Thursday, November 10, 2011
Where is Rusty Station?
In space of course. What is Rusty Station? Well the short answer is, "a science fiction megadungeon." What is a "spanner?" A wrench. I have always enjoyed dungeons, whether playing them or running them. But I've never had any experience with a megadungeon before. Sure, I've read about them. The head chef at my workplace teaches tai chi, and he was kind enough to lend me some of his books on the subject. When I thanked him, he said (quoting his own teacher) "read all you want and you'll make an excellent armchair-martial artist." The point being, nothing beats doing. So thats the short of it. I'm going to develop a massive space-station megadungeon and post the good stuff here. But this project is really an experiment, I have no idea how it's going to end up. Exciting?
Credit Where Credit is Deserved
I dabble. I'm a dabbler. Vornhein: The Complete City Kit has been a go-to source of mine for a while, even though I generally prefer storytelling Sci-fi games. The presentation and tables in Vornheim are inspiring. As are the tables and the concept of "tagging" in Stars Without Number. These games have been a huge inspiration on my campaign as well as the tables I've presented in the previous posts.
It should be mentioned that the playtest draft of Humanspace Empires has offered the most fun I think I've had with a group in ages. It should also be mentioned that I'm a complete newcomer to Tekumel. The only Tekumel I've read about is from this very game, and so perhaps my vision of the setting is slightly colored by inexperience. For better or for worse. But I should underlie, ones lack of experience with the setting will NOT tarnish the fun factor.
Why am I using Xplorers? I love the open-ended yet simple system that demands more "in character moments" than dice rolls. I also love the potential for customization. Elegant. But I recommend any and all of these games/ kit.
It should be mentioned that the playtest draft of Humanspace Empires has offered the most fun I think I've had with a group in ages. It should also be mentioned that I'm a complete newcomer to Tekumel. The only Tekumel I've read about is from this very game, and so perhaps my vision of the setting is slightly colored by inexperience. For better or for worse. But I should underlie, ones lack of experience with the setting will NOT tarnish the fun factor.
Why am I using Xplorers? I love the open-ended yet simple system that demands more "in character moments" than dice rolls. I also love the potential for customization. Elegant. But I recommend any and all of these games/ kit.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Storyteller Tools 1.3
1.3: Space Colony/Station Generator Tables
Type: Roll 1d6
1-2 Corporate Controlled
3-4 Corporate Contested
5-6 Anti-Corporate
Intent: Roll 1d6
1-2 Sympathetic
3-4 Antagonistic
5-6 Neutral
Traits: Roll 1d10
1 Decadent
2 Failing
3 Haunted
4 War-Torn
5 Governing Council
6 Dictator
7 Secret
8 AI-Led
9 Non-Euclidean
10 Captured
Culture: Roll 1d10
1 Divided
2 Discontent
3 Slavery
4 Criminal
5 Pacifist
6 Barbaric
Example Colony:
Outcast Colony
Type 3 Corporate Contested (between the **"UCNP," and my own Martian Outcasts).
Intent 6 Neutral
Trait 4 War Torn
Culture 3 Slavery (The martian outcasts are being imprisoned)
Bio As wild and rugged as it gets in space. Is it true that the outcasts are hiding a rogue AI? Perhaps this is why the **"UCNP" is heightening their efforts against the criminal populace to new extremes.
** The "UCNP" is from X-Plorers, page 27.
Storyteller Tools 1.2
1.2: The Quick Sandbox Rules and Tables: These tables provide a minimum structure, the rest is up to the storyteller's discretion. Some storytellers allow players to roll on these tables and choose story components. A Bio is a short, one to five sentence length detailing.
Corporation Generation Tables:
Type: Roll 1d6
1 Choose one and Roll again
2 Conservative
3 Privately Run
4 Publicly Owned
5 Risky
6 Government
Intent: Roll 1d6 and refer to the Expanded NPC Encounter Tables.
Example Corporations:
Scilic Systems
Type 2 Conservative
Intent 6 Unpredictable
Bio Run by a computer. This company primarily deals with robotic tech, but has quietly expanded into illegal avenues.
Cyric
Type 5 Risky
Intent 2 Benevolent
Bio A pharmaceutical company devoted to tapping mankind's hidden psionic potential. Cyric often sponsors X-Plorer teams.
Storyteller Tools 1.1
Storyteller Tools
Rusty Station Spanner Storyteller Tools 1.1:
Tables can be potent tools in a storyteller's arsenal. I've created several to help me generate my own campaign. These tables were designed with enough simplicity to be used on the fly. Feel free to use my examples in your own game or for inspiration. Remember, random is fun.
Expanded NPC Encounter Tables:
Type: Roll 1d6
1-4 Corporation Human
5-6 *Abomination
Intent: Roll 1d6
1 Neutral
2 Benevolent
3 Wary
4 Opportunist
5 Agressive
6 Unpredictable (Re-roll every encounter)
* If "Abomination" was rolled, continue with the following chart:
Type 2: Roll 1d6
1 Evolver [A]
2 Ingenious [A]
3 Ooze [B]
4 Infector [B]
5 Extra-Dimensional [C]
6 Quasi-Detity or Deity [C]
Category:
[A] 2 Special Abilities
[B] 1 Special Ability, +1 BHB
[C] 3 Special Abilities
Example NPC Forces:
Martian Outcast
Type 2 Corporate Human
Intent 6 Unpredictable
Bio Fringe-dwellers. A tight-knit conspiracy in illicit markets. Whether in the market for mercenary hire, illegal AI modifications, or for the fastest computer virus, just know that your deal must pass through Outcast hands, first. Worshippers of the Wyrm.
Space-Wyrms
Type 6.1 Abomination, Evolver
Intent Opportunistic
Bio 14 years ago the Wyrm arrived on white wings from the earth sky proceeding to massacre the earthen population. The Wyrm dismantled society for a year before vanishing. They've arrived again, but now on Mars the same day as the last attack (August 21st). Several stages of evolution; white potbellied moth-men, "Uber-Beatle's" (more on them later), spaceship sized (and spacefaring) gastropod mollusks, and the moth goddess' avatars, Mestromestus.
Moth-men are "medium sized omnivore['s]" as in X-plorer's (page 27). In addition moth-men have the "optional movement" (flight) and "vomit" special abilities (page 26, X-Plorers).
These Expanded NPC Encounter Tables can be used to generate major forces in the galactic mix. If you would like to quickly populate a campaign world consider following the next set of rules and using my pre-made examples from the Rusty Station Spanner Universe. Optionally, a storyteller who wants more extraterrestrials in their game might opt to automatically make more "Abominations" for their game. I personally balance two Corporate Human forces per abomination to keep the non-human aspect of the game hopefully exciting if not somewhat unsettling.
Rusty Station Spanner Storyteller Tools 1.1:
Tables can be potent tools in a storyteller's arsenal. I've created several to help me generate my own campaign. These tables were designed with enough simplicity to be used on the fly. Feel free to use my examples in your own game or for inspiration. Remember, random is fun.
Expanded NPC Encounter Tables:
Type: Roll 1d6
1-4 Corporation Human
5-6 *Abomination
Intent: Roll 1d6
1 Neutral
2 Benevolent
3 Wary
4 Opportunist
5 Agressive
6 Unpredictable (Re-roll every encounter)
* If "Abomination" was rolled, continue with the following chart:
Type 2: Roll 1d6
1 Evolver [A]
2 Ingenious [A]
3 Ooze [B]
4 Infector [B]
5 Extra-Dimensional [C]
6 Quasi-Detity or Deity [C]
Category:
[A] 2 Special Abilities
[B] 1 Special Ability, +1 BHB
[C] 3 Special Abilities
Example NPC Forces:
Martian Outcast
Type 2 Corporate Human
Intent 6 Unpredictable
Bio Fringe-dwellers. A tight-knit conspiracy in illicit markets. Whether in the market for mercenary hire, illegal AI modifications, or for the fastest computer virus, just know that your deal must pass through Outcast hands, first. Worshippers of the Wyrm.
Space-Wyrms
Type 6.1 Abomination, Evolver
Intent Opportunistic
Bio 14 years ago the Wyrm arrived on white wings from the earth sky proceeding to massacre the earthen population. The Wyrm dismantled society for a year before vanishing. They've arrived again, but now on Mars the same day as the last attack (August 21st). Several stages of evolution; white potbellied moth-men, "Uber-Beatle's" (more on them later), spaceship sized (and spacefaring) gastropod mollusks, and the moth goddess' avatars, Mestromestus.
Moth-men are "medium sized omnivore['s]" as in X-plorer's (page 27). In addition moth-men have the "optional movement" (flight) and "vomit" special abilities (page 26, X-Plorers).
These Expanded NPC Encounter Tables can be used to generate major forces in the galactic mix. If you would like to quickly populate a campaign world consider following the next set of rules and using my pre-made examples from the Rusty Station Spanner Universe. Optionally, a storyteller who wants more extraterrestrials in their game might opt to automatically make more "Abominations" for their game. I personally balance two Corporate Human forces per abomination to keep the non-human aspect of the game hopefully exciting if not somewhat unsettling.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Astronauts Assemble!
"Rusty Station Spanner" is a homebrew weird-space source. Here you will find campaign material, art, and storyteller rules of a bizarre near future. My friends and I play Dave Bezio's X-plorers as a testing ground. Please feel free to drop a comment.
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