The Silver Machine Adventure Art

(This article is one of the backlog that piled up when I went off on a much needed vacation. As I slowly get back into blogging and prep for fall semester, I'll be working my way through these in addition to more NUNA, game design, Coyote & Crow, and Stormbringer posts) 

The Silver Machine is my introductory adventure for the NUNA Roleplaying game. It is purposefully a gonzo adventure, because life in Labrador is gonzo. As I explain in the quickstart, I was brought up with tales of survival in the wilderness, of strange ghost lights in the woods leading travellers to safety or death, and crashed secret military planes and hidden radar towers.

Here is a taste of the art of The Silver Machine.

Who is The Blue Man?

Who approaches the mysterious fortress in the Interior?

What awaits in The Underground?

The answers to these questions and many more are in the NUNA Quickstart!

The 60 page Quickstart is available for $1.99 at the link below:

https://legacy.drivethrurpg.com/product/575172/NUNA-Rpg-Quickstart

I am currently taking a break from RPGs to recuperate and spend time with sonny (YAY!) but also write a few chapters for my academic book on debt in Japan for a publisher (BOO!).

No rest for the weary wicked! Squeeze the most out of these waning summer days!

NUNA Quickstart Update

Nuna quick start 95% done!

Today’ teaser:

“Super Science should never make sense. There should never be a catalogue of buyable abilities or gear. Every item should be weird and unique, and above all, just as dangerous as it is useful.

Moorcock Bestiary # 1 Owl + Bear and Random ‘Thing’

I think of all my Stormbringer redux posts, my musing on a Moorcock Bestiary (post #12) was my best work. It shows an analytical understanding of the source material, and models how to practically convert that into satisfying game mechanics.

Today, I want to exercise my monster making muscles using the principles I outlined. 

First, I’ll take a monster common in FRPGs and try to Moorcock it up. Next, I’ll randomly roll the elements and try to free associate a suitably Moorcockean monster.

Let’s dive into it!

MONSTER 1 THE OWL + BEAR

I have heard that many other FRPGs use hybrid monsters, and in particular the strange hybrid of an owl and a bear seems to have taken root in the collective gamer psyche.

Although Moorcock’s symbols are largely Eurocentric, considering that he wrote Elric in America and lives in the Lone Star State, let’s use Native American iconography to make this monster special.

First, how do native americans see the owl?

The Owl possesses the knowledge of a people’s ancestors, and is the bridge between the physical and spiritual world. It ensures a continuation of the great culture of the Northwest Coast, which has lasted for thousands of years.

We can add to this its biological power of seeing in the dark, as well as its shriek which makes smaller prey freeze in their tracks.

How about the bear?

The Bear is the protector of the animal kingdom. With its great power and human-like qualities, the bear is known as the Elder Kinsman and always treated as a high-ranking quest. The also symbolizes strength, learned humility, teaching and motherhood.

Physiologically, the bear is immensely strong, has a great sense of smell, can fend off poisons, but can be scared off by bigger or louder creatures and hibernates through the winter.

So, we have a strong nocturnal hunter with ancient knowledge used to protect the animal kingdom and / or connect worlds. It could be a prince among Beast Lords, or an ancient portal guardian.

In game terms, it could be used at least two ways:

1. Source of Knowledge

In this context, PCs would have to find a way to wake the entity, then get its wisdom. Perhaps they have to bring back its prey, or else turn eternal day into night for it to open a gate or point them towards an elder race.

2. Ancient Guardian of Slumbering Secrets

In this meaning, PCs would have to make their way through a darkened maze to find a secret. Once the secret is found, the ear piercing shrieks of the guardian draw even closer, freezing PCs in their tracks. The party better have at least one sorcerer if they wish to survive intact.

As for stats, the astute reader can throw these together from the books, ie. STR of bear, DEX of owl, See in Dark 90% (45% in light), etcetera.

MONSTER 2 - Psychedelic Metaphor

The reader may remember that I devised the following schemata or taxonomy to explain the Moorcockean monsters of the Elric saga:

1 Metaphorical - Have the fiend represent some theme, such as fear, pride, greed, etc. i.e. The goblins of Myshella's castle.

2 Allegorical - Make a story behind the monster suggested by its appearance, behaviour, and powers. i.e. Grahluk and Elenoin.

3 Psychedelic - Make the creature mind-bending - trippy but also transformative. i.e. Agak and Gagak.

4 Weird - Choose a traditional monster, then flip it. i.e. Clakar for Harpies.

5 Cosmic - Have the horror be beyond mortal understanding, and sanity-rending. i.e. Kyreen.

6 Corrupted - The monster is a human warped by chaos, usually through their own choices or flaws. i.e. Pigs, Snake, Butterflyman.

Let’s roll a pair of D6 and see what inspiration we get:

1 and 3

So, a metaphorical and psychedelic monster. It should represent a theme, but also be trippy but transformative.

Let’s free associate….

The first thing that springs to mind is Timothy Leary, and his motto of “Turn on, tune in, and drop out.”

OK, so I picture Dr Leary in his trademark suit, walking out to greet a band of adventurers spoiling for some violence. The walls behind him ululate with psychedelic patterns and colours, as does his suit. He eyes their weapons and says,

“That is not the way. Don’t let the Man use you!”

If any PC tries to harm Dr Leary and hits him, there is a flash and they are transformed. Roll 1D6 and apply one of the following results. Read the Leary quote out, then apply the effects without explaining them.

1 “Learning how to operate a soul figures to take time.” PC is turned into a POW ghost.

2 “Science is all metaphor.” All skills and objects become useless, PC can’t tell his arm from his leg, a shield from a canteen.

3 “Philosophy is a performance sport - you have to play it with somebody back and forth.” The PC becomes another Leary facing his erstwhile comrades.

4 “The role of anxiety in the development of human personality is central, and it is intricate beyond our understanding.” The PC must face their most feared monster in a dark pit or on a lonely mountain.

5 “The universe is an intelligence test.” The PC is set adrift floating in the enormity of space, which looks at her with an impassive, uncaring eye.

6 “Think for yourself and question authority.” The PC is warped back to when they were given the quest, but this time from the vantage point of the one that gave it to them.

Of course, the PC can only escape the situation by eschewing violence and seeing things as they truly are, just as Earl Aubec saw the goblins of Myshella’s castle as reflections of his own fears. Players should realize that they must engage with Leary and explain who they are and why they are doing what they have come to do. The GM can either let them pass, or have Leary let himself be symbolically slain.

The metaphor, of course, is that knowing oneself is the only way to truth.

NB: If this is all a bit navel gazey and ‘not D&D enough’, you can substitute with a random creature, but I think your game will be the worse for not trying it if you have some Moorocock fans at the table.

How about them apples?

Sources

https://magpiejewellery.com/pages/first-nations-animal-meanings

GURPS Ring Dream & Manga - Part One, Comic Life (UPDATED)

Here is another installment in my Dungeons & Manga series. However, this time I'll be going as far from D&D as you possibly can, both in terms of system and use of manga-style art.

Today I'll be looking at GURPS' Ring Dream: Women's Pro-Wrestling RPG.

Funnily enough, in my old bookstore scavenging, I have come across a fair amount of GURPS material. On the one hand are translations of books like GURPS Magic or Martial Arts, all with manga art boiled down into the pocket size versions that are still popular here. On the other are 'Japan-only' games created for the home audience. The same phenomenon happens for video games, where dating games or JRPGs might sell on the PS in Tokyo, but are never intended to go beyond Japan's borders, for both gaming niche and cultural unintelligbility reasons.

GURPS Ring Dream is one such Japan-only GURPS product. It would be interesting to see how the license was obtained...

Anyway, GURPS Ring Dream is described as a Women's Pro-Wrestling RPG, a genre represented in video games by Rumble Roses. Whereas English RPGs usually start with a blurb of fiction to set the scene, from the first page Ring Dream uses manga as the fictional underpinning to the game. The manga introduces us to Chika, the orange-haired girl who dreams of being a pro-wrestler. Allow me to translate:

Chika: (carrying two ice creams) Here I am older sister!
Sister: Look, it's starting! Hurry up! Did you get my coffee-flavored ice?
Chika: And my brown rice, green tea, and strawberry-avocado ice. It's delicious!
Sister: Chika, watch out!

(A lady pro-wrestler falls onto Chika) KER-SMASH!
Sister: Watch out! (guffaws at Chika smeared in ice cream)
Chika: (notices ice cream is all gone from her cone) Hunh?
Ring Announcer: Kumano has grabbed Ajihara's hair and thrown her to the center of the ring. Here comes the starting gong!

Downed wrestler: (groans)
Ring Announcer: Uh oh, Ajihara is completely pinned! Sonic is still outside the ring!
Chika: (spies the ice cream on top of Sonic's head) If I can just grab the scoop on top... it's do or die!
Ring Announcer: Ajihara is in a pinch!
Sonic: (jumps to her feet) Hiya!
Sister: Chika. what are you doing?
(sounds of battle as Sonic jumps in the ring and throws around her opponents)

Ring Announcer: With a Plasma Sonic Bomb and a Lobster Hold, Sonic and Ajihara win the match!
Chika: (outside of wrestler's dressing room) Thanks for your time!
Wrestler: No problem, sorry about what happened.
Sister: I was surprised that you went to Sonic's dressing room, Chika!
Chika: I've decided!
Sister: On what?
Chika: I'm going to become a pro-wrestler!
Ajihara: Sonia, who was that girl eating that load of ice cream?
Sonic: No idea...

I don't know about you, but this set up goes far beyond the pale of my GURPS experience. How would you GM this?? It sounds more like a storygame, or a Japanese storygame like Yuyake-Koyake than GURPS.

The manga fiction does not end there. After these 2 splash color pages, an entire manga chapter details life in the women's pro-wrestling dojo. Let's see what Chika goes through:

Chika: (carrying a bucket of water) I've brought back the water.
Girl 1: OK, let's clean this place up and go for breakfast!
Chika: Today's breakfast is dark seaweed broth with cucumber pickles and rice with a raw egg on top! (slobber slobber)

Chika: (notices the bucket she has spilled) Hunh?
Girl 1: Ack! We haven't gotten anything done!
Chika: I'm sorry!
Girl 1: Nothing! (smacks Chika in the ribs) Do you really wanna be a pro-wrestler or not? Unbelievable.
Girl 2: Hold it! Just because you like eating doesn't mean you don't have to hurry up and do things...

(sounds of girls scrubbing floor)
Chika: (gets slapped by both girls) Ouch!
Girl 1 & 2: Too late, we missed it! I don't want to get another convenience store meal...

Older Woman: (puts a tray laden with food down) Tah-dah!
Chika: Thank you ma'am!
Older Woman: I put aside enough for you three.
(girls hug her)
Older Woman: Cut it out you three.
Girls: I could marry you!

Girl 2: (grabbed from behind by Ms Yamaguchi) Ms Yamaguchi?
Yamaguchi: You're so slow! Eating is a part of your work, you three! OK, once you've finished let's go to the practice mat. Take your time but hurry up, chew slowly, and only have two refills or else you'll barf.
Girls: We understand!
Girl 1: (looking at Chika gobble down her food) I don't care either way, but you ever seen this girl puke?
Girl 2: She's already on her 3rd plate.

THUMP!
Yamaguchi: Hey! You there, do a proper breakfall! A breakfall!
Girls: (seeing Chika flop on the mat) Wow!

Girl 1: Chika did a true breakfall!
Girl 2: That's a first.
Yamaguchi: (grabs a girl from behind) Beginners shouldn't laugh at other beginners, or they'll learn a painful lesson! (throws the girl on the mat) You try a breakfall too! Who's next?

Yamaguchi: Next is neck muscle training!
Chika: (has girl pushing down on her head) Ack ack ack!
THUMP
(sounds of heavy breathing, running)

Yamaguchi: (breathing heavily) Ok, let's do some light stretches and end MORNING practice!
Girl 1: Chika seems to be keeping up with practice recently, even though she's still the slowest.

Girl 2: So what?
Girl 1: That girl, when she came here, she couldn't do nothing. She still can't do much even now. I thought of the ten who joined here she'd be first to quit. The only thing she is good at is running.
Girl 2: And Chika...
Girl 1: What?
Chika: (thought balloon) I feel sick but it'll be a waste if I puke...
Girl 2: She was a long distance runner in junior high.

Girl 1: Long distance runner? That is no help in pro-wrestling.
Girl: Yes, but it means she's tough.
Girl 3: It means she's had a more normal existence than us tough fighter-types.
Yamaguchi: Shall we put Chika under Eriko for training?
Manager:  Don't be stupid! It's only been a few years since Eriko debuted as a pro.

Manager. (speechless for a second) If you say that, it means you have something up your sleeve. Tell me what.
Yamaguchi: Just seems interesting.
Manager: We've decided to put Chika under you for training today.
Eriko: But...
Manager: It's decided!
Chika: (bowing) Looking forward to learning from you!

This manga is a snapshot of the Japanese apprentice system used to educate craftsmen and martial artists. Shit rolls down hill, but with a reason - to toughen you up. Unlike western RPG fiction, this manga concentrates on what would normally be downtime training to set the scene for play. Still, as nice as it is, it leaves me scratching my head on how to use this in a game.

The manga doesn't end there, but continues in set piece spreads throughout the book. I'll skip over these, however, to take a look at something far more interesting - the mangatized descriptions of pro-wrestling moves and GURPS character sheets.

But that is a tale for another time...

Next up - Ring Dream Part Two: Piledrivers and Money Shots!

Is this game for real?

Procrastinating one hour before (ok, after) my thesis deadline.

I thought Spawn of Fashan/Encounter Critical were unplayable gag rpgs.

Take a gander at Audacity.

Seems like there is a market for gonzo.

But somehow playing an Amazonite  Ultra-Anarchist seems appealing.

On the to-review list when I return to life...

Altar of the Machine

An Altar of the Machine is a squat black monolith filigreed with silvery and multicouloured neon veins that look like circuits to modern viewers. It hums of eerie machinery (think Lou Reed’s Machine Metal Music), making sleep impossible within a mile radius.

The altar comes from a Demiplane of Machines, sandwiched between the Plane of Unlife and the Plane of Metals. An altar is sent imbued with enough energy to break into our reality, then make one of the following machinelife monsters.

Roll 3d6

ROLL	MATERIAL	SHAPE (special ability)	STRENGTH*
1	Silver	Floating Eye (freeze ray & flight)	1 man
2	Gold	Doppleganger (mimic)	2 men
3	Quicksilver	Skeleton (missiles have 50% chance of missing)	4 men
4	Chrome	Hook Horror (leaping ability)	6 men
5	Steel	Golem (deafening handclap)	8 men
6	Crystal	Mek (high speed)	9 men

* Use as Hit Dice for D&D, adjust accordingly for other games.

Silver – Need magic weapons to hit

Gold – Splits into half strength miniatures when hit

Quicksilver – Unharmed by metal weapons

Chrome – Reflects beams and rays

Steel – Attacker must save vs strength or drop melee weapon on a successful hit

Crystal – Blinding ray when fighting in daytime

The created machinelife sets out procuring victims to sacrifice on the altar. Once it has sacrificed a dozen men’s worth of life it can create a new machinelife and both will try to carry out its mission, sacrificing more living creatures and summoning more machinelife to the world until it is overrun.

Forget Rifts, Give Me Mutant Chronicles!

Just look at the great gonzo, British grotty art!
How did I miss this gem back in the day?
Apparently getting a re-edition.
I am so glad io9 has RPG news.