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Greetings and welcome to the Recruitment Thread for "Operation Unfathomable" by Jason Sholtis using the Swords & Wizardry game system published by Frog God Games. At its heart, Operation Unfathomable is an Underworld exploration game in a surreal sword and sorcery universe that has more in common with the books of of Robert E. Howard (Conan), Fritz Leiber (Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser), and Michael Moorcock, than the imaginations of Tolkien and his intellectual descendants. The universe in which Operation Unfathomable exists is cruel, uncaring, and more than a little weird, but Sholtis has injected quite a bit of humor (often quite black) as well. This is not a place of dashing heroes and steely heroines with high ideals and seemingly endless hit points, but one where people have to be careful and clever just to survive, and where most are just out for themselves. But does this mean that things are grim and there is no hope? On the contrary. I hope to create a game where the PCs don't always get along, but try their best to make the best out of a bad situation, and have a laugh or two while they're at it.
Here are some additional notes about the game:
* This game will be potentially deadly, and the encounters will not be balanced. This means that sometimes the best option for everyone will be to run like hell. The GM will drop serious hints when it's time to flee.
* The rules for Swords & Wizardry can be downloaded as a "Pay What You Want" file HERE
* There's also a Player's Guide, but it's not necessary to play the game. It includes a fun comic based on the setting along with new PC races, classes, items, and spells that will eventually be available to the PCs, but won't be at the beginning of the game.
Posting Expectations
* I've played and GM'd games where people play frequently and ones where they don't; I prefer the former. Players will be expected to post at least once a day during the week and at least once over the weekend. If you don't think you'll be able to keep this pace up, please don't submit a PC. I also expect players who know they will or may miss this posting rate over a short period to let us know in advance if possible.
Character Creation Basics:
* 1st level PCs of any of the standard races presented in Swords and Wizardry: human, dwarf, elf, half-elf, halfling. We'll be adding other races later once you encounter them, but we'll start with these. Backgrounds for the races have not been created, so feel free to come up with something interesting if you like.
* Instead of the standard 3d6 method of stat generation, we will use the 4d6 and drop the lowest die method, after which you can assign stats as you chose.
* Standard classes will be used: Assassin, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Magic-User, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, and Thief. Note that this will be an almost entirely subterranean game, so druid may not work too well.
* Standard money for equipment: 3d6 multiplied by 10 in gp
* Generate at least 2 PCs (possibly more), as you'll want to have a backup in case your first one dies.
* Come up with at least five descriptive sentences that tell us something about your character. You may substitute common sayings or catch phrases for these describptions. There should be some background information about your PC among these, and can also include descriptions of what the PC looks/sounds like.
* Make bold choices for character personality and background. Bold choices make for better RP. There is a lot of cross-planar travel in this universe, so your character could come from this world, or could have dropped through a dimensional portal from pretty much anywhere or anywhen. That means that if you want to play an airborne ranger from WW2, or a water merchant from Osirion, I'll allow it. If you are from another universe, we'll assume that you've been here long enough to get a basic handle on things.
* The game begins at the frontier outpost of Fort Enterprise, with all the PCs already having formed a group to explore the wilderness around the settlement for fun and profit. You should have an explanation of why you find yourself risking your life at the edge of civilization. Someone who is comfortable and well-off would not risk everything to be outside of the more civilized areas, so what brought you to Fort Enterprise? Also ask yourself how you get along with the other PCs in the group. What made you trust them enough to join a "company" together?
* Fort Enterprise is part of the City-state of Mur, also known as the Murian Empire. This is an (evil) empire ruled by the Sorceror-King Syantides, and Fort Enterprise is run by one of his less successful nobles. Mur is quite a distance from Fort Enterprise.
* Feel free to make up setting details in your background whole cloth. In fact, player contributions will be a major source of setting details and GM inspiration for this game.
* Here is a sample pregen from the game.
Level 1 Magic-User
Intense scientific interest in all things Underworld coupled with below-average wisdom a possible liability
Speaks like David Attenborough and given to descriptive monologues with evangelical fervor
STR: 6 (-1), INT: 17, WIS: 8, CON: 13 (+1 to hp), DEX: 13 (+1 to missiles, 1 pt. bonus to AC) CHA: 12
Spells: 1 first level/day Armor: None Weapons: Dagger [1d4]
Age: 45. HP: 4, AC: [10], SAV: 15, Move: 12, XP Bonus: None
Equipment: backpack, bedroll, waterskin, lantern. 4 flasks oil, 8 specimen jars in leather case, 2 contain fungal spore samples, 1 contains a dozen live microsnakes, 1 week iron rations, 10’ pole, vial of holy water, portable spellbook containing sleep, detect magic, magic missive, reveal location, scroll containing fireball, 16 GP
Here are some additional house rules:
* Instead of awarding extra experience points that have to be calculated every time. simply reduce the total experience needed by 5, 10, or 15%.
* Use of ascending AC (p. 31) makes a lot more sense and is easier in conjuction with the "to hit bonus" instead of having to look everything up on the the THAC0 table
* Use the standard S&W basic saving throws instead of the various different kinds (p. 35)
* We'll use the Quick Method for Ascending AC Combat system (p. 44)
* Natural 20s will always hit and do +1 damage, while natural 1s will always miss
*It is impossible to instantly slay a PC (barring obvious exceptions such as being dropped into lava, etc). Upon being struck by an attack that would drop the PC to 0 hp or below, the PC drops to 0 hp and will lose 1 hp every round after that. Once the PC reaches a negative hp value equal to her level, the PC dies.
*Leveling up in Underworld will be allowed as long as the PCs have created a relatively safe place to retreat to.[/list]
Please let me know if you have additional questions! I'll keep this recruitment open for two weeks (10/23) after which I'll take my pick from among the 4-6 PCs I like best.
Time to give this a go.
= 13
= 15
= 15
= 12
= 18
= 8
Hey BrOp! I'm interested, had fun with Sorcery! while it lasted. I *think* I have the S+W rules somewhere, but if I remember rightly they are the/an OSRIC system - pretty basic if not Basic. Races that also have Classes? Omigod!
Anyway, let's see the RNG:
= 9
= 15
= 10
= 9
= 3
= 12
Well, that's definitely grognardic.
Rollin'...
= 18
= 14
= 11
= 9
=14
=13
Not too shabby...
2nd set:
15, 13, 13, 13, 10, 7
To go with my rolls from the other thread:
18, 15, 14, 13, 11, 9
as we are supposed to apply with 2 characters, should we use the same stat set for each, or roll a second set for the second character?
= 15
= 14
= 16
= 17
= 10
= 11
Going to withdraw BrOp. I really want to pick up some PF2e games, so adding an oldskool game is going in the opposite direction...
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Ok...here is my basic crunch....
Bernum Rakil, Level 1 Cleric
Jolly, friendly priest who likes to drink and fight. His favourite parable is 'If you want peace, prepare for war'
STR: 15 (+1), INT: 12, WIS: 15, CON: 13 (+1 to hp), DEX: 13 (+1 to missiles, 1 pt. bonus to AC) CHA: 05
Spells: 1 first level/day (CLW)
Armor: Chain & Shield [AC-16]
Weapons: Heavy Mace [1d6]
Age: 25. HP: 7, AC: [16], SAV: 15, Move: 12, XP Bonus: +5%
Equipment: backpack, bedroll, waterskin, 1-week iron rations, a vial of holy water, Wooden Holy Symbol, 2gp
And another character to replace Bernum if he dies,,,
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Bernum was born to a minor noble family as the second son. As such his place in the inheritance of his father's land was secured to his older brother and he, as the second born, was to join the priesthood. While growing up, he was always reminded that he would not be inheriting the manor, and that he was destined to become a priest...stuck in some small chapel with no chance of glory or fame. This did not sit well with the young Bernum, and he fought against this fate. It was not until his 16th birthday that he devised a way to honour his family's wishes, and still allow himself an exciting life as a warrior. It was in the spring when his father hosted a number of members of a clerical fighting order at the manor. These mighty warriors of the gods impressed the young man greatly, and he got into many conversations with the warrior-brothers about their order and what it would take to become one of their number. It was agreed by the Prior of the Warrior-monks and his father to send Bernum off to train, not only in the religious pursuits of a priest but also the fighting prowess of a trained warrior.
So it was in his 16th year, Bernum travelled to the temple-fortress of the Holy Order of the Checkered Shield and he started his training as a warrior-priest. After 7 gruelling years, Bernum has finally met the minimum requirements to be allowed to travel as a cleric-errant and bring the word of his god to the heathen masses, by word or sword!
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Okay I'll throw my hat in and see what I can stir up.
Okay, so I'm thinking a Fighter/Thief Dwarf and a Ranger
Crunchy
Buster McDouglas: Dwarven Fighter/Thief 1
Displaced shadowrunner from Detroit, grumpy about lack of internet and his favorite shotgun.
STR: 15 (+1), DEX: 15 (+1 to missiles, +1 to AC), CON: 15 (+1 to hp),: 14, WIS: 10, CHA: 6
Armor: Ringmail & Shield
Weapons: BattleAxe [1d8]
Age: 35, HP:6, AC[15], SAV 14, Move 12?, Bonus XP: 5%
Gear: Backpack, bedroll, crowbar, flask, grappling hook, hemp rope, dry rations (4), pole, waterskin, 17.37 gold
Buster is old hat at the cloak and dagger, especially when his dagger was a shotgun. Doing anything from corporate espionage to the blackmailing the cheating husband. You know the fun stuff. But that last job was the last time he does any favors for any "idealist". Some cult wants to summon something dark from beyond the veil of reality, fine let them. Bullets have done a great job at killing anything that wants to exist in the North America. But stopping them mid ritual, with all that magic in the air was possibly the stupidest thing that dumb elf could have done.
Now Buster is stuck in some archaic world without his car or his shotgun. Desperately trying to find a trail back to his.
Thanks for the opportunity, but I got into a few games and don't want to overextend myself. Perhaps on the next go around. Best of luck all!
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Crunchy
Buster McDouglas: Dwarven Fighter/Thief 1
Displaced shadowrunner from Detroit, grumpy about lack of internet and his favorite shotgun.
I'll let him have his shotgun. The only problem is that he only has 6 shells left and will jam on a natural 1-2, and he doesn't have the tools to repair it. Damage is 1d10+1, 1d8 beyond 30'. Rate of fire is 3. Range is 30', Weight is 6 lbs.
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FYI, this doesn't mean that everyone should come up with a trans-dimensional background and suddenly blurt out: "Hey, on my world we can matter disintegration weapons and I brought one with me."
This is a very limited weapon with limited use that will serve more as a character trait than anything else, and should probably have a name.
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Here's the updated interested/submitted list as of this morning:
Completed characters:
Bernum Rakil, Human cleric 1 (Daniel Stewart)
Faelana Arvine, elf fighter 1/magic-user 1 (Arrannai)
Buster McDouglas, dwarf fighter 1/thief 1 (Boss Zog)
Expressed interest/incomplete characters:
Spazmodeus
AGamer70
Simeon
Two-Hands
I'll let him have his shotgun.
WOAH, wasn't even baiting for that. Just trying to think of something dwarfy. Thank you kind, GM.
This is a very limited weapon with limited use that will serve more as a character trait than anything else, and should probably have a name.
Was think of naming it Patrica, or Peppa for short. After an obnoxious redheaded demolition expert Buster once knew who loved to make a racket. Poor old real Peppa, bought the farm. Then blew it up building an IED for a bank heist.
Buster will be talking to Peppa often, like Sweetness in the old Colbert Report.
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ckumab/the-colbert-report-guns-in-national-pa rks
I'm down, If you are.
I'll have my sheet ready by tomorrow. And I welcome anyone else that wants to jump in.
Here is Busters basic sheet
Paizo glitched on me, so a lot of the info I had got erased. I'll in put it again in the morning.
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This is a reminder that we are still accepting new PCs for our game of Operation Unfathomable!. Come join us for wacky hijinx and death!
Character 1
Character 2
Hawk: Human / Ranger 1
STR: 14, DEX: 15 (+1 to missiles, +1 to AC), CON: 13 (+1 to hp),: INT 12, WIS: 10, CHA: 8
Age: 42, HP: 16, AC[13], SAV 14, Move 12?, Bonus XP: 5%
5' 10", black shoulder-length hair, sea-green eyes. Overly-emotional, speaks his mind with a stutter, has a need to kill anything with fangs and claws, and very, very afraid of large spiders.
Weapons:
Long Bow [1d6]
Bastard Sword [1d8]
20 arrows
Armor: Leather (+2 defense)
Gear: Backpack, bedroll, crowbar, flask, grappling hook, hemp rope, dry rations (5), pole, waterskin, torches (6)
The rest coming soon...
YAY, death to the furries!!
Welcome fellow dealer of death, I look forward to working with you.
#2
If you are still looking I’d be interested. I cut my teeth on basic and expert d&d.