain the goodwill.

The team are then entranced as the woman proceeds to tell them about the epic of Twilight’s Peak.

It has piqued their interest and they do further research on it when back on their ship.

“Most interesting, it is a shame we don’t know where that ship crashed – bound to be some good trading goods we salvage,” says Melanie.

Scene 2 Rech Outpost

It is now the late hours on Rech. A siren can be heard droning on incessantly nearby. They realise the siren it for them!  They crash the small buggy they have been using to get around the docks.  Luckily the crash was only minor.

“Everyone alright?” asks Gia, who was steering.

“Yeah, we’re alright,” answers OCF. “Please do not do that again.”

Scene 3 Wochiers Spacestation

The warmth of civilisation seems to be most evident, simply by stopping and taking in all in. In the spacestation locale they end walking behind two traders.

“I reckon Fulacin.”

“Nope, definitely not, the spaceship crashed on- “

Gia interrupts, “Are you talking about the Gyro Cadiz?”

The two traders turn around uncertainly, “Ye-es, why?”

Gia responds, “We have heard the story but there is not that much speculation on it we can find.  Always keen to find out more.”

And with that a spirited discussion breaks out between the traders and the party on how much of the epic is true, what are these Octagons and where the spaceship may have crashed.  The party got the better end of the deal on information.

Scene 4 Spaceship Hazard

The main part of the day is over.  It is evening at the moment.  The adventurers are nearly done looking around. In the spaceship zone the team are subject to sensory overload trying to make sense of the Octogon book they have just found and how it relates to the Twilight’s Peak epic. The task seems very hard.

Gia and OCF applies great survival skill and eventually succeed.

They are fairly certain now on what planet the ship likely crashed.

This was the final task to complete this acts objective.

OCF still at good skill level and has: a mini-missile (1); Iui still at good skill level; Gia still at great skill level and has: a big slug pistol; Melany still at average skill level and has: a laser pistol.

Act 2: Searching for the Octagon tower

Th team arrive at the planet they believe has the spaceship.  To succeed the team need to search the planet for the tower.

Scene 1 At the Outpost

While at an outpost the group encounter some friendly transporters and start talking. They do not know anything about a tower or crashed ship, other than rumours but they doo get a good deal on an ATV for their trek across the unforgiving planetary surface.

Scene 2 Mountains Obstacle

In the mountains they hit a tight spot and need to winch the vehicle past an obstacle.  That is when they realise the vehicle is missing a winch!  Instead of winching Gia very carefully drives to the side of the obstacle with maximum use of the gears and the wheel traction.

Gia applies great technical skill and succeeds.

Scene 3 Badlands Obstacle

During their time in the badlands location the adventurers again find they ate in great need of a winch for the vehicle.  The obstacle will not be as easy as the one in the mountain, it fact it is very difficult.  Gia and OCF spend hours planning the best way to continue.  With a great deal of sweat (at least from Gia!) and concentration the obstacle is passed.

Scene 4 Badlands Animal

The main part of the day is over.  It is evening at the moment.  During their time in the badlands location they run into a large carnivorous animal (a Snowcat as per the adventure animal encounters).

Gia threatens it with her weapon but the snowcat pounces before she can acts and knocks it from her hand.  OCF crashes into the snowcat before it can damage Gia but while the cat is knocked out the way, OCF lands badly on the ground. Gia uses a small knife she is carrying to threaten the snowcat again.  The cat that realises that it is not worth continuing and the snowcat retires.

Scene 5 Rough Hazard

“Look out!”

Melanie is driving but the warning from OCF, next to her, is too late.  It is in the rough and the vehicle crashes, badly.

“Well, that could have gone better,” says OCF. 

“Yes, well, how the hell are we supposed to get the vehicle out of that?” Gia is pointing at their ATV, on it side and wedged between two large boulders.  The ATV is relatively undamaged but firmly stuck.

“If we can move one of the boulders, then the vehicle should right itself and it will be free,” answers OCF.

“If we move a boulder – how do you suggest we do that?” says Melanie.

OCF shows them is mini-missile, “With this!”

The rest of the team are silent in a combination of shock at the audacity of what OCF is proposing. After a while Gia is the one to voice what they are all thinking, “If you place it wrongly though, the whole ATV will blow.”

Any other suggestion?” asks OCF. He takes the further silence as assent and indicates Gia to help him place the missile as she has some experience in blasting.

After hours of calibrating and calculations, OCF sets it off. BAM! The boulder breaks into smaller rocks and the ATV rights itself on that side.

“Too easy,” says OCF daring anyone to disagree.

The team have a well justified rest to recover from the stress of the day’s events.

Scene 6 Ruins Obstacle

The team come across the ruins of an abandoned small settlement.  They search through it and OCF  finds a grenade.  Otherwise the search was fruitless.

Scene 7 Badlands Citizens

Another patch of badlands and up ahead is a building site, the party stop to talk to some workmen.

“Hey, “ OCF calls out, “What’s with the work.”

The labourers blatantly ignores him.

“Hey,” OCF says again. Silence.

“Leave it OCF,“ Gia says, “it doesn’t matter.  They won’t be able to tell us anything to help us anyway.  Although I am curious too on what is being built….”

Scene 8 Ruins Obstacle

Afternoon has arrived. The party are ready to complete the challenge to reconnoiter. It is in the rough the adventurers stumble over the spaceship!  The spaceship leads to the Octagon.

Finally, the objective is completed.

Act 3: Scout Around

The party travel to the building.

“Obstacles are going to be harder to overcome here."

 The team are feeling strained.

Scene 1 Ruins Obstacle

Afternoon has arrived.

“We need to figure out how to get into this thing.  Somewhere should be an entrance into the hidden base associated with this building.  Or the epic is really just a fable.”

OCF has the best chance but cannot find anything. They are dispirited and shuts down in despair.

Iui and Gui tram up and spend a day searching, prodding, thinking.

“Hey Gia!“ Iui calls out pointing at what he has uncovered, “Look here!”

Gia comes over and cries out in surprise.  Iui has found a trapdoor and when it is lifted it reveals a corridor leading downwards.

Scene 2 Ruins Hazard

It is the early hours of the day. Passing through the trapdoor corridor the adventurers are becoming stressed in the catacombs and by being contained from all sides. The task seems routine.

“I can solve this,” says Iui using his sensory enhancer to reduce people’s stress.

The scene comes to a successful conclusion. They have managed to through the catacombs and get through the vault door into the alien base!

Scene 3 Ruins Obstacle

The party halt at the edge of a chasm. A bridge intermittently comes on and off.

“How will we know it will stay on long enough for us to cross?”

“And how will we know it is safe to cross anyway?”

Everyone watches and probes and waits.  It takes longer than it probably should have but they work it out and safely cross the bridge.

Scene 4 Ruins Obstacle

It is so quiet it is unnerving. The party go room by room investigating the various part sof the alien base.  One of the most interesting is a 10 metres half sphere that seems to show a representation of the planet itself, with up to day weather patterns.

Iui finally works out the controls and what is being represented.  It is fascinating.

“It even shows ships in orbit,” Iui states, “Look there are three ships and I can expand the view so you can see – What? Those are Zhodani ships!”

“Zhodani?“ OCF says, “This is starting to make sense based on  the rumours we have heard.”

Scene 5 Ruins Professionals

The group come across a large chamber with a number of Droyne warriors encased in ovoid containers.

“Hey don’t get too close!” warns Gia.  But it is too late.  Iui with intense curiosity touches one of the ovoids.  They all quickly dissolve and 36 armed Droyne Warriors are now also in the chamber with the four members of the team. Well, the team has found not only the alien base but the aliens.

Act 4: Investigate

The team are quite stressed.

Scene 1 Ruins Professionals

The aliens at least seem to ascertain the party is not dangerous.  They swarm to the globe room and instruments and calmly are absorbed by what it is displaying.

OCF points to one of the displays, “Aren’t they Zhodani troops? And isn’t that the vault door we came though?”

OCF is right.  The Zhodani arrive.  The Droyne warriors point their pistols at them and they disappear one by one.    

Iui whispers to himself, “Disintegrators.  They should be impossible.  So many tech levels above now. Who are these soldiers?”

Scene 2 Outpost Obstacle

Iui remembers something about the globe’s controls.  He goes over to a panel and on the globe a pointer can be seen moving towards one of the Zhodani ships.  The pointer pauses on the ship and after a few seconds the ship disappears.

Iui explains, “I remember seeing this when I was looking at it before.  The alien disintegrators gave me an idea on what the controls meant.”

Iui continues and the other two ships are also destroyed.

Scene 3 Ruins Hazard

The aliens make it clear they have set off a self-destruct mechanism for the base.  They will not be coming with the party.

Quickly the party retrace their steps, back out the tower and into their vehicle.  Only Iui suffered any injury as he was climbing through some rocks.

The scene has come to a successful conclusion. The party escape the base.

Gia laments, “No one is likely to believe us you know.”

The objective is achieved.

Adventure aim completed successfully.

Verdict

I seem to have used a different homegrown RPG for each of the Traveller adventure plays!  However, 5 Dice SFRPG worked very well.  5 Dice SFRPG is not very different form 4 Dice SFRPG so maybe I can count them as the same. I will try and stick to 5 Dice SFRPG for the next game but no promises.  I sort of stuck to the promise.  I am currently running the next one but have modified the 5 Dice rules to be a little more closer to standard RPG mechanisms.  E.g. larger weapons inflict more hits rather than increase chance to hit. Also adventurers can have more than one skill.   But it is still very similar.

4 Dice SFRPG – an adventure set in 2127 Colonising the solar frontier

Introduction

I am playing solo the boardgame The Final Frontier about colonising the Solar System.  I thought I can test my 4 Dice SFRPG by playing some adventures along the way.  This is second adventure and is one act taking place in a spaceship.

Adventure

It is 2127 and Earth is recovering from World War 3.  Nation alliances and boarders have been redrawn.  As Earth stumbles back to some sort of normality, thoughts turn to space.  One of the first powers to do so is the APA, the Asia-Pacific Association, which has a five year lead on space technology.  They use this to great advantage to implement a Martian colony years before anyone else has a chance of doing so.  Another power, The Organisation for Economic Prosperity is reaching further out and setting a foothold in the Jovian system.

Prologue

The date is 011 2127 on an ONEP (Organisation of Nations for Economic Prosperity) spaceship bound for Europa.  It is the early days of the colonisation of the solar system.  Some members of the Asia Pacific Association are on board.   The APA party is:

• Rashad Gillespie, a snobbish male Human from an industrial background with good skills and a survival kit.
• Noel Santana, an intimidated male Human from an industrial background with average skills especially survival.
• Annabelle Calhoun, a shy female Human from a rich background with good skills and a vibroknife.
• Skip, a Robot from a space background with average skills and a vibroknife.                 

The team – Rashad, Noel, Annabelle and Skip the robot.

The APA are not well liked due to their five-year lead on getting into space.  The team need to convince other passengers that the APA are not all bad.

While in the galley with many of the other passengers they are jostled and not-so-subtly pushed/squeezed against the various walls and other vertical surfaces of the galley.

Rashad turns to Annabelle and whispers “Not fond of us, are they?”

Rashad turns away from Annabelle and uses his elbows to great effect to free himself.  Annabelle does the same.

The passengers crowd in

All they have done is annoyed some of the passengers a bit more. A few of the passengers are now being aggressive.

 “Hey, what do you think you are doing?”

“And what are you doing here anyway?”

“APA-scum!”

Lucky for the APA team the passengers are all talk and no action.  The team manage to leave the Galley unharmed.

The team are alone and walking through the commons area when the lights go out and the team are plunged into sudden darkness.

“Great” say Noel nervously. “Just what we need - practical jokes.”

“They are just trying to get us on edge,” says Rashad. ”Ignore it”.

Rashad switches on a torch and the team, unhurt, continue on.

It is now the late hours outside the command deck. 

“Hey you!” Rashad calls out.  The person he is shouting at turns away.  He does not look like he is doing something innocent. Rashad grabs a short knife out of his survival kit.  The other person takes one look at Rashad and runs down the corridor.  The team give chase but he gets away.  They quickly scout the area and find small bits of wire but no clue as to why.

“Curiouser and curiouser.” thinks Rashad.

The lone saboteur

It was while following the trails they went near the cargo hold where they met some of the spouses of some of the executives.  Idle chit chat showed that the spouses were quite friendly, not what the team were expecting.

They go back to the command deck and do some more investigation and come across a loose panel.  They open it and see that there is a box that obviously does not belong there is wired into the main cables.

Rashad steps forward opening his kit “We’ve got this.”

He begins work on extracting the foreign box. 

“Hey Annabelle, have you got something to lever the box up slightly so I can get at it?”

Annabelle comes over at insets her knife between the box and the side of the panel and moves it slightly.

“Great” says Rashad.  “Nearly there.  Nearly –“

The twang! of the knife as it breaks echoes in the corridor.  Annabelle is distraught and walks off.

“Damn.  We are not going to be able to get it.  Noel, you go get an officer.  At least we tried.”

Working on the sabotage

Back in the commons the team walk in and talk stops.  It is silent for a moment and someone sneers at them.

“You planted it just to look good by finding it.”

Rashad fires back. “Really, and what do you think would have happened if we hadn’t found it?  I don’t think you theory holds up.”

He can see a murmur of agreement with his statement.  Two security officers enter the commons and go straight for the team. 

“Well done.  And we are grateful for your quick thinking and attempt at voiding the box.”

This brings more nods and warm feelings from the passengers.

Meeting the security officers

Later, the team are wandering through the engineering deck and see two people that seem up to no good.

Skip, with his robotic memory, recognises one of them as the person from the corridor.  He only had time to say “Hey-“ before the pirates charged them.

It was a short fight – four against two.

Fighting the pirates

The outcome of the fight won most of the passengers over.

“I guess not all APA is bad”.

Classic Traveller Double Adventure 01b - Annic Nova solo play

Introduction

Three versions of running the Classic Traveller adventure Annic Nova solo – one using my own solo RPG, one using an SF version of 3 Dice (4 Dice SFRPG) and also another SF version of 3 Dice (4 Dice PPS SFRPG)

Background

I am attempting to replay solo Classic Traveller adventures.  I started with Traveller RPG but then moved onto writing my own, streamlining them as I go.  I use a spreadsheet to run through the adventures that has grown into a monster with dozens of buttons, macros and formulas that I cannot remember how they work!   I ran through Annic Nova with a version of the spreadsheet and then completely rewrote the rules.  I then got jack of that and while on hiatus looked at various solo RPGs I had previously acquired.  I tried an SF version I wrote of Dungeon Roll but was unsuccessful.  I ended up looking a 3 Dice and all its derivatives and wrote an SF version.  I worked up a simple spreadsheet for replay and ran a few generic adventures through it and then tackled Annic Nova again to see if it worked with CT adventures.  While 3 Dice SF does not provide the level of granularity of characters compared to other RPGs, for running solo adventures I find I am just looking for the main difference of the characters – why use one in a situation over another?  And I also found I needed to make more choices with 3 Dice SF.  And lastly, the way I generated the narrative using 3 Dice was more conducive to adding to the narrative.  I think I had gone too far in formulaic narrative in my older spreadsheets.

After doing 3 Dice SF I still thought there was room to improve it to what I was looking for and revised it to a new version 4 Dice SFRPG.  I found I could automate the adventure flow entirely so ran a party through 4 Dice SFRPG with no human input to see if they could reach the end.  I may not do this automation in future though.

Game with 3 Dice SFRPG

Note that this is almost the raw narrative generated by the spreadsheet but did add some dialogue.

Prologue

The date is 001 1105 on Keng. The party is:

·        Riley Kidd, a female Human from a rich background with good skills.

·        Kaylynn Gallagher, a female Human from a poor background with good skills.

·        Niko Davila, an intimidated male Aslan from a military background with good skills.

The team need to find a treasure: The Annic Nova!

Act 1: Investigate

To succeed the group have to pass a number of tasks to obtain a working spaceship.

The group travel to the space location. It is quiet and calming.

Scene 1 Space Obstacle

It is daytime.  It is in space they discover the possible location of a spaceship. The task seems routine. The possible bonus is a clue (to the spaceship whereabouts).

“I’ve got this,” says Kaylynn.

Kaylynn has great skill but fails badly and breaks some special equipment in the process.

Riley steps up. “Here, let me.”

Riley continues with the detection task and brings it to a successful conclusion.

Scene 2 Spaceship Hazard

It is outside the spaceship the party have their safety endangered trying to enter the ship. The task seems easy. The possible benefit from completion is having time to recover.

Niko tackles opening the airlock with great skill and succeeds.

Hooray, the encounter is finished! With time to recover once inside, Kaylynn regains some health.

Scene 3 Command Obstacle

It is afternoon.  It is in the command location the team try and solve how to use the computer. The task seems fairly easy.

Riley has great skill and succeeds.

“It looked hard to start with, but in reality computers are computers no matter who invented them!”

It is now completed.

Scene 4 Engineering Obstacle

It is afternoon.  It is in the engineering location they are attempting to understand engine operation. The task seems very hard.

Riley tackles the task and loses faith and decides not to continue.  He hands it over to Niko. Niko has great skill and succeeds.

“Thanks Nico.”

The task is complete! Riley regains some health.

Scene 5 Commons Hazard

It is now the next morning.  The adventurers may potentially become sick from the disease aboard the ship. Riley becomes sick (in a week so) and his skill level is reduced permanently.   The rest recover fine after a small period of convalescence.

They have a ship!

 

Game with 4 Dice SFRPG (automated)

This was a single run though completely automated.  It is the raw narrative to provide as an example.

Here is the automation rules I used (based what dice rolled are not random):

Acts: 1

Adventure aim: 3 (an unknown spaceship)

Scene 1: Zone 6, Objective 6 (Investigate but this is just a placeholder and not using objectives), Location 1, Class 3, Reward 6 (They have found a clue to the spaceship's location.)

Scene 2: Location 5, Class 5, Reward 2 (They have broken into to spaceship.)

Scene 3: Location 1, Class 3, Reward 6 (They have figured out how to use the computer.)

Scene 4: Location 3, Class 3, Reward 2 (They now understand how the engines function.)

Scene 5: Location 4, Class 5, Reward 1 (They have the sickness disease.)

Prologue

The date is 001 1105 on Keng. The party is:

·        Ibrahim Curry, a dim male Aslan from a military background with great skills.

·        Meadow Velez, a female Human from a industrial background with great skills and a grenade.

·        Kendrick Mullen, a snobbish male Robot from a space background with average skills especially technical.

·        Kamron Hutchinson, a male Robot from a space background with good skills and a stimpack.

The team need to recover an object, specifically an unknown spaceship.

Act 1: Investigate

To succeed the group must talk to people in the area to determine a way forward.

The party travel to the spaceship location. "Hmm.  No weapons or blast to be found.  At least there is less danger here!" Anxiety levels are low.

Scene 1 Command Obstacle

It is now the late hours.  In the command zone the party are subject to sudden darkness and attempt to resolve this. The task seems routine. The possible benefit is a clue.

Ibrahim applies good technical skill and succeeds.

Hooray, the encounter is finished! They have found a clue to the spaceship's location.

Scene 2 Cargohold Hazard

The main part of the day is over.  It is evening at the moment.  While in the cargohold locale the party are paralysed and try and overcome it. The task seems trivial.

Ibrahim has great survival skill and is successful.

It is now successfully completed. They have broken into to spaceship.

Scene 3 Command Obstacle

The time has moved to the morning.  In the command region the team squabble and attempt to resolve this. The task seems difficult. The possible benefit is a clue.

Ibrahim applies good technical skill but does not succeed.

Meadow acts with great technical skill and gets a win.

The scene has come to a successful conclusion. They have figured out how to use the computer.

Scene 4 Engineering Obstacle

The time has moved to the morning.  In the engineering locale the group squabble and attempt to resolve this. The task seems trivial.

Meadow applies great technical skill and succeeds.

The encounter is won! They now understand how the engines function. Ibrahim recuperates.

Scene 5 Commons Hazard

It is the early hours of the day.  In the commons region the party have their safety endangered and try and overcome it. The task seems trivial.

Ibrahim applies great survival skill and succeeds.

This event is now done. They have the sickness disease.

Finally, the objective is completed.

Adventure aim completed successfully.

Ibrahim still at great skill level; Meadow still at great skill level and has: a grenade (1); Kendrick still at average skill level; Kamron still at good skill level and has: a stimpack (1).

Older Game run through

This is the run though with the older spreadsheet.  I am now favouring 4 Dice PPS SFRPG over the older rules.

Chapter 1 - An objective is established

The story begins on Keng during the late hours on 001 1105 with the team located in the command area of the space locale.  The team leader is Leslie Figueroa with the other members being Ouraeglluez, Diego Valentine. The starting tension is low.

Leslie Figueroa is an introverted human female politician from Keanou with average fortitude. Notable attributes are Survival, Mind, Interaction, Combat. They are armed with a knife.

Ouraeglluez is a disagreeable Vargr male business magnate from Human with average fortitude. Notable attributes are Survival, Technical, Mind, Interaction, Vehicle. They are armed with a shotgun.

Diego Valentine is a thoughtless human male police officer from Human with high fortitude. Notable attributes are Survival, Mind, Interaction, Combat.

Keng is an Imperial planet located in the Spinward Marches. It is a small sized world with a breathable atmosphere, little or none (desert world) and is at a agreeable temperature. The tech level is similar to 17th-19th C, population is average and the law level has highly restrictive measures. The government is based on dictatorship with an aristocratic society and an average economy based on agriculture and industry. It has landing pad only and no military bases.

The team need to find a treasure: derelict starship. To achieve this requires around three clues and may take up to six scenes to complete.

Chapter 2 - Solve a puzzle concerning the method to enter the starship

That they may fulfil the challenge at this time the band of travellers must work out a puzzle concerning the method to enter the starship. 

Inwardly, the team have no misgivings about the task. Before attempting the challenge, it seems the adventurers may need to overcome one possible problem along the way.

It is early hours in the command's outside spaceship. On this occasion an issue arises for the travellers to confront.

The group require cautiousness to continue. Leslie gives it a try with high talent.  Leslie has overcome the hazard.

The band require cautiousness to continue. Ouraeglluez undertakes to achieve success with average talent.  Ouraeglluez has overcome the hazard.

The group require cautiousness to continue. Diego takes it on with high know-how.  Diego did not get through the hazard.

It is late hours in the Command's outside spaceship. It is a strange sight to see something out of place and unexpected like this. Diego is laughing far louder and more often than others. Finally the party are ready for the undertaking to fathom out a puzzle concerning the method to enter the starship.

The party have a go at decoding the puzzle. Leslie endeavours to settle the matter with very high know-how.  Leslie solves the puzzle and gains a clue.

They manage to get into the "Annic Nova" without breaking anything.

Chapter 3 - Solve a puzzle concerning the working of the ship's computer

In order to carry out the upcoming difficulty the team must work out a puzzle concerning the working of the ship's computer. To do this the group need to travel to the space command area.

The tension level is low. Looking at what is required to perform the challenge, it seems the party may need to survive a few possible difficulties along the way.

It is daytime in the command's work area. It doesn't have to be stark, but this area is devoid of any attractive décor. While travelling through this locality a predicament takes place for the team.

The crew have their survival threatened. Leslie looks to conclude the task with average know-how.  Leslie did not get through the hazard.

The team have their survival threatened. Ouraeglluez seeks to settle the issue with low expertise.  Ouraeglluez has endured the hazard but wounded in the process.

The party have their survival threatened. Diego endeavours to carry out the task with low proficiency.  Diego could not beat the hazard.

It is early hours in the Command's Bridge. It doesn't have to be stark, but this area is devoid of any attractive décor. Leslie is squinting. At last the party are primed for the test to solve a puzzling problem concerning the working of the ship's computer.

The party labour at working out the puzzle. Leslie endeavours to settle the matter with high proficiency.  Leslie manages to easily solve the puzzle and gain a clue.

Chapter 4 - Solve a puzzle concerning the working of the engines

In order to carry out the next difficulty to overcome the travellers need to solve a puzzle concerning the working of the engines. To do this the gang need to travel to the space command area.

The air is quiet and calming. Preceding the execution of the challenge, it seems the crew may need to surmount a few possible complications along the way.

It is evening in the Command's Engineering. A broken light is still visible.  It is a strange sight to see something out of place and unexpected like this. Diego is chewing something. At last the group are ready for the challenge to solve a puzzle concerning the working of the ship's computer.

The band attempt to solve a puzzle. Leslie aims to complete the job with high capability.  Leslie solves the puzzle and gains a clue.

The party have solved the working of the Annic Nova.

Note that Leslie and Diego have contracted the disease and become sick in about a week.

The band of travellers find time to rest and recuperate. Leslie Figueroa needs to recover and remains carrying an injury.   Diego Valentine needs to recover and is no longer able to continue with the team.      

A high price to pay for a ship.

4 Dice SFRPG – an adventure set in 2124 Colonising the solar frontier

Introduction

I am playing solo the boardgame The Final Frontier about colonising the Solar System.  I thought I can test my 4 Dice SFRPG by playing some adventures along the way.  This is a one act adventure taking place in a Rural zone.

Adventure

It is 2124 and Earth is recovering from World War 3.  Nation alliances and boarders have been redrawn.  As Earth stumbles back to some sort of normality, thoughts turn to space.  One of the first powers to do so is the APA, the Asia-Pacific Association, which has a five year lead on space technology.  They use this to great advantage to implement a Martian colony years before anyone else has a chance of doing so.

Prologue

The date is 322 2124 on Murrua, the newly formed APA colony Mars. There is an issue of stolen treasure and a patron has commissioned a team of local investigators for recovery.  The investigative team, only formed this year, consists of:

·        Rashad Gillespie, a snobbish male Human from an industrial background with good skills and a survival kit.

·        Noel Santana, an intimidated male Human from an industrial background with average skills and excelling at survival.

·        Annabelle Calhoun, a shy female Human from a rich background with good skills and a vibroknife.

·        Skip, an intelligent robot from a space background with average skills and a vibroknife.

From left to right: Rashad. Noel, Annabelle and Skip (the robot).

“So Rashad, what the deal?” Noel asked.

“Stolen treasure.  Intricately carved bones of extinct animals.” Rashad replied.

“What the-? “

“Apparently a family heirloom and with the growing instability on Earth the family sent it out here to Mars.  Worth a fortune apparently – carved a 100,000 years ago.”

“But why not leave it in the Lag*?”

Annabelle cut in. “Probably still did not feel they were safe their either.  I know the last war barely touched the Lag, but with space now getting more attention, I would not trust being there either.  There is a reason we are out here on Mars and not back in Earth orbit.”

The room was silent for a moment in agreement.

Rashad then said “Patron’s pretty sure his political opposition has it – apparently both for desire and revenge!  But pretty sure is not fact.  The only lead is that the mining boss is a mate of his and he has hinted he has an idea of where the bones are.”

*Lag: Lagrange orbital stations

Scene 1 Mining Achievers

The party travel to the older mining area of the colony. The tension level is low.

The machinery seems old, possibly was not new when it was shipped out; but it is obviously functioning well.  It seems run down but still performing.

Surprisingly, they manage to get a meeting with the big boss, Selena Vance.  She is friendly and they begin conversing. Selena is not very helpful and does not have much in the way of a direction forwards

Talking to Selena in her office.

“Look around the site, there may be something that my help you here.  I don’t know where they are holding up but someone may know something.”

On the way out, Skip slyly pockets a vibroknife he saw lying on a desk.

“Just being a little vindictive.” Skip thought to itself.

Scene 2 Rough Obstacle

The main part of the day is over.  It is evening and the team are passing through a rough zone while walking around the min. The team carefully traverse a perilous area but with the warning signs and fencing it was a trivial exercise to resolve.  But while negotiating around it Annabelle finds some booster drug that looks like it was accidently dropped. She picks it up. “You never know when it may come in useful”.

On the mining site.

Scene 3 Mining Obstacle

The team come to a dead end and cannot go on.

“Damn.  We will have to go back.”

The team go back but go around the other side of the perilous area, not realising it is not as well marked as the other side.

On the way back, Noel injures himself here.

Rashad gets out his survival kit to help traverse the area but Noel slips and twists his leg.  He is OK, but limps the rest of the way.

 “Unbelievable!” Annabelle says.

“What?”

She picks up a small packet.  “Another booster drug.  Some person sure was unlucky to lose two of them.”

Scene 4 Agricultural Hazard

The team get to their quarter late but are up very early.  Still tired, they head out to check out the underground agricultural farms near the mining area.

Walking along the path in the agricultural warehouse.

A large farmhouse complex can be seen at the end of the farming warehouse.  On their way towards it, Rashad stumbles on the paths and falls into the plants off the trail.  This would not be so bad except he grabs out wildly at the rest of them and pulls him with them.

“Hey!” Noel calls out “My leg still hurts you know!”

As they are getting out of the foliage back onto the path they spot someone coming towards them.  He looks directly at them.

They spot one of the politicians.

“It’s one of the politicians we are looking for!”

Skip says it too loudly and the politician realises the team wants something.  He turns around and runs down a side path.  The team, well three of the team as Noel can’t run, give chase.  They spot him going through a door into another warehouse.  They slow down and wait for Noel to catch up

“Come on, Noel – this is the best lead we have had in two days!”

Scene 5 Rough Citizens

The next warehouse is still be configured for use and has a number of workers hard at getting it ready.  Close by, Rashad sees four manufacturing workers.

Talking to some workers to discover where the politician went.

“Have you seen a guy running past here?” Rashad asks bluntly.

Next to him Noel rolls his eyes “This is not the time to be snobbish Rashad…” he thinks.

Noel was right.  The workers just look at one another and shrug.  Rashad realises he will get no more from them.

 “Thanks for nothing.” he mutters as the team continue on.

Scene 6 Rough Achievers

They come into view from behind some machinery and run into three opposition politicians.

“We have been looking for you” Rashad says.

The three look at each other and then look at Rashad.  And then get pistols from under their costs.

The engage the politicians.

One of them fires at Annabelle who is busy fiddling with the booster drug package to get it out.  She is winged in the arms, drops the booster drug over the ground and drps to the ground beside it.

Skip whirls with his two vibroknives and two politicians run for it.  Rashad grabs the other one before he can fire.

“You obviously know why we are here.  Where are they?”

“Where’s what?”

Rashad loses his patience. “The bones! Do I have to get Skip here to help you remember?”

Rashad and Skip put pressure on the politician.  Noel looks after Annabelle.

The politician spins a great story about how they were rightfully his and so he had done nothing wrong.  This more than anything convinces Rashad he is on the right track.  A little more persuasion and they find out they are at the colony resort, hidden in one of the party rooms.

Scene 7 Resort Obstacle

The main part of the day is over.  The team navigate through a spot of quiet between the loud noises of different parties to either side.  It is only fleeting as they then enter into one of the party rooms.  Deafening noise, flashing lights, bodies thrashing.  Rashad, running on nothing and having barely any sleep, cannot take it and heads for the door.

“I’m leaving!” He says into Annabelle ear before collapsing exhausted as soon as he exits.  Annabelle signals to Noel. “You go with him – make sure he is OK.”

Rashad and Noel outside the club.

Annabelle and Skip push through the crowd to one of the corner booths.  While Skip keeps people away, Annabelle lifts up the chair and takes the bag stashed there.  She opens it and peers inside and sees a carved box.

“Yep, the box with the bones as described.  Let’s go”   

A blurry shot of Skip and Annabelle in the club.

They make it back outside and collect Rashad and Noel.  The next day, after a decent nights slepp, they had the bones back.  Investigation completed.

“Rashad, you are looking better today” Noel says.

“Yeah, and I see you are not limping as much anymore.”

Postlude

Rashad is still not fully recovered from his exhaustion. Noel is still got a leg wound – it will take a while to recover. Annabelle’s arm still hurts from being wounded. Skip is the only one unscathed, or unscratched at least. 

Introducing 4 Dice SF RPG (two versions!)

Introduction

I have been tinkering of and off for 8 years on solo RPGs with the aim to run through the Classic Traveller adventures.  After building a number of complex assistance spreadsheets I have created one (well, two) based on a SF variants of the 3 Dice rule.  I tend to play with the more complex version (4 Dice SF PPS RPG) but both are fun.

The SF RPG are available on this blog page.

Background

I have been trimming down my solo RPG spreadsheet to have less and less skills and attributes.  I was down to 8 attributes (no skills as skill level incorporated into a character’s attributes) and then 4.  When I was moving the spreadsheet to 4 attributes I also had a keenness to rope in many of the sprawling supporting tables to all be d6 based.  I started on that path and also looked around at d6 based games.  While doing so re-discovered 3 Dice (an RPG) that I remember looking at a few years ago. I went down a rabbit hole for a week downloading and reading everything on 3 Dice and variants – especially 3 Dice Dungeon and the SF exploration-based version Hex Rangers (archive.org).

The other variants did not really seem to add what I needed so I used 3 Dice. It seemed like a simple enough system so coded it up in a spreadsheet. What I likes it I managed to do it without macros, buttons etc. to drive the game (which is what my previous spreadsheet had grown into). Each row in the spreadsheets had the same formula, based of values in the previous row.  So could play a game just by entering one value (to select the adventurer to use) in each row.  So much simpler to run!  I then quickly moved onto an SF version.

# Dice, And 3 Dice are really good for pulp type adventures.  The idea is not that each scene is very difficult to complete nor equal to the adventuring party in skill/weapons, but that the party need to succeed over a number of scenes ad gradually are worn down as they progress.  Like in pulp movies – how else do the heroes manage to dodge and shoot their way through so much opposition J

4 Dice SF RPG

4 Dice SF takes 3 Dice and makes it more SF-ish.  The main changes are:

• The three attributes (Mind, Body, Spirit) become three or four adventurers, each adventurer having a single stat.  Each adventurer can have and use gear, weapons or blast.
• Each task is 4 rolls – location, class, opposition level and reward. Class is the type of opposition – Citizens, Professionals, Achievers, Criminals, Obstacle or Hazard.  Opposition level is the difficulty that the adventurers need to roll against. One reward is now a clue.
• To provide some adventurer differentiation, each adventurer has a hindrance that gives them a -1 modifier against one particular class.
• Added in acts: defaulting to four acts, each act takes place in a zone (each has 6 locations).  There are 6 random act goals (e.g. obtain a clue, visit a certain location, encounter a particular class, gain XP).
• A roll of 6 is a critical failure with the adventurer also having a 50% chance of losing an item.  A roll of 1 is a critical success inflicting two hits instead of 1.
• There are also options for races, location effects on the game and an end of adventure scene. The rules were designed to run Classic Traveller so the races are all Traveller but could easily be modified.

The non-optional rules fit onto one page, and options another page.  So still quite short. I found that with hindrances, I missed the concept of skills (a positive to the dice roll) and also that gear and weapons could be used against any opposition class.   So I moved to creating a new version.

The 4 Dice SF RPG are available on this blog page.

4 Dice PPS SFRPG

4 Dice PPS SFRPG (PPS is short for Pulp Pure and Simple) adds the concept of skill.  There are three skills and each adventurer may excel at one skill.  Each skill assists with tasks against certain classes.  I also added in restrictions on gear and weapons use to only particular opposition classes.  Skills and gear/weapon restrictions (and skills) do slightly increase complexity but this is offset with an improved narrative (in my opinion).  Other changes:

• There is a possibility that an adventurer with a stat of 0 may die rather than recover.
• With an adventurer having a skill, the hindrances are now optional.
• Changing skills mid scene (e.g. interacting with Citizens then decide to fight (survival skill).
• On a critical failure (a 6) a adventurer will go out of the fight (ran away, fell unconscious, decides to give up) 50%% of the time or lose an item for the other 50%.  An out of the fight adventurer is not available for the rest of the scene but is Ok for the next scene.

Due to the way I have coded up the spreadsheet, the only entry required is to select an adventurer for a task roll, all the rest can be random.  I did some automation so that optionally each task could select the adventurer with the highest stat (not necessarily the best chance – I kept it simple and ignored skills, gear and weapons for the calculation of “best” adventurer).  I have run this automation about 100 times and the party succeed about a third of the time.  By selecting the best adventurer, I think this would increase to about two thirds.  So the game engine is likely performing ok – not too hard, but not easy.  And a string of bad dice rolls will derail you regardless!  I actually take to time to read the narrative generated automatically (I have a simple translation of the numbers into sentences) as a good way to pass the time.

The 4 Dice SF PPS RPG are available on this blog page.

Where to from here?

Well, I have replayed Annic Nova with 3 Dice SF and also with 4 Dice SFRPG.  My next goal is to programme up the steps for Twilight’s Peak and give it a run through. Or just run some adventures.

I would also like to be able to convert some of the scenes to quickly run them with miniatures using rules such as the Two Hour Wargames Chain Reaction-type rules, and/or expand 4 Dice SFRPG with Possibly some mechanisms from the Four Against Darkness series.  Alas, I fear that may be too time-consuming for me with so many other projects and so will continue to just use 4 Dice SFRPG.

Classic Traveller Double Adventure 1b - Shadows using solo play

Introduction

I am back to running the Classic Traveller adventures. I recently did Research Station Gamma and was planning to move to Twilight’s Peak.  The introduction to Twilight’s Peak stated it was best to run Shadows prior. I was planning to run Shadows soon anyway so running it now. I am using my Two Hour Wargames Future Tales based spreadsheet to run the games and generate the narrative.  But it is more Traveller based than previously. I have deleted some content from the generated narrative but otherwise have barely changed the spreadsheet’s output.

Chapter 1 - The travellers find a purpose

The story begins on Yorbund during the early hours on 190-1105 with the team in the Oasis located in the Rough area of the barren locale.  The team leader is Penelope Gray with the other members being Kathryn Reed, Jasmin Bauer and Ile. The starting tension is low.

Penelope Gray is a closed-minded human female artist from Wochiers with average characteristics. Attributes are Larceny and Crack Shot.

Kathryn Reed is a appreciative human female little boss from Rhylanor with higher than average characteristics. Attributes are Technical, Medical. They are armed with a laser pistol and a powered knife.

Jasmin Bauer is a calm human female scientist from Rhylanor with average characteristics. Attributes are Vehicle.

Ile is a calm Aslan female from Regina with higher than average characteristics.

Yorbund is an Imperial planet located in the Spinward Marches0. It is a normal sized world with a toxic atmosphere, some water and is at an agreeable temperature. The tech level is similar to 20th C, population is low and the law level has low restrictions. The government is based on monarchy with an aristocratic society and an average economy based on agriculture and industry. It has fuel and repair facilities and no military bases.

The object is to determine how to shut off the defences from a pyramid complex on the ground so the ship can take-off.

Chapter 2 - Solve a puzzle concerning the how to get into the pyramid complex

So they may accomplish the current undertaking the team need to work out a puzzle concerning how to get into the pyramid complex. To do this the travellers need to travel to the barren rough area. The team do not have the jitters.  Kathryn is seemingly distracted. Finally the party are all set to undertake to solve a puzzle concerning the how to get into the pyramid complex. The crew labor at working out the puzzle. Penelope gives it their best shot with higher than average savvy.  Penelope solves the puzzle!

The party crawl down the shaft and crawl onto the walkway around the shaft. (location 1 in the scenario).

Chapter 3 - Exploring of the first level

That they may carry out the challenge the party have to explore of the first level. There is no nervousness within the team, however Ile is talking and frequently using the wrong word. Finally the group are all set to clamber down a cable to the lower level. Penelope does OK. Kathryn attempts to resolve the task with average savvy but is wounded in the process.

Jasmin endeavours to carry out the task with average proficiency and is now unconscious and badly wounded after falling off the cable. Ile has endured the hazard but is also wounded.

(Party are now in chamber 21).

Chapter 4 - Solve a puzzle concerning the power plant

The travellers search the large chamber they are in. They find some grapples that will make it easier to climb up the rope.  While searching, the party run into three small animals.

Penelope is injured and the attacking animal slinks away. Kathryn shoots another animal dead. Ile grapples with the third animal and overcomes it but is wounded in the process.

The party have found the control centre.  At last the travellers are primed to undertake to fathom out a puzzle concerning the how to switch off the power plant. The adventurers attempt to solve a puzzle. Penelope tackles it with determination with below average expertise due to her injuries.  Penelope solves the puzzle and the power plant is switched off.

Chapter 5 – The character are able to leave

The party return the way they came. The band of travellers face a small animal. Penelope is injured in the attack and falls unconscious.

While still making their way back the party disturbed by loud noises. Kathryn is badly affected, trips and is wounded. The party get back to the ship.

The team find time to rest and recuperate. There is medical skill to help. Penelope Gray needs to recover and is now all fine.  Kathryn Reed needs to recover, improves but remains carrying an injury.  Jasmin Bauer needs to recover but dies from her injuries.  Ile needs to recover, improves and remains carrying an injury.

The ship takes off and the adventurer’s should have more time to recover from their wounds.

Verdict

My spreadsheet is not designed to run though adventures that are effectively dungeon crawls with no people.  It is designed to run adventures with fairly well defined scenes that build to complete a story. I did run Shadows fine with the spreadsheet but it generated narrative that is not relative.  I am not a big fan of this type of “dungeon crawl” adventures (one of the reasons I could not get into D&D as in the early days that is what it seemed to be). It is a short adventure. Having said that I am going to run Annic Nova but should take even less time as it is just exploring a ship.