The Black Campbell

15 January, 2013

RPG Blog Carnival: New Year, New Game

This post was written for the second annual New Year, New Game blog carnival hosted by Gnome Stew as part of the 2013 New Year, New Game challenge.

Think of it as a gamer’s New Year’s resolution — it’s a new year, and in the spirit of renewal, perhaps it’s time to try a new game. This doesn’t necessarily have to mean buying and running a new system; it could also mean trying new characters and a new campaign. Back in October, much of my gaming group had dispersed — one player was finishing their degree and had no time, another got a full-time job with much travel, and another moved to Texas, leaving just two of us.

When you lose the better part of your gaming group, it’s time to find new players, and that usually means a new campaign… So this New Year,New Game challenge isn’t quite so hard for me as it could be: I have new players and we need new games. We were lucky — we were able to resurrect the group with three new players in the space of a few weeks. It’s a good group, and has a sharply different vibe from the last. Our previous group was more of the get-together and game as a social activity. This group is more seriously interested in roleplaying — with one of the gamers being a serious immersion player.

One of the games has continued with the new players. It was well into the plot, the “lead” was the remaining player, and first of the new players was recruited within a fortnight of the group implosion and was interested in the campaign. So the Battlestar Galactica game that has been getting attention in the blog survived. The Hollow Earth Expedition game did not. Oh, we might bring back Hannibal Drake, but the rest of the cast is changing. As a result, I have started a new campaign for the new group.

Beyond that, there’s a few games that have been attracting my attention and I would like to run. One is a homebrew sci-fi campaign that might use Cortex, or might use the Diaspora Fate rules — it’s still in the formative stages. I’ve thought about trying to run Jovian Chronicles — one of my gaming white elephants. It’s got a great setting, but in some ways the setting limits the options of the gamemaster, if they stick religiously to the setting and the metastory of the game. I don’t intend to. I also will not use the game mechanics, but instead will probably turn to Cortex.

Another way of breaking out of my comfort zone is to run one-shot games for the local gaming Meetup group. I’m running a Hollow Earth Expedition-fueled pulp adventure called “The White Ape of the Congo” early in February. After I run it, I will post the adventure notes and an after action report. Another I hope to run is a Serenity game that rips off the movie Deep Rising (a stupid but lots of fun flick) but with the monster being replaced by reavers. I may run a James Bond game later in the year…who knows?

It’s a new year, there’s a lot of new product from the indie publishers, so get our and try a new game!

12 January, 2013

After Action Report: Battlestar Galactica RP

Holidays and illnesses have kept the gaming schedule a bit hit or miss this last month or so, but we’ve completed another adventure in our Battlestar Galactica RPG campaign. This one saw the introduction of a new character — a fresh from training viper pilot who finds herself assigned to Galactica as her first posting, instead of her preferred Pegasus.

The fallout from the campaign thus far is finally starting to hit. Commander Pindarus, the “lead” character, and much of his command staff has been parked on Galactica as a means to cool his career off by jealous officers. (He is also a pawn in a personal tiff between the fleet admiral, Nagala, and his father, now the defense secretary.) Special Agent Chaplain, the Colonial Security Service officer that was investigating Cylon infiltration was exposed as having been an agent himself. The last “episode” had ended with their secret investigation having been outed by a major colonial news service. The assumption in the halls of power is that Pindarus ratted because he didn’t think the brass and politicians were taking the matter seriously. Without proof, however, all they could do was bench him on what is soon to be a spacegoing museum.

Pindarus’ efforts to get the political machine to acknowledge and do something about the toaster threat have, however, paid off. President Aidar is aware of the threat and is quietly shuffling his cabinet to prepare. The most important change for the characters is the return of Pindarus’ father to government. Having been ingloriously binned as presidential security advisor near the beginning of the investigations, the bellicose old man is now in as defense secretary.

This “episode” mostly revolved around the new PC, and her perceptions of what was going on aboard Galactica. To that end, I tried to structure the adventure so that while the other players were doing their own particular things, the new pilot — call sign Billboard — was usually present to witness things. The player of the new character has been documenting her reactions and opinions in a little journal he’s been sending to me. (Got him a few plot points for the effort!) The first thing she noticed was the strong animosity between the former (temporary) XO, now returned to CAG — Dipper (he’s in the miniseries) and the new one, Pindarus’ XO from Aegis, the (too?) young Major Evripidi. She meets the characters from the show that were continued into the campaign — Helo, Boomer, Starbuck. We also see JOlly (mentioned in the miniseries and reutrned in his slightly overweight, gloriously mustachioed glory.) WE’re using the Katee Sackhoff Starbuck, but without the tremendous angsty stuff that made her annoying to me.

The crew is befuddled. The new commander knows the ship is to be decommissioned in a matter of months and they are doing their last CAP of Caprica and Gemenon, before heading to Picon for the refit that would make her a museum and her disarmament at the Zeus Armory. So why is Pindarus running them hard on full-scale combat drills — complete with damage control exercises and boarding repelling operations? Why does he have the chief engineer (a cousin to Billboard) attempting to refit their FTL drive and get the ship rearmored? He says it is to put her back in the condition she was in during the First Cylon War and make her more authentic an experience for the guests.

Also aboard, is the Ministry of Education archivists, designers, and wonks — led by the Deputy Director for Public History, Aron Doral (this time more of a Oded Fehr type.) The man is slick, friendly, and seems genuinely interested in making Galactica a big attraction. They have installed a secondary, civilian network that is unconnected to the ship’s essential functions (save communications…), they’re putting up informative signage and color-coded paths through the ship, here and there, for the tour. I’m trying to give it more of a ship at the end of her life feel than the miniseries had.

Adventure seed here: The new character is put to the test when the ship receives a distress call. They were just entering Gemenese orbit when a Caprica-Gemenon liner was struck by the FTL bubble of another ship jumping in. Disabled and in a rapidly decaying orbit, they are requesting aid. Meanwhile, the vessel that had illegally jumped into orbit outside the prescribed commercial “bullpen” is racing into Gemenese orbit to escape apprehension. Galactica scrambles her alert fighters, including Billboard, to chase and monitor the ship, which is running an IFF transponder that does not register as belonging to any legally registered craft.

The rescue of the liner was done in the background, and directed by one of the characters; Billboard and the alert fighters follow the other freighter to the Gemenese surface — the Gramada Mountains, which another PC tells them is a hotbed of separatists, individualists, and illicit drug manufacturers. (Khammala and canaba are legal and used for “religious purposes” but synthetic opiates, endorphins, and amphetamines are tightly controlled.) The ship is a smuggler, moving synthetic dope from Leonis to Gemenon.

The characters have to capture the smugglers, who are armed with at least one shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile system. Billboard nearly gets splashed, and they get cleared by Pindarus to take out the trucks. Marines in a raptor arrive and eventually take the ship, discovering weapons, drugs, and other violations of the law.

Overall, the adventure ran well. It was mostly interstitial stuff between push adventures, a chance for more character development over action. It was also a chance to set the mood for Galactica prior to the events of the miniseries.

Next week: 1930s pulp using Hollow Earth Expedition!

7 January, 2013

This Movie Year Looks Promising

Posted by blackcampbell under Movies
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Here’s a few trailers for movies that look like they just might be worth seeing…

The first is Gangster Squad, about Mickey Cohen in 1940s Los Angeles. It was on my to go list (Emma Stone!) until I saw Sean Penn. 1) Terrible actor, 2) terrible person whose insistence on shoving himself into the international political scene means I won’t even borrow a movie he’s in to watch.

Say what you want — I’ve been a fan of the Die Hard franchise since the first one. (Still the best Christmas movie ever!) Was the last one over the top? Yup. I still enjoyed it. This one had me at the “007 of Plainfield, New Jersey” line, and it was cemented with the exchange in another trailer — “You want a hug?” “We’re not a hugging family.”

Not a big Steven King fan. An ever bigger not a fan of the movies based on his stuff (although I like Christine.) But I have to say — Chloe Moertz? The girl can act, and Julianne Moore as the crazy mom might just be worth the price of admission.

Not a big fan of the Couchjumper, but this looks pretty good. Just so long as he does battle Zenu…

Getting the way too serious vibe off this one, but the first one is arguably the best Marvel film out. (I’d say it’s a tie between X-Men: First Class and Captain America.)

It looks like this is the background characters from Knocked Up. The iPad scene is so me.

I’m not sure this isn’t already out, but it looks wonderful. Ernest Borgnine saving his old folks home. I’m in.

The list should be notable for what trailers aren’t on it — Star Trek: Into Darkness for one. I wasn’t a huge fan of the JJ Abrams short attention span version of Trek, no matter how much it needed busted out of a rut. The story was awful and the whole gigantic spaceships turning on a dime thing is old…but the characters and performances were great. Also not here, The Lone Ranger. Johnny Depp doing another quirky character. No amount of Bruce Willis or the Rock is getting me into GI Joe: Retaliation. I couldn’t stand reading The Great Gatsby — I’m not watching DeCaprio in a movie based on it. Man of Steel‘s trailer left me a bit cold.

7 January, 2013

Goings On At the Black Campbell

Posted by blackcampbell under General Ramblings, Roleplaying Games
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I’m about a quarter through writing my next novel, currently with the working title Firestorm (which is a bit pedestrian in my opinion, but will probably work well…) It’s a modern western/murder mystery set in a small new Mexico town being threatened by a massive wildfire.

Also, I’m blocking out the following novel, as well. It is tentatively titled Therapy on Two Wheels and will revolve around a widower who goes on a motorcycle trip around the country to heal himself.

Finished and turned in is a prospectus for a movie script called Only Way to Rich — a heist movie about a bunch of well-educated, but unsuccessful friends. Their hit on a casino and subsequent escape quickly goes sideways due to interpersonal issues. It might get a novel treatment if nothing comes of the film project.

There’s a good chance I may be working for Cubicle 7 again on the Victoriana line later this year. I may be contributing to the America and Africa books.

On the list is a possible Kickstarter for a “new” espionage game system from Black Campbell Publishing sometime later this year.

7 January, 2013

Armor and NIJ Ratings for JB:007 RPG

Posted by blackcampbell under Roleplaying Games | Tags: James bond roleplaying game |
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The Q Manual gives the James Bond: 007 RPG player armor ratings for vehicles, but did not really address personal body armor. I covered this in my Q2 Manual, but thought it might be worth coming back to for those who want to understand the reason for the game specifications on personal body armor.

Level I armor is lightweight and allows for easy production of body armor that can look like ordinary clothing — a tee-shirt or a vest. They stop most light rounds — .22, .32, .380 — but does not usually take care of all of the kinetic damage. These are usually in the range of DC C to E. The armor reduces the damage class by -2DC.

Level IIA armor can handle mid-weight and speed bullets like 9mm and .40 S&W (DCs in the range from E to G.) Damage class is reduced by -4.

Level I and IIA are usually older vests or special order items, as they are considered by law enforcement to be ill suited to protecting officers from modern ammunition. The older armor also rarely protect against bladed weapons, something that most newer vests do. That doesn’t mean, however, they wouldn’t be perfect for the deep cover officer looking to have some protection, but not advertise this fact. Level I armor has the equivalent of a CON -4, Level II CON -2 to be spotted with a PERCEPTION test.

Level II armor is is the standard for hot-weather police department and is also available to civilians in the US and a few other nations. Level II is rated to stop fast (“hot”) 9mm, .40S&W/10mm, .357 magnum+P ammunition (DCs in the G-I range.) It lowers DC by -4DC but also provides a -1WL benefit, but also cuts the Run/Swim and Stamina times by a quarter.

Level IIIA is typical of police and military units where concealment of armor is not a high priority. They are rated to handle up to .44 magnum pistol cartridges and can stop most shotgun shot (DCs in the H to J range.) It provides -6DC protection, but halves the Run/Swim and Stamina times of a character using it.

Level III is “tactical” armor, and is normally worn over clothes with MOLLE or velcro-attached pouches to carry ammunition, radios, etc. It also typically adds a “rifle plate” or “trauma plate”, which provides protection for up to .308/7.62mm rifle rounds and 12 gauge slugs (DCs in the I to L range.) It provides -6DC and a -2WL benefit, but it also halves a character’s Run/Swim and Stamina times, and adds a -1EF to Dexterity tests. Often tactical units will include a kevlar helmet that provides protection worth -4DC .

Level IV armor is rated for high-power armor-piercing rounds like the US APM2 .30-06 round. It is hot, heavy, and uses both ceramic, steel, or carbon fiber plates, in addition to kevlar fabric to protect against these high-energy projectiles. Level IV armor also nearly always includes a helmet that gives -4DC protection, but gives the character a -1EF to any Perception-based test. Also the neck roll on Level IV armor gives a -6DC rating.

One issue: these materials are, however, brittle and usually break up on impact, providing single shot protection against high energy bullets. The armor provides a -8DC for the first impact on the vest (front or back.) However, it loses a -4DC of protection per hit where the original DC was K or higher.

As you can tell, the design intent is to drop the damage to about DC B or C, where the worst the character suffers is a light wound, but usually takes a stun. Gamemasters can add hit locations to the mix, if their players get a bit too cocky, thinking the armor makes them invincible. (See the GM Screen for hit location table.) All of this armor is generally good for the torso area, although Level IV armor is a notable exception.

Here are some examples of modern body armor:

Second Chance makes a concealable armor in Level IIa through IIIa in the Summit line. They also make a “stab-proof” twaron armor vest for correctional officers in their Prism Spike line and gives a Level IIa protection versus both handguns and blades. Their Prism Multi-Threat armor is Level IIIa.

American Body Armor (ABA) makes the Xtreme line of police vests from Level IIa through to Level IIIa.

Savvy is one of the few manufacturers of body armor specifically for females. It also provides improved impact resistance in the breast area. Their vests come in Level II and IIIa.

Point Blank makes armor for both police and military. Their Vision and Hi-Lite series are more focused on deep cover protection, and the C-Series on uniform use. They also make “carriers” — tactical vests that can have armor plates inserted into them and typically provide Level IIIa protection. Police tactical line — Level III and IV are the Dragonfire and Spider lines. Their military offerings are the IOTV (Improved Outer Tactical Vest) in Level III and IV.

2 January, 2013

State of the Blog

Posted by blackcampbell under Life Unconstructed
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I received the WordPress status dump for the Black Campbell this week, and while I would love the blog to be bigger and more successful than it currently is, for a little one-man operation that focuses primarily on out-of-print or small RPG games, I think pulling about 10% of Gnome Stew’s readership doesn’t stink.

So thanks to all of you who visit, and especially our regulars!

With that out of the way, let me throw this question out to you all: What would you like to see more of? Less of? And I’m thinking of also testing out the idea of guest posters — folks who have an article or two floating around their heads (or on their blogs) that they want wider exposure for. We’ve already had a couple of decent submissions for James Bond: 007 and some excellent comments here and there that I thought were the seeds for a good article or two.

Happy New Year and keep gaming!

31 December, 2012

Happy Holidays!

Posted by blackcampbell under General Ramblings, Life Unconstructed
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Happy holidays, readers, from the family Rhymer!

30 December, 2012

Colonial Holidays

Posted by blackcampbell under Roleplaying Games | Tags: battlestar galactica rpg, Roleplaying Games |
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Most of these aren’t canon, but were cobbled together for our Battlestar Galactica campaign. Added them to the Twelve Colonies document in the RPG section of the site, as well.

Pancolonial Political Holidays:

Armistice Day Junius 21 — Colonial government holiday

Colonial Day Sextilus 8 — Colonial government holiday

Colonial Fleet Birthday Sextilus 12 — Military “holiday”

Pancolonial Religious Festivals:

Bacchanalia Martius (last weekend) — big drinking holiday, arts, celebrations to Dionysus.

Thesmophoria Aprilius 17 — Mostly a “women’s” holiday in cities. Big in farming communities. Honors Demeter.

Diasia Junius 6 — General Colonial government religious holiday.

Olympic Games Junius, second week every four years. Sporting competitions honor Zeus.

Panathenea Games Julius, first week every four years [midway between Olympic Games. Military-oriented sports competitions; honoring Athena.

Thargella Sextilis 19 — Celebrates Apollo.

Exodus Novilis 1 — Celebrates the tribes’ leaving Kobol. Probably not the real date.

Mars Day Novilis 11 — Celebrates Colonial veterans.

Saturnalia Decilus, last weekend. Festivals, parties, noted for costumes and masks.

Traditionally, the rich and poor, aristocrats and servants traded places for a day.

Posidea Decilus 26 — Honors Poseidon. Horse racing on Leonis, Picon, and Virgon.

Apaturia Febrarius 14 — Known as Eros Day on Caprica, honors Aphrodite.

Colony-Specific Holidays:

Arelon: Thesmophoria, Aprilus 17 — Honors Demeter. Farming fesitvals, known for drinking.

Independence Day, Septimus 12 — Celebrates the independence from Virgon.

Aquaria: Hermaia, Decilus 11 — Honors Hermes. Practical jokes, hospitality to travelers. People put out herme, small phallic stones, to bless those traveling.

Canceron: Eleusina, Sextilus 15-18 — Celebrates the mysteries of death and rebirth.

Democratia, Septimus 21 — Celebrates the creation of the Canceron global government.

Independence Day, Septimus 12 — Celebrates independence from Virgon.

Caprica: Hyacinthia, Ianarius 17-19 — Three day holiday celebrating aspects of Apollo.

Eros Day, Februarius 14 — Apaturia on most other Colonies.

Gemenon: Heraea, Martius 10 — Honors Hera.

Diasia, Junius 6 — General thanksgiving day to the gods.

Leonis: Daphnephoria or “The Hunt”, Aprilus 22-24 — Hunter’s weekend.

Libran: Athenaia, Julius 28 — Known for sporting and craft competitions.

Picon: Pohoidaia, Decilus 28-30 — Horse and boat races dedicated to Poseidon. Picon’s version of the Posidea.

Sagittaron: Lycaea , Novilis 12-14 — Honors Zeus.

Freedom Day, Octilus 29 — Celebrates independence from Leonis.

Scorpia: Dionysia, Maius 3 — Celebrates Dionysus. Best known for wishes hung on trees.

Saturnalia, last weekend of Decilus. — People change roles, wear costumes, etc. Popular vacation draw to Scorpia.

Tauron: Enyalia, Junius 14 — Celebrates Ares. Known for impromptu bouts of fisticuffs.

Our Day, Martius 2 — Celebrates the independence from Virgon.

Virgon: Hestaia, Octilus 10 — Worship of Hestia, involves parties at home.

These holidays use our campaign specific date system:

The months of the year are as follows (assuming Sextilis is the sixth month, the year starts with March): Martius/01, Aprilus/02, Maius/03, Junius/04, Julius/05, Sextilis/06, Septimus/07, Octilis/08, Novilis/09, Decilus/10, Ianuarius/11, Februarius/12.