Running Dungeon Fantasy
We had only 18 sessions of DF this past year, from session 145 - session 162. That's down from 20 the previous year. We weren't as dilligent about getting sessions in, clearly.
Session 145, Felltower 111 - Yeth Hounds
Session 146, Felltower 112 - Yeth Hounds & Moonbeams
Session 147, Felltower 113 - Orichalcum and Moon Doors
Session 148, Felltower 114, Lost City 13 - Ampitheatre
Session 149, Felltower 115 - Staring at Doors
Session 150, Cold Fens 9
Session 151, Cold Fens 10
Session 152, Cold Fens 11 - Deadfalls & Defeat
Session 153, Cold Fens 12 - Scouting Sakatha's Island
Session 154, Cold Fens 13 - Hexcrawling the Cold Fens (Part I)
Session 155, Cold Fens 13 - Hexcrawling the Cold Fens (Part II)
Session 156, Cold Fens 14 - Sakatha's Lair Do-or-Die (Part I)
Session 157, Cold Fens 14 - Sakatha's Lair Do-or-Die (Part II)
Session 158, Cold Fens 14 - Sakatha's Lair Do-or-Die (Part III)
Session 159, Cold Fens 14 - Sakatha's Lair Do-or-Die (Part IV)
Session 160, Felltower 116 - Level 7? (Part I)
Session 161, Felltower 116 - Level 7? (Part II)
Session 162, Felltower 117 - Level 6?
I think we had 10 different players this year. Playing virtually kept us consistent but oddly didn't help some of the occasionals stay in the game.
In game, it was largely the Cold Fens this year, with 10 delves there, plus 1 in the Lost City, and thus only 7 in Felltower. They made a few delves down deeper but, once again, avoided some of the big things they discovered along the way - the beholder, the draugr, the dragons, the gates. It was a year of Cold Fens delves and lots and lots of nibbling on the margins of things. That's part of why I bit the bullet and went with the firmer requirements for loot for XP. I had enough of nearly 400 point guys picking up XP for loot by cashing in a few dropped weapons and some scrap bits found here and there.
Roll20 hasn't been a lot of fun to deal with, though, so we're moving to Foundry VTT as soon as reasonably possible.
Playing Dungeon Fantasy
I was able to play in a one-shot with evil characters, GMed by Marshall, who runs Aldwyn (and Varmus) and previously ran Gwenneth the Dirt Mage.
DF Suicide Squad 1: Cave of the Dark Elves
I enjoyed getting to play, as much as I complained about how overpriced Terror was for what I'd gotten.
Playing Gamma Terra
Zero sessions of Gamma Terra this year. I'm officially putting this one in the "dormant" campaign category. Our GM still plays DF when he can, so it's possible we'll get back to this, but he's a bit too busy to GM right now. Too bad.
AD&D
We went the whole year without playing AD&D. I'm bummmed. We were ready to go but had to cancel last-minute, and then the next time it came along everyone wanted to play DF Felltower. I still intend to run more.
Other Games & Gaming
I played some video games:
- a bit more of Darkest Dungeon, but stalled when one guy I need was killed off and I can't seem to find a replacement to level up to where I need him. Tiresome. Enjoyable while I've got a good party going but it's annoying to finish a quest and the next week the coach still hasn't brought the one class I need. Feh.
- I finished X-Com: Apocalypse, despite not being able to finish all of the tech trees.
- I played a lot of Battletech, finishing the core missions and getting deep into the Flashpoints before stalling out due to a mission I'm not enjoying.
- I stalled out on Ultima V, but I'm not really far from victory if I'm right about my progress. I just need to get my notes out and get to work.
- I played a bit of other games but nothing really worth mentioning. Well, maybe Borderlands 2, which I'm still playing. I finished it with another guy.
I didn't get in any board games that I can recall. Maybe Fire in the Lake will arrive in 2022 and I'll be able to play that.
Painting
I got in some mini painting right under the wire this year, finishing a few figures and speed-painting a pair.
I'm still going to sell my Bones V collection, I just need to get up and list it on eBay.
Writing
GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 22: Gates came out in 2021. I'm quite pleased with it.
The Crypt of Krysuvik came out, as well. It was a hard thing to write, as it was my first adventure, Marshall LaPira's first writing for hire in the gaming field, and our first collaboration with each other and for Doug. I've written with Doug before, but not for Doug. I'm done with adventure writing as of the moment, but Marshall has more on tap I believe.
I did a little more writing. Truth be told, I've slacked off because I want to write for royalties, not flat payments. The royalties, over time, make more sense for me. SJG isn't currently doing Royalties. I threw in for another SJG project, and we'll see where that goes.
Overall, not a bad year in gaming - but not a great one, either. I'd like to get in some additional games - running AD&D, playing GT or something else - and some additional "other" gaming - writing, painting, video games . . .
"I'm done with adventure writing as of the moment, but Marshall has more on tap I believe."
ReplyDeleteI for one welcome more from Marshall. I'll be honest, while the Crypt isn't winning any awards, it's a great first adventure, and a good starting adventure for a group. There are some rough spots, but nothing a GM can't iron out on their own.
That it's designed for the only "real" setting for DF right now is a good thing, but it's not so tied into the setting it can't easily be be divorced from Nordlond and run in any other "generic" fantasy world. All in all, I liked it a lot.
I'm glad you found it useful, and I hope Marshall cranks more stuff out. A good part of why I said "Yes" when Doug asked was because I felt like I could help Marshall get a foot in the door.
DeleteWith respect to Battletech, have you tried MegaMek/MekHQ? The former is a free Java-based implementation of tabletop BT rules, and the latter an implementation of the supporting campaign rules, including all the crunchy logistical bits like buying spare parts/ammo/armor, repairs in-between engagements, etc. Given that some of the games you've enjoyed also emphasize logistical coordination, you may also like this. It's not at all graphically intensive (just 2D sprites on a hexmap for MM, and pretty sparse GUI for MHQ), so an older machine should be able to run it (although the AI pathfinding can thrash the CPU something fierce for anything force larger than a lance or two).
ReplyDeleteMHQ doesn't satisfy all of the items on your BT wishlist post, but it does address some of them:
- It enforces the standard BT morale/forced withdrawal rules - mechs are forced to withdraw after a certain amount of damage, and most scenarios will end after a certain percentage of the force has been lost (so headhunting to force a withdrawal is a viable tactic).
- Some missions require lances at or below a certain weight, so it makes sense to have different lance weights. These weights also inform the size of the OpFor (either by tonnage or BV), so no constantly steamrolling with assaults.
- Mechs are always kept in their last configuration, whether it's stock or customized. Customization is a lot more difficult, since the tech team has to pass a number of rolls to actually pull it off - so most mechs will be kept as stock in the early game.