Tuesday 17 October 2017

New Feierland Merchants: The Woodturner


The drafts of my preposterous equipment lists continue somewhat apace. I'm going to tweak a bunch of the prices - I want there to be a big old discrepancy between rich people stuff and poor people stuff. There need to be spices that can buy farms, you know? I'll do that on the next pass. In the mean time, here are a bunch of nice wooden things. There's enough in there to help build the setting in the imagination of the beholder, I think, and enough odd things and services to inspire people to play creatively and entertainingly.

I played with another new group the other day - 3 players who'd never played RPGs before + my girlfriend. They really enjoyed looking through the madness that is my equipment list and buying a bunch of dumb things. I was happy.

BEGINNERQUEST: Patron Jon Shortchange of The Reprehensiblers informs all Hectors and Bovver-Boys that rumours and mistruths about the moonlight activites of his fellowship are somewhat exaggerated. All beasts involved in Reprihensibler meetings are guaranteed to be dead BEFORE the beginning of the festivities. A Reward of 175 g, a set of painted playing-cards, and a spade is offered to anyfolk whom can sharply identify the source of these rumours.

Woodturner Woodturner (cont.)
Meusmador of Boldbarn - 22 y.o. Gambler Meusmador of Boldbarn - 22 y.o. Gambler
Services Cost (g) Services Cost (g)
Secret Compartment (by size) 9 - 110 Custom chess set ~ 245 - 425
Identify wood ~ 10 Fixtion of damage item ~ 2 per hour
Embellish/engrave (paper size) ~ 5 per section  Craft religious icon (fist sized) ~ 40
Load dice ~ 5 per dice Carve mandrake  to likeness ~ 100
Statue buildening ~ 100 per m2
Woodmending ~ 3 per hour
Item Cost (g) Item Cost (g)
Hardwood (e.g. Bridgewood, 50 per m2 Frank-Ash Lamellar (full suit) 46
Embleton Oak, Frank-Ash) Carved likeness 49
Softwood (e.g. Wolderwood, 30 per m2 Bed 50
Terric Pine, Nibbling Willow) Plough 53
Crookwood (e.g. Bloodwillow, 35 per m2 Block & Tackle 60
Red Yew, Gravebud) Snail-throne 62
Sled 75
Craft of Bone or Horn x 0.75 Cart 115
Mandrake root 115
Dice 2 Goat-chariot 133
Spoon or fork 2 Cabinet ~ 150
Cup 3 Chess set (Beasts vs Birds) 163
Tentpole (3 m) 4 Wagon 265
Oar 5
Funeral stake 5 Beehive frame (each) 3
Basket 5 Beehive, empty 10
Bucket 6 Wicker/Strawman, small 4
Stool 7 Toothpicks (fistful) 5
Scepter or rod 9 Rolling-pin 2
Chair 10 Smoking pipe 5
Ladder (3 m) 10 Horn (Hunting) 15
Scrollcase 11
Coffin (basic) 12
Barrel  15
Cage, for bird or mudrat 15
Flotsam figurine (Pirate, etc.) 17
Feierlish strugglebox 22
Wheel  22
Chair of swooning 25
Door 26
Headcage 26
Wheelborough 27
Strange carved fetish 33
Chest or trunklike object 35
Skis 36
Yoke 42
Bench or Tabling Device 43


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Thursday 5 October 2017

New Feierland Merchants: Pantellow & Tabardier; Pyrographer

I feel like the Pantfellow & Tabardier is set up quite well to produce some fun role-playing and adventure. Every adventurer likes to set up their outfit just so, while the character of the vendor (as implied by the services offered and political enthusiasm) is likely to take the conversation somewhere fun, you know? Similarly, the Pyrographer offers burned magpies and dogs as part of his regular stock. He will also burn stuff for not-much money, which is obviously great. Curiously, these two vendors haven't yet been substantially interacted with in my playtests, but I have pretty high hopes.

In other news: Borric Hagborn wishes it known that whichever Poorly-Demeanoured Bootworm has acquired possession of his Prized Bale of Straw is now the similarly proud owner of a 100 goat bounty. These is no amnesty with which to bargain.

Pantfellow & Tabardier Pyrographer
Faiol Nir - Flirtatious 66 y.o. Politics enthusiast Rolfe Mannering - 42 y.o. Leatherclad Alcoholic
Services Cost (g) Services Cost (g)
Hidden pouches and pockets x 2 Arson 200 or more
Embroid or beautify Client's choice Burn thing ~ 20
Quick-release x 1.5 Identify burned thing 10 +
Unsolicited fashion advice No charge Burn animal ~ 10
Burn heinous attire No charge
Customised outfit Client's choice
Item Cost (g) Item Cost (g)
Oakthistle (to craft/per m2) x 0.5 / 4 Rushlight 1
Linen (to craft/per m2) x 1 / 10 Torch (6) 1
Goat (to craft/per m2) x 3 / 24 Lantern oil (pint) 2
Furs (to craft/per m2) x 7 / 60 Tar (per litre) 3
Sarsanet (to craft/per m2) x 10 / 75 Dustpan 3
Charcoal (per kg) 5
Needles/pins 1 Brush 5
Buttons/hooks (half dozen) 2 Flint & Tinder 7
Thread (small roll) 5 Tallow candle (per kg) 7
Dyes (for ~ 1 item) 15 Burned finch 7
Socks (pair) 3 Burnt skunk 12
Undergarments 3 Coal (per kg) 15
Sash/Scarf 5 Burned magpie 19
Turban 5 Open Lantern 25
Purse or pouch 6 Smoldust (Light w/o air; pint) 25
Belt (fine or broad) 6 Burnt skull of elk 27
Sack 7 Burned warthog 28
Gloves (pair) 8 Hooded lantern 35
Vest 9 Bellows 36
Hat or cap 9 Volcanic lard (pint) 40
Veil, coif or hood 9 Burned dog 42
Girdle 10 Beeswax candle (per kg) 50
Tunic or blouse 12 Mirrored lantern 75
Drapery or net 12 Waterproof lantern (smoldust) 88
Kilt/Skirt 13 Lava (per litre) 650
Jerkin 13 Quicklime (powder, fistful) 15
Suspenders 14
Shirt 16
Tabard/Surcoat 17
Trousers or leggings 19
Scapula or smock 19
Pack 22
Blanket, rug or towel 24
Cape 27
Jacket 29
Robe or gown 30
Gown 35
Coat 36
Cloak or mantle 37
Dress 42

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Wednesday 4 October 2017

Rewards For Party's First Quest (D66, roll a few times)

Weaponry & Arms Attire & Armoury
11 Piece of timber, or goblet on to a stick 21 Large sack, woven of oakthistle
12 Rusted spade or hoe 22 A long, tattered scarf or sash
13 Longdagger, crude but sharp 23 Swamp-boots, very few holes
14 Muddy pitchfork or scythe 24 Tabard or surcoat, stained with grime
15 Warhammer, scratched 25 Linen coat or cloak, singed
16 Poleaxe, tassled 26 Stuffed linen armour, odorous
Liquids & Miscibles Tools & Articles
31 Jug of Grog, Nauseating 41 Loose bundle of torches
32 Vial of black ink 42 Damp length of rope, 10 m
33 Flask of doglock (2 hits worth) 43 Crowbar or saw, weathered
34 Cruickshank's Fae-brewn whiskey, jug 44 Open lantern, with 2 pints of oil
35 Pot of Lye or Volcanic Lard 45 Digger tool (shovel/pick contraption)
36 Laudanum 46 Trade tools (pick one of your skills)
Trinkets & Esoterica Provisions & Victuals
51 Set of dice, ox-bone 61 3 Egg & Elderberry pies
52 Playing cards, witchcraft artwork 62 4 Wheels of Woodland Grained cheese
53 Set of charcoal sticks and parchment 63 Leeches, 1 kg
54 Bronze mirror, grease smudged 64 Bucket o' fish
55 Accurate map to unexplored ruins 65 Hogflesh, 2 kg
56 Bear trap, bog-iron 66 Barrel of Fenreed Ale (150 L)

Starting With Nothing

Recently, deliberately, I've been running for people who have either never or rarely played RPGs before. For these players I think that having new PCs start with no equipment, and no more than say 5-25 coins, is a good thing. It's probably good for all players in fact.

By giving the characters ownership of no things, and then presenting with a problem that threatens to take what's left, they are led neatly to a) investigating and interacting with the environment, and b) thinking of interesting solutions. This is Good. It trains them to play the game properly.

The End.

BONUS Extra benefits: 
- Cheap crappy stuff on the equipment list gets looked at; 
- Crappy cheap stuff gets used in interesting ways; 
- All the work you put into making an interesting and expansive equipment list isn't wasted; 
- You can use all sorts of shit as treasure now;
- Treasure is fucking great; 
- Desperate PCs who see themselves as victims of vast relative inequality will, like real life, turn to crime which, unlike real life, is almost always hilarious and fun;
- You can do really fun quests with stupid NPCs who have great accents and no real power, since whatever meagre rewards you're offering for dealing with those morons is better than anything the PCs own;
- Playing NPCs who are basically variations of the peasants from Monty Python Holy Grail is lots of fun;
- PCs will scavenge the dead with voracity;
- Some other stuff;
- Girlfriend is on the phone now.

New Feierland Merchants: Prostheticist & Skinworks

Probably your players will have their characters do something that loses them a limb or a face or something. It behoves you to give them something to look forward to by offering them at least a few interesting options for replacement. This is only a draft, but it's a solid first step. Also people want to buy stuff made from leather so here's that too.

In other news: The Mayor of New Feierland wishes it known that the recent and infamous executions enstaged by the Unproductive Navvies envermining the dockyards are subject to condemnation of unsurpassable sincerity. Rampant and unsactioned murder will continued to be considered as unsocial behavior of above average seriousness. Citizens are reminded that their human neighbours are the only human neighbours within practicable reach. The Fae Menace hates our way of life. Exercise vigilant bigotry where appropriate.


Prostheticist
Skinworks
Margaret Fearraigh - Spiteful 34 y.o.

Wilmaer Wormsson - Charming, Tattooed 20 y.o. 

Services Cost (g) Services Cost (g)
Incorporate strenge treasure ~ 15 Cure beast hide 5 - 20
Incorporate strenge creature ~ 50 Hidden pouches and pockets x 2
Amputation & Burning ~ 5 Embossed, fanciful Client's choice
Customised prosthetic x 1.5 Fire-resistant x 3
Commission artwork 40 - 400 Create Skinmask ~ 15
Quick-release x 1.5
Item Cost (g) Taxidermification ~ 7 - 50
Craft of Steel x 4 Item Cost (g)
Craft of Silver x 50 Craft of Stronghide x 2
Eyepatch 10 Tanned leather 7 per m2
Foot Fishleather 8 per m2
Simple wood 10 Tanned Stronghides 16 per m2
Hook or spike 25
Weapon or tool 34 + items Pouch, generalised 3
Lockable or lodestone 93 Strop 4
Articulated 277 Wallet or Purse 5
Wine/Waterskin 5
Hand Collar 5
Simple wood 15 Baldric 6
Hook or spike 35 Shoes or Sandals (pair) 7
Weapon or tool 46 + items Belt 8
Lockable or lodestone 127 Scroll or Book case 8
Articulated 384 Skullcap 14
Satchel or Goat-Tote 14
Face Part Majestic sculpture of owl 15
Simple wood 30 Top hat 15
Hook or spike 50 Gloves (pair) 16
Weapon or tool 66 + items Broad hat 17
Lockable or lodestone 135 Backpack 18
Articulated 406 Livestock Harness 18
Twisted sculpture of elk 19
Leg Boots (pair) 21
Simple wooden peg 50 Unsettling sculpture of child 22
Hook or spike 70 Vest 26
Weapon or tool 82 + items Swamp-boots (Waders) 33
Lockable or lodestone 177 Breeches 38
Articulated 429 Longcoat 93
Arm Taxidermied wren 16
Simple wood 65 Taxidermied rat 17
Hook or spike 85 Taxidermied other rat 19
Weapon or tool 113 + items Taxidermied serpent 21
Lockable or lodestone 263 Taxidermied carp 22
Articulated 753 Taxidermied marsupial 23


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