[Spielbericht] Judas Prokaryot

Der dritte Spielbericht, den ich für Call of Cthulhu geschrieben habe beschäftigt sich ausnahmsweise mal mit einem frei verfügbaren Szenario. Ihr könnt es umsonst bei Cthulhus Ruf herunterladen:
http://www.cthulhu.de/abenteuer/
Eine etwas überarbeitete Version erschien auch in Ausgabe 21 der Cthuloiden Welten. Aber zum leiten reicht die Online-Version völlig aus.

Ich habe das Szenario vor einigen Jahren auf den Oldneburger Spieletagen zum ersten Mal geleitet, und es lief dort sehr gut. Ich musste es recht schnell durchziehen - ich hatte ja nur 5 Stunden für Abenteuer und Charakterausgestaltung zur Verfügung. Trotzdem lief alles glatt und die Spieler hatten riesigen Spaß am Abenteuer.

[Spielbericht] Das Geheimnis des Schwarzwaldhofs

Wieder ein sehr ausführlicher Spielbericht. Diesmal über das Call of Cthulhu Szenario "Das Geheimnis des Schwarzwaldhofs" aus dem Spielleiterhandbuch (2. und 3. Edition).

Das Szenario sollte auf keinen Fall mit "Nachts im Schwarzwald" verwechselt werden, einem Szenario aus dem 1. Edition SL Handbuch! Beide sind extrem unterschiedlich, und wo "Nachts im Schwarzwald" sehr viel railroaded, folgt "Das Geheimnis des Schwarzwaldhofs" mehr dem Sandkasten-Prinzip. Das war auch ganz gut so, denn meine Spieler/innen haben ziemlich viele Dinge getan, die ich nicht eingeplant hatte...

[Spielbericht] Der Gaukler von Jusa

Bereits vor einiegr Zeit leitete ich das Szenario "Der Gaukler von Jusa" aus dem Cthulhu Spielleiterhandbuchfür ein paar Freunde. So viel sei schon vorweg genommen:  Es lief sehr gut.

Es folgt ein (sehr) ausführlicher Spielbericht über den Ablauf des Szenarios in meiner Gruppe. Vielleicht kann ja der Eine oder Andere hilfreiche Tipps daraus ziehen...

Cthulhus Ruf #1 published

Ever since Pegasus decided to discontinue the "Cthuloide Welten" in Spring last year, there have been discussions about a possible follow-up magazine. Luckily, Pegasus supported the idea, and - even more luckily - the writers of the german Cthulhu blog Cthulhus Ruf took up the challenge. (Guys, you are the Greatest!)
End of last month, the wait was finally over.
Cthulhu's Ruf #1 was published.

And it looks absolutely brilliant.

 It's a fan-made, non-profit magazine. But the authors are the same people that already wrote for the Cthuloide Welten. Layout and editorial work though, are now in the responsibility of new people.

This issue presents three scenarios for the Call of Cthulhu RPG: one for Cthulhu NOW, one for the traditional 1920s setting, and one for the more pulp Cthulhu Pirates. (It should be noted here that the 1920s scenario is set in Germany and is meant as the starting point for a campaign that is going to be further developed in the magazins next issues.)

The issue also features a set of magazine articles:
- a biography of famous German film director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau (Nosferatu) which is rounded of by scenario ideas for the 1920s and NOW;
- a short review of China Mieville's works;
- an article about railroading in roleplaying adventures;
- an op-ed article on H.P. Lovecraft (literary figure or dime novel writer);
- Tips on how to use specific buildings as recurring settings within campaigns;
- a presentation of an universally usable NPC - complete with three possible backgrounds for him. (This brings back memories of TUO's Tales of Terror.)

The magazine is only available by mail order through the dedicated website:
http://www.cthulhus-ruf.de

PLEASE NOTE: If you are ordering the magazine from a European country other than Germany, you should get in contact with the responsible publishers by mail first. (Because the postage may vary.)

ALSO: I really shouldn't need to point this out (the cover should have given you the hint already), but here goes anyway: The magazine is written in German.

RPG Stuff 2012

First, let me say that I am horribly sorry for neglecting this blog for so long.

In my defence: I was really busy with coordinating and hosting our local creative writing group. (As anyone who checked my LiveJournal in the last month, will have noticed.) Actually, I have finished a first plot outline for my novel! How cool is that? I'm still astounded by that. Unfortunately it's exactly that: a first draft. And it has already become obvious that I'll have to rewrite the second act completely, but I'm not complaining. It's going forward and if I keep up with it, I'll probably finish writing the novel's first draft during this years Nanowrimo...

That said, I figured it was time to dive back into RPGing. I have only mastered a game once this year, and I feel that this lack of creative self-fulfilment is really bugging me. To be honest, I'm currently suffering of some kind of roleplaying withdrawal. I'm sure most long-time Gamers out there can relate...

So, here is what I am going to do:
Over the next weeks (and probably months) I will, little by little,  post those rpg related things that have accumulated on my desk and harddrive over the last year. Among these are: Summaries of the DWAiTaS Adventures I've already run with my gaming group (we are currently at episode 8 of 14), a small RPG System I created with a friend, recaps of game sessions (mostly regarding Call of Cthulhu), reviews of game books and other products. I have also started to sort through my notes on adventures I've written over the years and I'm planning to put them into proper written form. I plan to do so in German, but I'll still put summaries in English online (got to practise my English :-).

So, stay tuned for more posts soon.

Happy new year!

Ein fröhliches Neues an euch alle.

Was sagen eure Neujahrsvorsätze für 2012?
Ich habe mir vorgenommen, in diesem Jahr mehr und vor allem regelmäßiger zu schreiben.

Das ist einer der Gründe für eine grundlegende Veränderung in diesem Blog.

Ab jetzt werde ich mein LiveJournal ( http://tzuzuku.livejournal.com ) dazu benutzen, um meine Kurzgeschichten, Gedichte, und Fanfiction zu veröffnetlichen.
Damit bleibt dieser Blog hier dann außschließlich dem Rollenspiel vorbehalten.

Auf den ersten Blick mag das keine allzu große Veränderung sein. Immerhin habe ich bis dato ja ohnehin nicht so oft oder regelmäßig gepostet. Aber auch das soll sich ändern. :-)

Ich schwöre hiermit:
1) Vor und nach jedem Rollenspiel das ich leite hier im Blog zu posten (sei es mit Überlegungen, Abenteuerideen oder auch Spielberichten).
2) Auf LiveJournal nach und nach alle meine Texte zu veröffentlichen, die ich als fertig erachte. (Darunter auch eine Verschriftlichung unserer Doctor Who Kampagne!)

Also, ich hoffe, ihr bleibt uach trotz dieser Veränderungen treue Leser.
Und schaut gerne mal auf LiveJournal bei mir vorbei.

English readers, please, take note:  
All texts on my LiveJournal account will be in English, while this Blog will mostly switch to German. This is due to my roleplaying groups being all German speaking groups. If you are still inetrested in reading about our Dr. Who Campaign, please, check out my LiveJournal account, where I will be uploading an english language novelization of it starting next month.

See you all in 2012!

Unter den Türmen Lambertis - Rollenspiel im Oldenburg der Zwanziger Jahre

Ich überlege ja nun schon seit einger Zeit an einem RPG-Setting für Oldenburg zur Zeit von Großherzogtum und Freistaat (also ca für die Jahre 1850 bis 1918).

Im Rahmen dessen leitete ich am letzten Monat ein erstes Szenario. Und, um das vorneweg zu schießen, es lief sehr gut. Ich hatte zwei Spieler, einen erfahrenen Rollenspieler und eine absolute Neueinsteigerin. Auf meinen "Einsteiger-"Vorschlag hin, spielte die Anfängerin einen SC, dessen Persönlichkeit ihrer eigenen 180% entgegengesetzt war. Der erfahrene Spieler nahm sich selber sehr zurück, um ihr den Einstieg zu erleichtern, und so spielten sie dann:
- einen sehr starken, aber nicht so ganz kleveren, Fleischer
- dessen jüngeren, schüchternen Bruder (angehender Buchbinder).
Beide hatte sehr viel Spaß.

Das Abenteuer begann unscheinbar am Freitag Abend in der Kneipe, wo man den Geburtstag eines Freundes feierte. Auf dem Weg zurück nach Hause beobachteten die Beiden dann eine geheimnisvolle Gestalt die etwas großes vom Gertrudenkirchhof trug...

NaNo 2011

So, the newNano-Website launched yesterday - it brought home to me that (a) Nanowrimo is coming up fast, (b) After procrastinating for a whole year, I still have no idea on how to finish my novel, and (c) I had totally forgotten about my blog.  ^^;;;

I freely admit, I feel a little bit ashamed of that... Okay, perhaps a bit more than that. *sigh*

Thing is: I don't even have an excuse. So, here it is, somehow I had completely forgotten about the blog. But, I am more than ready to start fresh into this year's Nano (and hopefully to a more regular updating rythm here).

You can look forward to:
- an update on what exactly my Doctor Who RPG group has been up to,
- a report on how my preparations for Nanowrimo 2011 are coming along,
- and an extended talk about my newest RPG project (concerning a certain Gamebook I've been working on).

Again, I'm sorry for not updating for nearly half a year. *sweatdrop*
I hope you can forgive me.

See ya 'round soon.

Aliens and Creatures

It took a long time and the waiting nearly drove my insane, but now, it's finally over. This afternoon, my edition of the "Doctor Who RPG" - Supplement "Aliens & Creatures" arrived with the mail - at least! Yes! Strike!

I haven't really started reading yet, but I took a quick peak through the whole thing, and I am impressed. Honestly? I thought it would be a simple book, but instead I got a box as big as the basic RPG set. O.O
Including a book on the aforementioned "Aliens & Creatures" (sadly, again only covering the new series, but that was to be expected *sigh*), but also including a rather interesting looking Planet & Race Generator - Chapter. I'll really have to take a good look at that one - always love those random generators...
Aditionally, the box included two new adventures, some more story point counters, and new gadget cards. And... here is where it get's a bit weird/fannish/squeely... a big pack of cards each featuring a picture of and data for the different aliens mentioned in the book. I'm not sure what those cards might be for - except to look at them, I guess - but they certainly look good... Perhaps, I could use them during play in the sense of: "Look here. This is what the thing looks like."...

On the whole I am terribly excited about it. Even though it took nearly 3 month now to finally get the box. If the future publications will be anything like this, I am definitely looking forward to them. :-)

Nano report: Day 10

I made it! I made it!

*does a happy dance*

I actually broke the 25k benchmark today. *wohoo!*
That means I already have 50,4 per cent of the 50.000 words I am going to write. On the 10th!!! I'd never have thought I could manage that. 
Actually, I am standing at 25.181 words now, and chapter four is finally over, too. It was an outright battle again. Somehow, it just didn't wanted to come out. And, as usual, I am hoping that the next one will be easier. Of course, it probably won't but at least it will finally introduce my second main character, so that there will be a lot more interaction then.

Favourite quote from chapter 4: 
"You're a girl", she said surprised.

On a completely unrelated note, I have actually bought myself a hardback copy of the new Doctor Who RPG. I know, I said, that I was going to live happily with just the PDF version, but when Amazon told me that this was "last 1 in stock" I just couldn't stop myself. I swear they get me with that every time. *sigh*
So now, I am 50 bucks poorer again, but at least the game is looking just as cool in printed version as I thought it would. ;-)

Nano report: Day 1

Yesterday, I had quite a day. Not only did I work so much that both of my knees were hurting enough to turn me bedridden in the evening, I also started into Nanowrimo. More than that, I actually wrote the whole prologue of my novel. 2030 words on the whole. Not so bad, considering that I was ready to fall into my bed the moment I came home. ^^;;;

My favourite sentence in the prologue:
"He did not expect Death to come in rather sensible leather shoes."

But something else happened, too: I finally got my copy of the 1st book of the new "Beyond the Mountains of Madness" campagne for Call of Cthulhu. I'm proud to report, that this German version is much more than a mere translation. It seems to be a completely reworked and expanded campagne. Pegasus will publish the whole camapgne in three books - adding up to over 850 pages on the whole. I haven't started reading yet, as I fear that once I start, Nanowrimo will be forgotten. But as soon as I feel save (or fall into a writing depression) I'll give you a review of the book. Honestly, not even the second day of Nanowrimo has passed, and I'm already tempted to drop out... *sigh*

Doctor Who - Swafham Prior

Yesterday, we played episode 5 of our ongoing Doctor Who RPG campaign. "Swafham Prior" was something very special, as the players each had two different characters: Abby and Jordan from our usual campaign (2010) and two UNIT soldiers (Capt. Tom Stratton and Lt. Jeffrey Pearce) from 1973. The story of Abby and Jordan trying to find information on Abby's unknown father (Lt. Pearce) served as a frame for the actual adventure that Stratton and Pearce had in 1973 - it was losely based on the "fairy" episode of Torchwood and the novel "Who killed Kennedy". All in all, it was certainly an experience - albeit a bit taxing on the players (what with having two different characters to play).

The Abby and Jordan story was pretty much railroaded but it wouldn't really have worked otherwise, so everyone was okay with that. They basically just followed leads from one NPC to the next (Doris Lethbridge-Stewart -> widow of Maj. Sanders -> postman in Notting Hill -> Scotland Yard -> Capt. Jones of UNIT -> Birmingham). The episode ended with Birmingham asking them for help.

The next episode will be a lot easier again. I plan it to be pretty much a straight forward adventure. In the jungle. In Peru. Abby and Jordan will travel there undercover (as security specialists from UNIT), accompanied by Special Agent Ewan Barrett, to help Sir Alistair out with a serious problem - unfortunately they don't quite knoe what it is yet.

Episode 06 - "The Warkeeper's Oath" coming to you on Saturday, 30th.

Game report "Judas Prokaryot"

I have posted a report for the CoC adventure we played at the OST on the official Cthulhu-Board. It's in German but feel free to read it, whenever you like. Just follow the link below:
Spielbericht <Judas Prokaryot>

OST - Day Two

That was it. Yep. This years OST is now oficially over - and I had a lot of fun. It was really great to meet all those people again whom I hadn't seen in a while, and I also met some other awesome people whom I hadn't even known before.

Today, I was game master in a quite inspired round of Doctor Who - inspired mostly because of the players way to dealing with the threat... they stood around a big crystal, held each others hands, and hummed - Aummmmmmmm! It was such a funny and strange solution I just had to agree that it would work. ;-)
Also, I feel that I've actually got a few more people around here interested in the new Doctor Who RPG, which is always a good thing.

All in all, I'd call it a great success.
I'm really looking forward to next year. Hopefully, I'll find the time to help out at that convention, too.

OST - Day One

The first day of the 20th OST (Oldenburger Spieletage) has come and gone, and I feel it was a success. Not only did I meet a lot of people who I hadn't seen in a while (always a nice thing to happen), I also played a great game of Call of Cthulhu there.
Actually, I was game master, but that does count, doesn't it? ;-)

The adventure we played is called "Judas Prokaryot" - an adventure set in modern day Germany (or actually any big city you'd like to place it in), in which the PCs are members of a special team from the health department, dealing with an incredibly strange epidemic that's ravaging their city. All in all, it took us 4 and a half hours to finish and it worked magnificently. (It was easy to see, why this adventure won first place in the Cthulhu NOW adventure contest.)
For anyone interested, you can download the adventure here (at the Cthulhu-blog).

 And now, I'm off to the second day, which will hopefully be as much fun as the last one. This time it's Doctor Who I am refereeing.

Just some ideas regarding adventures ...

I've spend the last days brainstorming for ideas regarding some new adventures for the Doctor Who RPG. As I'm painfully aware that there's a games convention coming up, where I am scheduled to game master Doctor Who - but I hadn't had time yet to actually come up with a nice adventure. So, I collected ideas on a big A3-sheet and have just now finished sorting through them.

I am officially down to five episode-ideas now, and I feel that I am going to go with the first one.

Pocket RPGs

I bought two new RPGs today. Technically, I wouldn't have had to since I already owned the pdf-versions of both, but I really enjoyed those, and it's always a good thing to suport the smaller systems, right?

So, I am now the owner of a paperback-version of "1W6 Freunde" and "Funky Colts".

Doctor Who - The Armageddon Convention

Today, it was (finally) time for the second part of the first two-parter of out ongoing Doctor Who Campaign: "The Armageddon Convention" featured our heroins Abigail and Jordan in Venice of 1609 during the preparations for the same called event. They drank booze in a run-down tavern with Galileo Galilei, got arrested under suspicion of being Turkish spies, tracked the bad guys to an empty palazzo at the Canale Grande, made off with an alien ambassador (that looked suspiciously like an overgrown crab with wings), freed another alien ambassador (this one looking suspiciously like a manta with legs) from captivity, nearly drowned under an island, and made friends with Irving Braxiatel.

They also met a rather headstrong young woman, who refused to tell them her name on the account that "it's July 2010", but still gave them the hint to "go and find Sir Alistair, if you want to know about the time rings."

Which will lead us straight into the next episode "Swafham Prior". It'll be a while before we get round to playing that, as I am going to game master at the OST 20 (a local games convention) and won't have much time to do anything beyond that.

Kader 13 Sendeplan - Teil 2

Gestern abend noch schnell aus meinen diversen Notizbüchern zusammengetragen kommt hier jetzt der zweite Teil der Kader 13-Kampagnenplanung. Auch einen Hintergrundartikel darüber, was denn K13 nun genau ist, habe ich bereits in Arbeit. Vielleicht schaffe ich es den nächste Woche hochzuladen.
Morgen geht es erst einmal zur Sail nach Bremerhaven (falls die Busse nicht so voll sind, dass ich nicht mehr rein passe ;-) Ich werde meine Kamera mitnehmen, und hoffen, dass das Wetetr einigermaßen mitspielt. Wen nalles klappt, gibt es demnächst dann ein paar Bilder von der Sail. Drückt mir die Daumen.

Der 2. Teil des Sendeplans für Kader 13 ist nicht ganz so sehr ausgereift wie der erste Teil. Dennoch sollte es auch so schon möglich sein, eine grobe Idee davon zu bekommen, was mir vorschwebt.

Kader 13 Planung und Sendeplan - Teil 1

Kader 13 ist ein "Konspiratives Mystery Rollenspiel", entwickelt vom Project Kopfkino , die sich auch für die Rollenspiele "Funky Colts" und "Ratten!" verantwortlich zeichnen. Das Regelwerk für Kader 13 kann auf der Homepage des Projektes umsonst heruntergeladen werden.

Worum geht es bei Kader 13?

Kader 13 ist eine Hommage der einschlägigen Mystery-Serien der 90er - allen voran natürlich "Akte X". Es geht um die große Verschwörung. Es geht um Staatswillkür, um Aliens, Zombies und Geheimbünde. Das Regelsystem ist extrem klein und kompakt (zusammengestaucht auf 13 Seiten) und bietet die Möglichkeit, alles daraus zu machen, was man denn will - sofern man ordentlich was an Arbeit hineinsteckt.

Inspiriert von der Idee, die hinter dem Regelwerk steht, begann ich schon letztes Jahr damit, eine kurze Kampagne zu entwickeln. Der entstandene "Sendeplan" ist teils bereits in meinem alten Blog veröffentlich worden, aber da das ja inzwischen völlig eingeschlafen ist, wage ich hier einen (überarbeiteten) Neuanfang.

(Sendeplan und Kampagnenplanung beinhalten extreme Spoiler. Lesen also auf eigene Verantwortung :-)