[Actual Play] Buffy: The Night Watch: The Second Thread [Archive]

SteveD

07-27-2003, 07:43 AM

Not the first thread. The SECOND thread.

Silly evening tonight, but lots of fun, and it worked well with the darkness of the ep anyway. No great quotage, but no matter.

It's midway through series one, and to get the characters bonding, it was time to yank them away from Oxford and deposit them at Chetwynd Castle, John's family home, far away in north Lancashire. Under the shadow of the mountains and the bare, bleak moors, and the stony outcropped tors, and other things rhyming with or.

It's Christmas, and the gang have gone to John's ancestral home for the holidays, on account of Eddie's father being in a cancer clinic, Tom's family being in the US and Eirion's parents being dead. Up in the Lake District it's cold and wintry and frost is everywhere. In the prologue, Lord and Lady Chetwynd-Talbot are coming home from church and hear the Chetwynd Ghost screaming over the hills, and their mood is sombre and pensive.

Our boys arrive by train, talking about women as usual. Tom is now pursuing Susan, and John is making glances at Rebecca. Eddie is absent, and has been a lot of late - but refuses to talk about it. They arrive in the tiny village of Ludstow, and Jamison the butler meets the boys with the car.

Chetwynd Castle is more of a manor house than a castle, but it does have a 12th century tower and a 13th century mead hall redone in 16th century French style, and an 18th century front hall with one of the largest private libraries in the country, and a small but exquisite weapons collection, a large stablery, a church, an expansive servants quarters and a long dining room right out of Tim Burton's Batman. The boys go to their four-poster-bed rooms in the East Wing, and dress for dinner - black tie, of course. Eirion is self-conscious - he doesn't own a suit. But John gives him one for his Christmas present. Awww.

At dinner, Tom spends a drama point to make the soup gazpatcho, just so he can complain that his is cold. This is why my players rock.

Lord Talbot (Christopher Plummer) reminds the boys not to go into the old wings, and to be back before dark every night. This is important as there's a wild dog lose killing sheep; might spook the horses. After Lady Talbot leaves, he expounds on his prejudices against the Watcher's Council without ever actually admitting to such things. Claims they have a very narrow view of the world.

After dinner, the group go over to the servants quarters and have a less formal but far more fun evening. They refuse to re-enact Titanic though. John remarks that his house is a strange place. "Do the wardrobes lead to other dimensions?" asks Eirion.

They get quite drunk, so Eddie sleeps through. Tom and Eirion are awakened by inhuman roars. John has a terrible nightmare about running through the forest and eating raw flesh and....

All bar John set out in the morning for a horse ride. John has to talk to his father. Steve kinda stuffs this up, not rehearsing it enough, but there's lots of veiled communications about two points: one, John should not get in with the Watchers, as he should never be in a position to choose between them and his family. two, Don't go out at night, don't investigate what's going on and if anything happens, tell daddy because Daddy will handle it. Or else.

The other three guys meet a cheerful shepherd and his barking dog, who knocks Eddie off his horse. I put on my cloth cap and fuck up the accent and introduce them to Old Joshua, friendly old shepherd oh-ar young masters I means no harm do come up to moi cottedge if that thar rain comes in, and mind the stray dogs they be ettin moi sheep.

Our crew ride on to the top of the hill, and wait for John. Lord Talbot tells John never to question his judgement again. John rides off very angrily, and gets a DP from me as he falls off his horse and falls unconscious. Meanwhile, the others are getting rained on, so decide to head for Joshua's hut. They arrive to find something very wrong indeed....

SteveD

07-27-2003, 08:14 AM

The gang peek in the new hole in the wall. Nobody home. Things broken. Sticky red stuff on walls, floor, roof, and half of Old Joshua in a sloppy pile. Eddie fails his fear roll and runs away blindly. Eirion, shining now he's back in the country, gallops after him easily and yanks him onto his horse and rides back. Eddie and Tom gibber about whether they should get weapons, or hide, and decide to do both! They go off home to do so, despite the sleet. Eirion pursues the tracks through the muddy moors into the forest, hears crashing and rustling and then out bursts...a dishevelled and confused John.

The two guys ride back to the house to find Eddie madly pulling the morning-stars out of the weapons displays and Tom fetching his massive fucking sword (he takes it everywhere). John comes back in and calmly tells them that there's nothing to worry about. Father will take care of everything. Yes he will because (very very slowly building into a crazed rant) he does that see because we live in a perfect world where father can take care of everything and there are no monsters and we just pretend that everything is normal but life isn't like that SO LET'S GET OUT THERE!

And Lord Talbot walks in. And says....very softly but irrevocably....no let's not. He tells John that outsiders should leave this alone. It's a family problem, it will be dealt with by him, personally, and nobody else will be involved. Or else. John tries to explain that his friends are both sympathetic and highly qualified warriors of the occult (behind John, back in the library, our gang are dropping their swords, hurting their wrists and otherwise being hilariously incompetent). Lord Talbot is unmoved - it's family business. But if you MUST help...go and talk to Andrew, the crazy man in the village. He seems to know something about some crazy legend about a beast.

Fobbed off and simmering with rage, John tells everyone that they're not going to kick ass, but rather going to have a delightful lunch and then go into the village. There, they meet Andrew and steve goes into method-acting madness. Shouting loudy that thees bloody sootherners gorn all soft don neeeed nowt education from nowt fancy schools git it all owt here right oh ar yes sir, we know the legen of the bastie, the chetwynd ghost, the curse of these here parts for a thoosand years! A curse on the family, always killed but always returning, dooomin the family to endless strife and killin all us good country folk and all becos you rich toff basteerds are worshipping satan and your mothers a whorebitch of the devil damn y' all to hell and back y' Talbot deemons!

Lots of waving his stick and frothing at the mouth. John wanted to hit him. Eddie offered to do it for him. But they just went home instead.

SteveD

07-27-2003, 08:34 AM

More, Steve, more! But I so tired....

The gang have a very....TENSE...dinner with pater. John's mother puts a brave face on it, but Eddie insists on calling Lord Talbot a coward right to his face. Lord Talbot brushes it off with disdain for such ungentlemanly behaviour at dinner. Tom and Eirion are still trying to work out which knife to eat their peas with, and also what is going on.

After dinner, the gang decide they can't wait around. But before they go out, they decide to give each other their gifts. It was very nice, the gang bought really well.

John gave Eirion a suit, Eddie a brand new sword, and Tom a cricket set.

Eddie gave John a lifelong membership to Lords, Eirion an authentic 19th century Welsh Farmer's Dinner Set, and Tom fencing lessons for six months with an olympic trainer (resources 5, baby).

Tom gave Eirion a Louisville slugger, John a baseball cap, and Eddie an anthology of Edgar Allan Poe.

Eirion gave John a massive box of shaving cream bottles (see 1.1 Faith, Hope and Charity), Eddie The Wicker Man on DVD, and Tom a scabbard, custom-made for his amazing unworldly scimitar.

continuity, character spotting, bonding...it was beautiful stuff.

Then the gang split up to search the house for secret passages, this being England, after all. First, they crept in behind the grandfather clock and heard Lord talbot telling his wife that it had become too risky, that John had to be kept away at all costs, he must not be exposed, and the beast had to be stopped, so he would be going out tonight. After a few great gags in the darkness (Tom? No, that's John. I'm Tom. Are you touching my leg? No. Then it must be a rat. Is that you Tom? Stop touching me! Ow! What was that? etc etc etc) the gang went back to searching.

Tom tried every nob he could, finally giving up, stepping backwards and rotating around the fireplace. And Eddie, lost in the wine cellars, fell down a trapdoor.

Tom finds himself in a weapons room, where both blades and bullets are all made of jade. A book details the hunting of the Beast since 1718, tracking areas and its weaknesses (jade being its bane). Eddie finds a long stone passage way, out to the old 12th century tower...where there's a prison, and manacles torn from the wall and smashed. Whatever was here climbed up the tower, out the top, and got away. Eirion and John see Lord Talbot head out, then meet Tom in the weapons room. They load up for bear, and discover that all the attacks over the years are all centred around the castle - and almost all the victims were family members. Something is Definitely Up.

They leave the secret room to be confronted by Jamison. He tells them he is under strict instructions not to let them leave, but well...it being Christmas bonus season, he could be encouraged to trip over, hit his head on John's fist and be soundly restrained by that curtain rope there sir. Yes, the rabbit goes around twice and through...very good sir.

And the hunt is on!

Daydreamweaver

07-27-2003, 08:36 AM

more please!

SteveD

07-27-2003, 09:30 AM

yes, yes....

The boys saddle up and ride off through the sleet...which soon becomes snow. They track Lord Talbot over the moors and into the forest, and hear the Beast very close by. Following its sounds, they find not it, but a nest of some sort. Strangely enough, there's a teddy bear in it. Dirty, slimy, but definitely John's old friend Trevor. And John has some flash of a very, very old memory....and then something comes out of the bushes...

And it's Lord Talbot, gun aimed at his son. He confesses what they are beginning to guess: the Beast is not a demon punishing his family for past deals, but his Son, cursed by the family's blood-taint from a thousand years ago. Many others had been killed at birth, but Lady Talbot was kind-hearted, thought there was more than beast in him, and so he was allowed to live, but soon only the cell would hold him, and now, not even that. So it was time to end it, to kill it before it hurt anybody else. He was STILL pointing the gun at John who finally looked at his father and said "Why do you keep calling him 'it'?"

And then John ran off into the woods. And then there was a scream - a woman's scream. Lady Talbot. And there's much running.

John hits the house first, bursting with preternatual adrenaline. He finds his mother gone, and sees the beast hauling her across the rooftops to the great Norman tower. (see the giant "porcupine-ape-dog" as Tom called it here:http://mywebpages.comcast.net/chris_clouser/demon3_pencils.gif) He gives chase, leaping across to save his mother. But the demon hits him for 40 points of damage in two hits (Steve remembers that the game is calibrated for Slayers...), and John falls over, bleeding badly. Angry at this, angry at his father, angry at the world, and desperate to stop all this, he spends a point of Righteous Fury. Just like I wanted him too.

And he changes.

By the time the other three have climbed the tower from the inside, there are two identical beasties fighting to the death. In super slowmo (and with heaps of Hulk references and jokes), the two pound on each other for some titanic damage totals. Tom leaps across to the hall roof to stop Lord Talbot from firing his jade-bullet gun into the fray. John scratches it, but it pounds John's face in return. Eddie shoots it (randomly guessing which one) and it recoils, John replies with a crushing right to the face. But it comes back with a bearhug, crushing John's ribs one by one, but John breaks free, headbutting it in the face. It flies back and Eirion shoots it in the neck. John presses on, grappling it, and forcing it into a sleeper hold. It struggles like a titan, but to no avail. It falls into unconciousness...and falls off the tower.

Eddie meanwhile grabs a jade-bladed sword and moves in on "John". But Tom puts a tender hand on John's shoulder and John....changes. In human form, he's at -8 hit points and falls unconcious. Eddie, who believes the only good monster is a dead monster, packs his bag and leaves that night. John's father has a small nervous breakdown and locks himself in his rooms. Lady Talbot is in bedrest for shock. So only Tom and Eirion are the only ones there to greet John when he awakes on Christmas morning. Tom says he stopped his dad from shooting him because John didn't choose to be a monster, just like he didn't choose to become a watcher, and Charity didn't choose to be a Slayer, or Eirion didn't choose his parents. We don't get to choose who we are, so it's not something we should be punished for.

John nods, and remembers that Pru offered them to join her in her flat in London if their plans didn't work out. He tells the guys to get their things, cos they can be in London by the afternoon. "I think," says John, "we should spend Christmas with .... family"

Executive Producer: Steve "Very Tired" Darlington. Roll credits. Play Pulp's Common People. Grr Arg! Zombie is wearing a christmas hat.

Wooster

07-27-2003, 09:48 AM

I would like you to know that you are The Man, and my hero, in case you forgot.

Hell, I'm not into Buffy at all, but you've almost won me over now. Perhaps I will have to take another look after all.

SteveD

07-27-2003, 09:53 AM

I wonder how bad games are out there, if these are really that special. I mean, I know the low end of the scale, but are these really that far above average?

But thank you.

(EDIT: that wasn't false modesty, I was actually curious)

I forgot to say that, after they got John to a doctor and bandaged his broken face and ribs and stopped the bleeding, they went back (or so we heard from Tom) to the bottom of the tower, and the beast....was gone.

Maybe, there'll be a howl again over the northern moors tonight. But maybe now, though still rife with pain and rage and frustration, the howl will no longer have a strain of loneliness.

Steve

Wooster

07-27-2003, 10:04 AM

I don't know if your plot's that special, really, but you write it up well, and some of the twists and turns of the family angle and the "(more or less)regular joes caught up in grisly goings-on" angle makes the game sound more interesting than I have previously thought.

In other words: You are giving Buffy a face I can relate to.

I might have gotten it from watching the show, but instead, I get it from you. So there. :)

(Although, I might take a look at the show, too. I expect the girls to be cuter, but the action to be slightly less game-friendly.)

SteveD

07-27-2003, 10:14 AM

Hey, our female cast isn't in the show as much, but we have the hotties DOWN. A young Emma Thompson, Gabrielle Anwar, Fay Masterston, Naomi Watts, Dervla Kirwan....it's hottie central on The Night Watch.

The only real difference from my show to Buffy is my show has much less butt kicking (cos they can't take much damage) and my players have to stay together more. Also, it's harder in an RPG to have encounters that don't do much more but keep the episode going. Players in RPGs tend to want to finish conflicts right now, not leave things unsaid or undone, and most of all, never start a combat they don't intend to finish.

I'm currently thinking about my first big bad, and I'm not sure how to keep him from being attacked without resorting to contrivance or railroading.

Anyway, I'm glad you dig my show. It is a highly flexible concept, yet remains perfect for gaming, whatever you do with it.

Steve

EvilBrennan

07-27-2003, 12:18 PM

Steve: Lot's of minions to hide behind.

And also, I love it.
It makes me wish I put more detail into my season write ups.

...Which I will be writing up before next episode so you can all be in as much anticipation as I am for it...

Fresh Ninja

07-27-2003, 02:33 PM

When reading about the father I immediately thought of the old guy in the castle from _The Last Unicorn_. In the German dub, he has a very distinct voice, and I heard this voice throughout the passages detailing the father's actions.

Craig Oxbrow

07-27-2003, 03:41 PM

Keenness. :D

Jian

07-27-2003, 05:20 PM

Great work, Steve. And all your players too. Lots of congrats, first time I've ever felt really jealous of another game.

Can I just ask a few things though? It's set in Magdalene College, Oxford, right? Umm, as far as I know, Oxford is pretty similar to Cambridge as universities go. So there is no Head Boy of a College, societies are generally run by the university rather than the college (well, colleges do run their own clubs like drama and so on but debating and what have you tends to need a larger forum) and you can't have a fat bugger row, because rowing is all about strength-to-weight ratio, so rowers are tall and lean. And you don't have classes, because everyone goes to lectures, which are for the entire university, though you get small tutor groups and such.

Totally unimportant points I know. I withdraw in shame, and if I've got the wrong end of the stick I heartily apologise.

Jody Macgregor

07-27-2003, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by SteveD
Not the first thread. The SECOND thread.
Does this mean we're into the second set of DVDs?
John has to talk to his father. Steve kinda stuffs this up, not rehearsing it enough, but there's lots of veiled communications about two points: one, John should not get in with the Watchers, as he should never be in a position to choose between them and his family. two, Don't go out at night, don't investigate what's going on and if anything happens, tell daddy because Daddy will handle it. Or else.
Don't be so hard on yourself Steve, I don't think you stuffed this up at all. The veiled threat "Don't go out there, I might accidentally shoot you," was great.

SteveD

07-27-2003, 07:25 PM

Can I just ask a few things though? It's set in Magdalene College, Oxford, right? Umm, as far as I know, Oxford is pretty similar to Cambridge as universities go. So there is no Head Boy of a College, societies are generally run by the university rather than the college (well, colleges do run their own clubs like drama and so on but debating and what have you tends to need a larger forum) and you can't have a fat bugger row, because rowing is all about strength-to-weight ratio, so rowers are tall and lean. And you don't have classes, because everyone goes to lectures, which are for the entire university, though you get small tutor groups and such.

1. We know there isn't any real sort of Head Boy but we needed such a character so we invented such a position. Ducky's position, however, is mostly informal anyway.

2. Depends on the soc, but of course they do play cricket against other colleges. Likewise they fraternise with other colleges in other socs, but it hasn't come up yet.

2a Yes we know cricket doesn't run through the winter term, but this is a TV show, and logic be damned. My players wanted cricket, I gave them cricket.

3. Good point, I did miss that. He'd be in charge of rugger then. Actually, Hall-Brown hasn't become a major NPC, or even a minor one, so it matters not. As explained elsewhere, I collected pictures of everyone in the show so the players wouldn't know who was a major or who was a minor PC. As the series has progressed, the role of Hall-Brown has adequately been filled by Ducky, so HB has been cut.

4. Yus, we know they don't have classes. When I say that, I'm usually referring to tutorials - the gang goes off to meet their respective individual dons, and then comes back an hour later groaning. Sometimes, they go in pairs when they're doing the same subjects, and they all have their class together with Pru for Medieval History. However, not all lectures are for the entire university, or even the entire college. Guest lecturers, special presentations and important topical elements are often given to say, those studying the classics, or medieval history.

Cheers,
Steve

SteveD

07-27-2003, 07:27 PM

Does this mean we're into the second set of DVDs?

That depends on how many episodes are left to come, which I'm not sure about yet.

The veiled threat "Don't go out there, I might accidentally shoot you," was great.

Ah, goodo. Did you get the other meaning of that, too?

Jody Macgregor

07-27-2003, 07:31 PM

Originally posted by SteveD
Ah, goodo. Did you get the other meaning of that, too?
Yeah. Niiice one.

dalziel_86

07-27-2003, 08:06 PM

Top 5 Sources Referred To In This Episode:
1. The Incredible Hulk ("JOHN SMASH!")

2. The Hound of the Baskervilles ("A hound! An enormous hound!")

3. Scooby-Do (Obligatory hiding-in-suits-of-armour and finding secret passages in the spoooooky house)

4. The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe ("Where is this fantasy world? At the back of the closet?")

5. Cluedo (Clue, to you Merkins) ("I know one secret passage leads from the conservatory to the kitchen, but where does the other one go?")

Jody Macgregor

07-27-2003, 08:52 PM

Originally posted by dalziel_86
Top 5 Sources Referred To In This Episode:
I was tempted to bring up Hamlet since the pictures Steve showed us for reference were of Blenheim, where the Branagh version was filmed. It just didn't seem in-character though.

"What's that noise outside?"
"It's either the wind on the moors or Hamlet's dad."

"Check behind the mirrors. There's always a secret door there."

dalziel_86

07-27-2003, 09:11 PM

Originally posted by Jody Macgregor
"Check behind the mirrors. There's always a secret door there."
We did find the eye-holes behind the pictures though...

SteveD

07-27-2003, 09:16 PM

One thing I do love about Buffy is that because it's a TV show, it encourages players to act like there's an overarching story above it all, and that those rules are what's important. Without a strong simulation like that, it's often too easy to fall into, well, simulation, which is not how I like to GM. But also, it helps heaps that my players are naturals at this. I really like that they're writing a show with everything they do.

By the way, I complete forgot secret passageways when designing this adventure. The weapons room I made up on the spot. Just so you know you can control plot elements as you wish.

Steve

dalziel_86

07-27-2003, 09:44 PM

Originally posted by SteveD
One thing I do love about Buffy is that because it's a TV show, it encourages players to act like there's an overarching story above it all, and that those rules are what's important. Without a strong simulation like that, it's often too easy to fall into, well, simulation, which is not how I like to GM. But also, it helps heaps that my players are naturals at this. I really like that they're writing a show with everything they do.
This is one of the things I've really liked about the campaign so far. The game mechanics, and the style of play we've got, really help to simulate events like those in the TV series.

I really liked doing the angsty denoument scene, since I got to add some character development for Tom into what was mainly a John and Eddie episode. Plus, it built on the discussion John and I had about Charity in an earlier episode (don't know if that made it into the summary though).

By the way, I complete forgot secret passageways when designing this adventure. The weapons room I made up on the spot. Just so you know you can control plot elements as you wish.
For those playing along at home, most of our plot elements so far seem to have been made up after play started. Eddie's homosexuality, a lot of the stuff about Eirion's upbringing, Tom's angsting about the fact that people don't choose to be what they are, John's role as the comic relief character (Colin took the 'Clown' drawback after the first or second session. It wan't his original concept for the character, as I understand it)... All of that happened after we began to play.

Burgonet

07-27-2003, 09:46 PM

I'm going out for the afternoon to run some errands, but just thought I'd pop by to state:

Destroy all Monsters! All Monsters MUST DIE!!!

Thank you. I'll be in my trailer...

:)

(Eddie and John were best friends. That was just before Eddie found out that his 'best' friend was in fact an evil, shepherd killing demon. I suspect their character dynamic has changed forever. Well, it has. Colin and I are in agreement - character conflict in game will be a lot of fun. The fact that Eddie, as a human and as a member of a discriminated group, is himself a bigot when it comes to monsters, is icing on the cake. And, how I suspect it might work in the Wheadonverse.)

I'm hoping for a direct exploration of character dynamic between the four lads next episode. Have the rules changed, now that 'one of their own' is playing for the other team? How will the Watcher's Council react? Will the possible death of Eddie's father (who could very well die on Christmas day, which is where Eddie spent his time Steve, email to come this evening..), will Eddie become the very thing he originally sought to escape, to not be?

All will be revealed, same bat-time, same bat-channel!

SteveD

07-27-2003, 10:35 PM

his 'best' friend was in fact an evil, shepherd killing demon.

shepherd killing?

Can you prove that?

- looking mysterious D

colbabe

07-28-2003, 12:28 AM

Yeah, exactly. No blood on the collar here. John was face down in a ditch after vaulting off the horse while all that stuff with Joshua happened.

SteveD

07-28-2003, 12:40 AM

Sure now? You did lose an hour or so there...

dalziel_86

07-28-2003, 01:02 AM

Tom: Well something killed Joshua, during that period John can't remember... Not that that makes it his fault though.

colbabe

07-28-2003, 01:09 AM

There's a simple way to solve this you know. One question:

When John came crashing back through the woods, was we wearing nothing but purple pants?

No, he wasn't. I rest my case.

dalziel_86

07-28-2003, 01:27 AM

Well, Eirion was the only witness... and he grew up in Wales, so Lord knows what he'd notice as strange. :D

SteveD

07-28-2003, 01:38 AM

Before I forget, I must record our OOC nod to CS Lewis, as Eddie wonders what would happen if the four PCs ended up in Narnia. There they are, riding the Dawn Treader, and Eddie happens to mention that he's gay....

Aslan: Ah, okay. Anyway, children, cling to my fur....wait. What the fuck did you just say?

(and Aslan devours Eddie)

It's not really a gag, it's just a superb image to have in your head.

Burgonet

07-28-2003, 03:28 AM

Originally posted by colbabe
There's a simple way to solve this you know. One question:

When John came crashing back through the woods, was we wearing nothing but purple pants?

No, he wasn't. I rest my case.

Now, OUT of character... sure, we all know you're not guilty.

But, bear in mind Eddie's sense of betrayal. He initially felt that he'd failed John when John was inadverently sucked into this dark world of the supernatural. Now, learning that you are not only a part time monster, but related to Eddie by BLOOD (!), and given that the shepherd was MOST LIKELY killed by your 'older brother' (its a good guess) and in turn, your monstrous form looked very similar to your brother's....

A = B ; B = C; ergo A = C.

Sure, its not impecable logic... but given Eddie's emotional state, familial tradition in good (human) versus evil (monster), the situation involving a former mother... it all adds up to emotional turmoil. And rather than, rationally, sitting down and deciding on accepting John's condition... Eddie's feeling very betrayed, surprised and in shock. After all, John is family.

Out of character of course, more than happy with everything so far. The group is clicking nicely, the story arc seems to be coming along well... I am just looking forward to a future episode where we explore Eirion and Tom's background.

Then it'll be your turn! :D

dalziel_86

07-28-2003, 07:01 PM

Originally posted by SALette
Out of character of course, more than happy with everything so far. The group is clicking nicely, the story arc seems to be coming along well... I am just looking forward to a future episode where we explore Eirion and Tom's background.

Then it'll be your turn! :D
Cool. We can have the Innsmouth-esque New England episode, and the Severn Valley-esque episode set in Wales. Mmm, enough tasty Lovecraft and Campbell for everyone...

Burgonet

07-29-2003, 01:42 AM

Originally posted by dalziel_86
Cool. We can have the Innsmouth-esque New England episode, and the Severn Valley-esque episode set in Wales. Mmm, enough tasty Lovecraft and Campbell for everyone...

Sounds good. Will also be interested to see Tom and Eiron shine more next episode as well... I'm getting BURNINATED in the spotlight as is!

:)

So, we got the speech from Tom last episode. Will you be sticking to your guns? And why was Eiron so silent in all of this?

And .. oh... expect to see Eddie watching a video next episode.

SteveD

07-29-2003, 01:46 AM

Tom's plot points are....developing, even if he doesn't know it yet. Second series will focus on him.

Eirion is a trickier one; he's got a Kira-in-DS9 background, in that everything happened in the past. So his plots all have to be "aha! I'm from your past!". But I'm working on it. Eirion's ward is currently Down Under, so....

expect to see Eddie watching a video next episode.

Hmm. Must rip off the Ring sometime. Except in true Buffy style, it would be an XBox game. Find the bonus level, and die in seven days.

Steve

thePill

07-29-2003, 04:48 AM

I just wanted to bump this and say that I've really enjoyed reading your Buffy game, especially since I'm not playing it and nobody around here is running a game.

Craig Oxbrow

07-29-2003, 07:59 AM

Originally posted by SteveD
Tom's plot points are....developing, even if he doesn't know it yet. Second series will focus on him.

Well, there's that whole dealy with the inexplicable sword and all.

Season Two? righto.

Jody Macgregor

07-29-2003, 08:39 PM

Originally posted by SALette
And why was Eiron so silent in all of this?

Because he wasn't there. He was in the trunk of Eddie's car.

Somebody's got to stop you from going off and doing something crazy.

SteveD

07-29-2003, 08:41 PM

Because he wasn't there. He was in the trunk of Eddie's car.

See? My players rock.

God, I'm not sure about series 2. Series 1 is killing me....

But yes, the sword has a story but it will be told later. When it's too late. :)

Steve

Jody Macgregor

07-29-2003, 08:49 PM

Originally posted by SteveD
See? My players rock.
Phew. I was afraid I might be throwing a big annoying spanner in the works and I'd have to bribe you to allow it. Bribe you again, I mean.

Expect an email about my devious plans.

SteveD

07-29-2003, 08:53 PM

Yes, PLEASE tell me about your devious plans.

I'm trying to juggle some massive player story-writing here, and I have a plot to run which is VERY kewl but has to not cause conflict with what you're doing.

I tell you whut: I'll set this ep up so it can either be a two parter, or has a very simple plot. That way, we can spend the first half of the episode dealing with character stuff, and then leap into the plot and sort it all out before the credits roll.

Steve

colbabe

07-29-2003, 10:02 PM

Hey, I don't mind the "TO BE CONTINUED" thang. I prefer intricate plots to simple ones. But do what thou wilt; I know you're on Buffy Writing Island for an extended stay, but it can't be all coconuts and Mary-Anne.

Ow, I think I just split my brain open with mixed metaphor. Band-aid anyone?

SteveD

07-29-2003, 10:05 PM

I have no idea what you're talking about, but it sounds saucy.

Burgonet

08-01-2003, 11:18 PM

Originally posted by Jody Macgregor
Because he wasn't there. He was in the trunk of Eddie's car.

Somebody's got to stop you from going off and doing something crazy.

Okay, you've been in my trunk all week.

..

...

Just what are you living on in there? I did leave some goose pate and some crackers by accident in the emergency picnic basket. You know, the one you pack, just in case you decide to go for a drive into the country.

Oh, and about 1000 bottles of bubbly. That stuff is more important than water. Bravo!

:)

dalziel_86

08-02-2003, 07:56 PM

Originally posted by SALette
Just what are you living on in there? I did leave some goose pate and some crackers by accident in the emergency picnic basket. You know, the one you pack, just in case you decide to go for a drive into the country.
Or in case a bear steals your other one. Happens all the time in Jellystone...

Burgonet

08-03-2003, 06:41 AM

Originally posted by dalziel_86
Or in case a bear steals your other one. Happens all the time in Jellystone...

Hollering Hollyknockers, Harvey! It's a bear, dammit!

...

Go defend the bear, birdman.

:)

SteveD

08-03-2003, 08:42 AM

Oh god. I'm not sure I can write this one up. It was just too insane. But god it was funny.

Alright, we start on a moonlit moor. Eddie stands sword bloodied, as John in demon form howls with inhuman rage. They clash again, the massive claws coming down but Eddie is too fast, and stabs deep. John falls, howling a death cry. Eddie wipes the blood from his face, closes his cousin's eyelids and tells John it's all over now.

Mix to Eddie's face, daydreaming in the library. It was all a dream. Roll credits.

We're back at college in a long, bleak, dismal, suicidally grey January. Eddie has moved into new digs and isn't talking to John. The others are giving Eddie space, but John wants to make up. Sensing the low mood, Pru has got the boys reading her favourite childhood pulp novels, the stories of Colonel X. The Colonel is a librarian with a photographic memory who can do anything because he read a book on it once. He always wears a long black leather SS-style coat and black wide-brimmed preachers hat. The books, by Howard Bates, were great post-war pulp fun, as the Colonel foils nazis, conquers America and masters the stage.

Of course, it does little to lift their spirits. John's new room-mate is a French snob. Miranda likes Tom, Tom likes Susan, Susan wants to be friends. The only thing of interest is a field Watcher is coming to address them on the care and feeding of Slayers - a Slayer expert and Pru's nephew: Wesley Wyndham-Pryce.

Wesley explains to the boys a shit load of background and exposition - with slides. Firstly, he talks them through a bit about Slayers and the Cruciamentum (currently going on in California), and explains about the hellmouth. He then talks about the prophecies of the coming reckoning or apocalypse possibly coming in the next 25-50 years, at the latest. The prophecies talk about a time of two slayers, the rise of the angelic protector (the council doesn't know who that is) and the subsequent coming of the Final/Ultimate/Pinnacle Slayer, which divination spells indicate might be Charity. Hence she is important.

Hence, John is officially deputised as an Acting Watcher in Training, so that any and all actions he carries out in protecting the girl will be covered for and supported by the Council. John is very pleased. Eddie snaps a pencil in half.

Wesley goes on to say that although the shield is solid, until the girl is permanently placed with a host Watcher, she could be in danger as the word is clearly out. There are four threats identified: a slayer-killing vampire called Spike, the Vahrall demons who strive constantly to bring on the apocalypse (see Buffy 4.11 "Doomed"), The King of Pain, a vampire(?) magician who also hunts slayers, and a resurging Order of Golconda. The gang hits the books to research them, while Wesley moves among them, trying to rap with the young kids.

John tries to get Eddie to come to the White Horse that night and Eddie just grunts something about "I don't drink with monsters". The guys shuffle out to go drink on their own. Eddie stays behind and tells Wesley about John. Wesely explains that the Council is currently run by bleeding-heart liberals who don't consider all demons to be an enemy, but that can change. HE tells Eddie to prepare a detailed study of John so he can present the risks to his superiors. Eddie snaps and says all this paperwork is bullshit we should be fighting the real fight. Wesley tut-tuts and no doubt recommends Pru dock him some marks for conduct.

Meanwhile, in the pub, Tom and Eirion ignore the girls and read about Colonel X. John tries to get Susan to like Tom, but Susan is more interested in him. Then John asks them...about this friend of his, who is gay, and just came out of the closet and now doesn't like him any more. The girls decide John's talking about himself. Meanwhile, Eddie goes to his first gay club, and scores with some hot boddie.

Probably a commerical as John keeps yelling "IT'S NOT ME!"

SteveD

08-03-2003, 08:56 AM

You know, I can never read long game summaries, my eyes glaze over. So if people want me to cut these down, just ask, and I'll post shorter summaries here and longer ones on the website.

Anyhoo.

Eddie wakes up in a big pile of homosexuals(TM) and has to slip his partner out of the dorms before his roommate sees. Of course, everybody sees and rumours fly, as do those about John. John spends the next few scenes trying to reinforce his heteroness...while Eddie is ruthlessly deconstructing the Colonel X novels as full of subtle homosexual politics - much to Pru's dismay.

And much to my amusement. Not only were they being hilarious, their deconstruction was so perfectly apropros of modern trends. Pru's crying out that these books are beautiful innocent tales of adventure and Eddie's pointing out that all the women are crypto-masculine drag queens and the references to polishing the gun barrells, references to Oscar Wilde and firing the red-hot bullet deep into the stormtrooper's leather clad body is all very very clear subtext. And then John goes "Okay, what are some manly sports?"

Eventually, they get back to researching the four threats, digging up some interesting dirt Steve makes up off the top of his head. As Eddie is passing around a picture of the King of Pain, a figure waltzes into the room, picks up the book and says "Hmm, not really my good side." For it is the King himself. He smiles wide and sits down. He says he's businessman - he can give them waht they want, all he wants is the girl. The gang refuse to talk (but warn Pru to stay hidden in the stacks), so the King offers to flay their skin off them while they're still alive instead. Tom says no, that would not, not be a good...thing. The King smiles nd says he'll leave his calling card. Tom "Is that all?". The King says he likes to give people something to remember him by, and zaps Tom with Force Lightning.

Aat which point Pru leaps from the shelves and starts a magical duel with the King. The King knowing he needs some time blows the boys backwards into the stacks, creating a magical shield. The boys try to tear it down when Tom hears muttering behind them. He walks around the corner to see a man in a long leather SS coat and a black wide-brimmed hat. He says hello....and then advises Tom to hang onto something. And poof! There's a flash of green light, and when it fades, our boys have vanished.

And poof! They all fall to the ground in an open field, at night time. Bombs explode! Searchlights sweep the sky! And suddenly, a nazi soldier appears on the hill and shouts "HALTEN! VIE GEITS!"

Commercial.

SteveD

08-03-2003, 09:20 AM

Please excuse my cinematic German herein.

Before the sodlier can fire, he is knocked out from behind by a French peasant girl. She expects they are ze Britishers, friends of Colonel X, oui? They agree, and she herds them into a barn until Colonel X returns. They introduce themselves as Roger Pratts (Eddie, of course), Howard Bates, I've forgotten John's pulp name, and Tom was Bond, James Bond. They guessed she was with the resistance, she told them Colonel X had gone to fetch them and they should wait.

Colonel X soon arrived, and went into exposition mode. Once upon a time (in Colonel X Steals the Stage), his arch nemesis Professor Von Kronborg used defictionalising ray to make Iago real, and sicced him on the public. X foiled this, but later the Prof re-tooled his invention and defictionalised Colonel X himself! He ended up in a library and met a beautiful young girl called Pru. She used a spell to send him back, via Pride and Prejudice, wherein they were chased by the Professors goons, and only escaped with the help of Mr Darcy's brother, David.

John (fed line by me): Wait a minute, I've read Pride and Prejudice! Mr Darcy doesn't have a brother!

Colonel X: Well, no, he doesn't now. He was sadly defictionalised, taking a blast meant for me. I think he works in the college now.

My players dive for the NPC roster and realise I set this up at the beginning of the game - Professor Darcy teaches ancient languages.

Anyhoo, it now seemed that the Professor had some how got his Defictionaliser into occupied france, because just as he was about to foil his plan to create Robot Nazis, he was zapped back to the library. An emergency spell (left by Pru for just such an emergency) was quickly cast, but unfortunately brought the boys back instead of Colonel X's gang (One-eyed Anton, Rudi the Russian knife-thrower, Crouching Bear and of course Bucky, the brave Indian boy from a streetsweeper caste who is killed by the Nazis in Colonel X Holds the Line - the book the boys now seem to be in).

So, Colonel X apologises but he needs them to help him out - in order to save England - and the World. My players aware that they're being shamelessly railroaded don't complain but take the ball and run with it. Eddie immediately starts probing the Colonel's sexuality, which led to endless single entendres as everything he said sounded wrong....there were sticky situations, fighting for the Queen, brothers in arms etc. Colonel X says he'll call them at dawn and swishes off into the night.

The guys being confused was hilarious:
"How can we be in a book? What kind of person would write something about four schoolchildren fighting nazis?"
"Enid Blyton?"
".....okay, besides her"

John: "We've got to get some sleep in this hay. Preferably in the end where snoring can't be heard by passing nazis. I can't believe I just said that."

John again: "If we fail, our book will be stuck in the back of some second-hand bookshop in Chipping Sodbury"

Tom summed it up: "We're in Occupied France. It's 1942. We've travelled into a novel to fight nazi robots. It's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses"

More to come....

EvilBrennan

08-03-2003, 09:27 AM

God yes.
:D

SteveD

08-03-2003, 09:38 AM

"Oh my god I have a beret on my head"
- John needs a horror check

The guys get caught up in the madness. X explains the plan. With Michelle's help, they will put on costumes (Eddie, deciding he's gone mad, demands to go in drag) and blend in with the servants working the fields, then go back into the servants quarters that night. Colonel X will break into the radio tower down the road, and at midnight, cut the power, whereupon they can cross the moat, climb the walls and lower the drawbridge for X to join them. Then they simply have to kill the guards, find the Professor and stop his evil plan.

Easy.

Eddie: How do I look?
Michelle: Ah, you look just like my mama! (Eddie blushes) Mai oui, my mama was very ugly. (Eddie scowls)

Eirion: How do you say "ooh arr" in French?

They take to the field. Tom is the first to realise just how much power they have in this novel, when he spends a Drama Point to make "A few hours pass" and time actually speeds up. Around lunch time, help is needed with the Oberleiutenant's prize cow which is having trouble calving. Eirion's farm knowledge could save her, but he's nervous. John says he'll come along. Michelle says she cannot, it would be suspicious.

John: But I don't speak a word of French or German!
Eddie: Ah.....no, hang on....are you sure? Don't you remember that course you took?
Tom: Yes! You took that course! You _can_ speak French and German!
John: (spends DP) But...but....MERDE! MON DIEU! GOTT IN HIMMELL! Ich kiene Deutch gesprecken!

Eirion saves the calf and the cow and the Oberdude is grateful and invites them to dinner. Back working the field (and making lots of tool jokes) Tom seduces Michelle with his dashing Americn accent and rippling abs. Eddie explains that it's all some crazy dream.

Eddie: It's all in your head John. If it were in my head, there'd be a lot more man-sex.
GM: Every French peasant here has his shirt off.
Eddie: Ah. Maybe it IS in my head.

Eddie explains to Tom and Eirion about his sexuality:
Eddie: You see....I'm playing for the other team.
Eirion: What? You're playing against us?
Tom: You joined another college? After all the work we put in?

Eddie comes up with a way out:
"As the sun went down, Eddie realised the only way out of this insane predicament would be if some brave girl, reading this book in a tiny second-hand bookstore in Chipping Sodbury would SAY HIS NAME THREE TIMES, and he would be rescued....

(Eddie looks to the sky)

Hello?

HEELLLOOOO?

Long pan out. Everyone has left Eddie alone in the field. Cut to commercial.

SteveD

08-03-2003, 10:00 AM

Eirion gets a DP when he announces his frustration thusly:
"AMPERSAND HASH ASTERISK EXLAMATION MARK!"

John teaches Eirion how to survive dinner with a Nazi:

John: Ja is yes, Nein is no. When I blink like this, say Ja. When I blink like THIS, say Nein. Got it?
Eirion: Yeah. But what if they're speaking German?

Jody is the MASTER of deadpan. I wanted to give him so many DPs this week.

Those two go to dinner. John goes to the toilet and lowers a rope to Tom who scales it with surprising ease. While he's gone, Eirion gets hit on by the Oberleiutenant, but he just keeps saying Ja Nein Ja Nein while licking his plate, hoping they'll think he's retarded. Meanwhile, Eddie, still in drag, seduces the gate gaurds, then cold cocks them (and yet somehow, that phrase never came up). Tom spends a DP to send the Oberlieutenant to the toilet, where he knocks him out and puts on his uniform. He meets Eddie and goes after the prisoner that was just bought in. Eddie saw a glimpse of black leather coat and familiar boots - they have Colonel X!

Eddie and Tom charge downstairs using the Chewbacca Ploy, but fail to pull it off. They are made, and have their hands up in front of four guards with guns.
Tom: Okay, on three, ready?
Eddie: You mean on three, or after three?
Tom: ON three. It's always ON three. It's much faster. ONE...
Nazis: Turn and face the wall, Englischer schweinhund!
Tom: TWO....
Nazis: Time to die!
Tom and Eddie: THREE!

And they duck, and John and Eirion leap in, and shoot all the nazis dead. They grab guns, burst into the torture room, free Colonel X and race up the tower, killing nazis all the way. A few people are shot. At the top of the tower, they find the secret Castle Wolfenstein level behind the nazi wall hanging, where waits Professor Von Kromborg!

AND PROFESSOR VON KROMBORG!

And they are too late, because he/they activate the NAZI ROBOTS!

"Bzzt bzzt we are the superior race bzzt bzzt heil hitler bzzt click..."

And they kung fu fight! And although Eirion throws his down the stairs ("Bzzt...ich bin kaput..."), they can't fight their steel muscles: John gets slammed into the roof and Eddie thrown into some science instruments. One of these is a strange complexion of wires (DP) that make a great noise when strummed. Almost like a guitar. Colonel X sees the plan! If the music is at just the right frequency, the robots will be helpless! He whips out his radio, tunes into Radio Two, Eddie plays a power chord, Eirion starts tapping a beat on a broken robot and Tom picks up a radio microphone he just found.

Me: So what's the song? Surfing USA?
Eddie: No, Tutti Frutti
Me: Oh SHIT YES.

A wop bop aloopa, a wop bam BOOM! And on boom, all the robots explode!

X grapples with one Professor, the other runs to the corner, puts on his jetpack and flies away! Tom grabs the other jetpack and follows! John yells out "Tom! COME BACK! You're ONLY THE SIDEKICK!!!". And he is right, Tom blows his piloting roll, ploughs into the chateau wall and falls unconcious into the moat. Our crew run down and save him and realise that as a sidekick, he could die (a sidekick always dies in each book). His only chance is to be DEFICTIONALISED.

Luckily, X arrives with the ray. He wishes them well, thanks them for their help, and salutes them. And then KAPOW! They're gone!

Back in the library, the gang find they've only been gone five minutes. Pru is found beaten and bloody, but John manages to stablise her and get her concious. She says Pain could have killed her, but didn't. She asks them if they're okay. Eddie says "oh what a strange tale we have to tell..." and we close up on the books on the table. The copy of Colonel X Holds the Line now has four blurry figures in the background, waving. They look vaguley familiar.

Roll credits.

For more of Colonel X's heroic adventures, enjoy some of these titles!
Colonel X Holds the Line
Colonel X Beats them All
Colonel X Rides Again
Colonel X Steals the Stage
Colonel X Wins the Day
Colonel X Dominates the Darkies (er, that is Takes the Tiger)
Colonel X Rules the Roost
and many more...

Jody Macgregor

08-03-2003, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by SteveD
Jody is the MASTER of deadpan. I wanted to give him so many DPs this week.
Aw shucks. When the game started I was in monosyllable mode (sorry about that), but as soon as the pizza arrived I woke up and started doing stuff. I like to think I made up for it with the most disturbing imagery of the night not involving drag:

Eirion has just birthed a calf and is covered in afterbirth. The Oberlieutenant thanks him and John, who translates "He's invited us to eat with him."
Eirion looks down at the blood. "Not the placenta?"

Craig Oxbrow

08-03-2003, 05:56 PM

Twisted. In a good way, naturally.

Burgonet

08-03-2003, 07:03 PM

I'd just like to take a few moments to attribute the uncharacteristic campness of Eddie this session to two main sources:

i) 'Allo, 'Allo'.
ii) The tragic history that is the 'Carry On' films.

That is all. Much fun was had.

Unregistered Steve D

08-03-2003, 08:16 PM

Glad you enjoyed it. Forgot to mention that John and Eddie tried to discuss things while pretending to be peasants, but it didn't work.

I think next week or the week after we might indeed do a ball episode. Lots of social plots and stuff.

Steve

dalziel_86

08-03-2003, 09:07 PM

Originally posted by SteveD
Eddie and Tom charge downstairs using the Chewbacca Ploy, but fail to pull it off. They are made, and have their hands up in front of four guards with guns.
Tom: Okay, on three, ready?
Eddie: You mean on three, or after three?
Tom: ON three. It's always ON three. It's much faster. ONE...
Nazis: Turn and face the wall, Englischer schweinhund!
Tom: TWO....
Nazis: Time to die!
Tom and Eddie: THREE!

This was also a terrible Red vs. Blue (http://www.redvsblue.com/) reference that Scott decided to slip in, and I ran with.

Steve also left out the extensive discussion Tom and Eddie had, about how robots from the future are Austrian bodybuilders, but robots from the past are German bodybuilders.

He also left his best line for the evening:

SteveD: Take four points of placenta damage!

colbabe

08-04-2003, 12:38 AM

My pulp name was Frank Spencer (http://www.steve-p.org/sm/). Hey, my improv skills are getting rusty, OK? :D

I'd just like to mention here that I took full advantage of the slip in reality to defy the Buffy rules and spent 6 XP to grab an extra level of Languages without the months of study that have to go with it. That dinner with the Oberlieutenant was enough conversational German for the language to sink in somehow, a la Xander's military knowledge Wild Card. Yay!

Looking forward to the ball episode - I have to suffer for taking Tragic Love... Exactly which one of the beautiful Oxford ladies will find out John's secret and run panicked to her death as a result? ... Uh-oh. I hate inadvertently giving Steve story seeds...

And hey, I thought the "On three!" reference was from Lethal Weapon 2 (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0097733), wasn't it?

dalziel_86

08-04-2003, 01:03 AM

Originally posted by colbabe
And hey, I thought the "On three!" reference was from Lethal Weapon 2 (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0097733), wasn't it?
RvB could have gotten it from Lethal Weapon 2. I was thinking of RvB at the time.

Garry G

08-04-2003, 05:11 AM

Your game just keeps getting better and better. I just hope we have a tenth as much fun when I start my Buffy game.

Peter LaCara

08-04-2003, 07:38 AM

Originally posted by SteveD
You know, I can never read long game summaries, my eyes glaze over. So if people want me to cut these down, just ask, and I'll post shorter summaries here and longer ones on the website.
HELL. NO.

It only gets better, Steve. It only just keeps getting better.

Mortality

08-04-2003, 10:52 AM

Um...
How do you pronounce Eirion?

Cause the only way I can think sounds like it should be an alien race in Dr. Who.
(Dr. Who vs. the Eerie-ons, available now from Target)

dalziel_86

08-04-2003, 06:16 PM

Originally posted by Mortality
Um...
How do you pronounce Eirion?
It's supposed to be eye-ree-on, but a number of PCs and NPCs just call him Irene. That was Jody's idea. :)

SteveD

08-04-2003, 07:31 PM

HELL. NO.

Rightyo then. :)

Shadow Rat

08-04-2003, 08:04 PM

Originally posted by SteveD
You know, I can never read long game summaries, my eyes glaze over. So if people want me to cut these down, just ask, and I'll post shorter summaries here and longer ones on the website.

Would it be possible to make them longer?:D I for one realy enjoy reading these.

SteveD

08-04-2003, 08:06 PM

A crazy idea I had last night:

There are four of you guys, and at least four girls to get entangled with (Miranda, Fay, Susan and Rebecca), plus a few other guys. What would absolutely rock is if we managed to rope in four people to play the girls and ran a LARP session. Basically, you'd all be at the first Spring ball (so you could all dress up shiny, and we could play at a fancy restaurant) and you'd all decided to go "as a group". You know, so no pressure. Of course, this means that this ball is a battleground to decide who takes who to the NEXT ball, the one that matters. Someone has itching powder. Someone else has a spell book. Let the bitching and powerplays commence.

Failing this idea, I think I might try and rope in another player on a short term basis, or at the very least get (say) Eddie to play some of the girls. It's selling you guys a bit short otherwise, because I can't do all four girls justice.

As a GM, sometimes I think my eyes are bigger than my screen. But still, if we could pull it off, I think that first idea would rock.

Steve

SteveD

08-04-2003, 08:06 PM

Thanks, Shadowrat!

Craig Oxbrow

08-04-2003, 08:23 PM

Originally posted by SteveD
I think I might try and rope in another player on a short term basis...
I'd come, apart from the whole "other side of the planet" thing.

Now, Miranda needs something to wear. That means research. So off to look at pictures of Charlotte all dressed up purty.

For the game, of course...

SteveD

08-04-2003, 09:12 PM

Hmm...that gives me an idea...

BTW, those who enjoy these posts can find more interesting stuff on the mailing list, where we also welcome speculation about the show. Search yahoogroups for "brisrp".

colbabe

08-04-2003, 10:13 PM

Be warned that if you join brisrp, you will also be subjected to some game spoilers (we do some plot pre-planning in between games), plus boring details about when we're getting together, who can't make it this week, who's going to be late (it's mainly me who's the tardy one actually), what we're having for dinner, et cetera.

Garry G

08-05-2003, 05:02 AM

You should at least try going to the pub in character for an evening. I tried this years ago with a few games and it can work as long as everybody is into it. Great way to get everybody interacting. Is there any of those fake English pubs round your way? They are cack but they might help the atmosphere.

Of course the real reason I did it was that I fancied a few going for a few pints rather than GMing but it was a laugh.

SteveD

08-05-2003, 05:10 AM

Not a bad idea. I know one English pub/restaurant we could go to. It's almost as horrible as the Outback Steakhouse (www.outback.com) but at least it serves actually British dishes (like scrummy yorkshire pudding and toad in the hole...except nowhere near as good as the english stuff).

Hmm. How about a trip to the Pig and Whistle, gang?

Steve

colbabe

08-05-2003, 05:14 PM

Or we could go to one of the endless supply of Irish pubs around the place. At least that way we could be guaranteed of being able to get pint glasses. And quality beer.

Craig Oxbrow

08-05-2003, 06:41 PM

And Britain is full of pseudo-Irish pubs so that would fit perfectly...

SteveD

08-05-2003, 07:24 PM

Cool, as long as we go during the day. Those pubs are insanely full after work nights.

Garry G

08-05-2003, 07:32 PM

My work here is done.

colbabe

08-05-2003, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by SteveD
Cool, as long as we go during the day. Those pubs are insanely full after work nights.

Except that I have that pesky fulltime job.

Burgonet

08-08-2003, 08:01 PM

Originally posted by dalziel_86
RvB could have gotten it from Lethal Weapon 2. I was thinking of RvB at the time.

Definately Lethal Weapon 2. The scene involved a toilet.

...

So, yes, I found it funny.

:)

RCL

08-09-2003, 06:59 AM

Originally posted by SteveD
Hmm...that gives me an idea...

BTW, those who enjoy these posts can find more interesting stuff on the mailing list, where we also welcome speculation about the show. Search yahoogroups for "brisrp".

I enjoy these posts, but Bris RP scares me.

Craig Oxbrow

08-09-2003, 07:02 AM

Aaagh! Bunnies!

BethDragon

08-09-2003, 02:19 PM

Steve, you and your group rock so much! :) Love the updates and keep 'em long! I'd post summaries about Dan's Buffy game but I suck muchly at that. So I can just bask in reading your's.

If it were possible, I'd love to see your Eddie meet our Meph!

Oh, wait, Meph's half demon. *sigh* It's always _something_...

Can't wait for the next installment!

Beth

colbabe

08-10-2003, 03:24 AM

Originally posted by BethDragon
Oh, wait, Meph's half demon. *sigh* It's always _something_...

John's not alone in his pain! THANK GOD!

What sort of in-game mechanics does this Meph use for her/his half-demon-ness? Steve made mine a modified equivalent of the 6-point Werewolf advantage.

SteveD

08-10-2003, 04:32 AM

Some person's game has Tom Baker as their watcher and he's going to make a cameo at some point. I might also borrow some people from the Pittsburgh chronicles or Mickey the Vampire Slayer. So yes, we're always keen for cameos from other games.

Tell me of Meph.

Steve

Craig Oxbrow

08-10-2003, 05:10 AM

One of these decades I'll manage to get a game going, and when I do, Alfred Molina will play the Watcher, Michael Escher. He's a good guy (like Giles) but has a few secrets (like Giles) and a gruff demeanor (unlike Giles). He may also have a PC-age daughter, who isn't the Slayer before anyone asks. Or he may not, and if not then his late wife turns up as a ghost...

SteveD

08-10-2003, 05:49 AM

The thing I wanted to do with Pru is switch Giles around. He's the stern, emotionally distant father, but she's the ever-loving and protective mother. Giles is a stern disciplinarian with a dark heart of violence, Pru on the other hand has the warrior spirit on the surface, but has a ... gentler side underneath. Which the players have yet to really encounter.

Steve

Burgonet

08-10-2003, 07:24 AM

Originally posted by SteveD
The thing I wanted to do with Pru is switch Giles around. He's the stern, emotionally distant father, but she's the ever-loving and protective mother. Giles is a stern disciplinarian with a dark heart of violence, Pru on the other hand has the warrior spirit on the surface, but has a ... gentler side underneath. Which the players have yet to really encounter.

Steve

If Pru comes to the Oxford Alumni Gay Pride parade in series four, Eddie would be glad to call her mum.

:)

colbabe

08-11-2003, 07:08 AM

Originally posted by SALette
If Pru comes to the Oxford Alumni Gay Pride parade in series four...

Hardly. She was making out with Sean Connery in Ep 1.1. Remember, we walked in on the two of them in the Library?

SteveD

08-11-2003, 08:26 AM

Col - you forget PFLAG - Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays.

Burgonet

08-11-2003, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by SteveD
Col - you forget PFLAG - Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays.

That's exactly what I meant. Steve reads my mind, again.

..

Well, he did at least express the sentiment.

:)

Dan Davenport

08-11-2003, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by colbabe
John's not alone in his pain! THANK GOD!

What sort of in-game mechanics does this Meph use for her/his half-demon-ness? Steve made mine a modified equivalent of the 6-point Werewolf advantage.

Thus far, it's been all cosmetic. However, I'm going to try using the WitchCraft conversion in the back of The Magic Box to give him the Elemental Fire Invocation, and when Angel comes out, maybe he'll get a genuine demonic power or three.

colbabe

08-11-2003, 10:07 PM

Originally posted by SteveD
Col - you forget PFLAG - Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays.

Ooohhh! That isn't what he said! Ooohhh! -flicks hair, soap opera style- :rolleyes:

Burgonet

08-12-2003, 03:58 AM

Originally posted by colbabe
Ooohhh! That isn't what he said! Ooohhh! -flicks hair, soap opera style- :rolleyes:

Colin,

c'mon, based upon the lab coated scientitsts that stand around us while we game....

You must have worked out that Steve is Psychic.

:)

SteveD

08-12-2003, 10:30 AM

Okay. I have racked my brains and I think I've come up with an episode guide for the next six episodes. Yes, you cajoled me from eight up to twelve. Yes, I will be expecting monetary renumeration.

Anyway, although the course of gaming did never run smooth, here's some hints of what's to come. As this gets further on the titles and summaries are more and more approximate.

1.7 In Camera
Council members gather in Oxford for secret meetings to discuss recent events, and see just how well the new students are doing. But not all meetings will stay secret.

1.8 Cindarella Blues
The first ball of the spring season is upon us, and romance is in the air. And tears. And blood. Which is so hard to get out of chiffon.

1.9 Oxford Circus
Our heroes go into the heart of madness itself, under the big top. Ray Bradbury sues us for everything we own.

1.10 Sins of the Fathers
As dark clouds gather and consequences unravel, restless spirits demand reparation - and revenge.

1.11 Press Ganged
Dark forces rise against our crew, and danger presses in from all directions.

1.12 The End of the Affair
Blood. Death. History. Loss. Sacrifice. Tea. Possibly even sandwiches.

Craig Oxbrow

08-12-2003, 11:58 AM

Any adventure synopsis which includes the possibility of legal action by Ray Bradbury is a good one.

BethDragon

08-12-2003, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by colbabe
John's not alone in his pain! THANK GOD!

What sort of in-game mechanics does this Meph use for her/his half-demon-ness? Steve made mine a modified equivalent of the 6-point Werewolf advantage.
Like Dan said, Meph's demon-ness is more cosmetic. Also he's a major mojo flinger (Voted mostly to go Darth Rosenburg out of the group!). We haven't been informed yet of what type of demon Meph's mum is but she does occasionally eat people. And Meph's waiting to Ascend before 25 or so...

Originally posted by SteveD
Tell me of Meph.
I'll put his stats at the end of the post. :)

From my summary of our Cassverse over in the "What's going on in _your_ Buffy-verse" thread (here (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=63440&perpage=&pagenumber=2) ):

Mephistopheles Faust - Goth British gay half-demon Satanist. Mum's a demon. Best friend is Alli. Likes jocks with cute arses.

From the info gathered so far, Meph's 17, and has recently moved to the States/Sunnydale since the death of his human father. He became best friends with Alli and moons over cute jocks. He keeps his demon appearance under wraps..literally. Unless going out in something tight or sparring with Cass our Slayer, Meph hides his yellow eyes behind green contacts, his dark cherry red hair under a hair dye job, his pointed ears under his hair, and his tail wrapped around his waist under his usually bulky shirts.

He boxes but gets beat up often due to the fact that he's openly gay, and a practicing Satanist (of the the-Devil-wants-you-to-have-a-good-time-and-occasionally-do-a-cool-ritual type as opposed to the take-the-kids-into-the-secret-basement-rape-them-get-the-girls-pregnant-and-sacrifice-the-resulting-babies type). He wears pentagram jewelery, draws devil heads on his folder, all that kind of thing, and tends to mouth off to all the wrong people. On top of that, being an seventeen year old male, he tends to stare at what he considers attractive members of the same sex, which often include jocks of all stripes.

He's tons of fun, very sweet, with a liking to read, as he would put it, trouser rippers. He's also fallen in love with his best friend, who is in love with the Slayer. Meph figures that there is no way in heaven that he will ever tell Cass about his background because he thinks she'd slay him. Or his mum. He also has fun twitting our Watcher at times, though she's already erked because he has a better Occult Library than her.

Name: Mephistopheles Faust
Character Type: Hero
Drama Points: 10
Life Points: 34

Attributes
Strength 3
Dexterity 2
Constitution 2
Intelligence 5
Perception 4
Willpower 6

Qualities
Occult Library: Impressive (3)
Sorcery 5 (25)

Drawbacks
Secret: Half-demon -4
Minority: Gay -1
Teenager -2
Misfit -2
Addiction: Cigarettes -1

Skills
Driving 2
Knowledge 5
Kung Fu 2
Languages 3
Notice 3
Occultism 5

Appearance: Meph is fairly short, but well-built, as he lifts weights, though he is not bulky. He has very long fiery red hair, darker roots showing if one looks _very_ closely, and he always wears his hair down, often in his face. He is not conventionally handsome, having rather sharp features and a large nose, though his teeth look suspiciously good for being a product of the English dental care system, and are probably caps. He has a prediliction towards tight or tailored pants, bulky sweaters or tops that hang halfway down his thighs, and prerequisite Doc Martens painted with occult symbols. His arms are heavily tattooed with swirling abstract patterns cut in with more occult symbols in red and black, mostly.

Massive thanks to Gwyn, who plays Meph, for all the info!!!

Beth