The Savage Sixth

So long and thanks for all the fish

drcheckmate — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:00:08 +0000

As soon as I get all the categories over on my primary blog (http://drcheckmate.wordpress.com)fixed up I’m closing this blog down. I’ve already exported the posts over there, so nothing will be gone for good, but once I am happy with the new categories over there I’ll be nuking this one.

Thank you for reading. I hope you check in over there once in a while, too. I’ll get back to Savage Worlds eventually.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Codename: Merlin

drcheckmate — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:06:03 +0000

The current leader of The Order of Saint Adrian (of which Team Torchlight: Van Helsing is but one branch) is not THE Merlin. But, the appellation certainly suits him. He appears to be an elderly man. His accent is unplacably European. He dresses in a manner befitting a college professor – if perhaps a decade or two behind in his fashion sense.

He’s known to be stubborn and curmudgeonly and has often mad allusions to the possibility that he is in his current position of power against his will. What he would be doing otherwise is anyone’s guess. However, when the chips are down he can muster the troops!

Merlin
Concept: Wizened Old Warlock placed in charge of a motley band of vampire hunting super heroes more or less against his will.
[WC] legendary Rank
Attributes: Agility: d6, Smarts: d12+2, Spirit: d8, Strength: d4, Vigor: d4

Charisma -2, Toughness 4, Parry 4, Pace 5

Skills: Spellcasting d12+1, Know (Vampires) d10, Investigation d8, Streetwise d8, Know (Arcane) d8, Notice d8, Fighting d8, Guts d6

Edges: Arcane Background (Super Powers), Arcane Resistance, Imp. Arcane Resistance, Command, Fervor, Hold the Line, Inspire, Natural Leader, Investigator

Hindrances: Elderly, All Thumbs, Outsider

Pace: 6, Parry: , Toughness: 5

Powers: Ageless, Fearless, Super Sorcery 12(!!)

His favorite spells are of shape-shifting or telepathic varieties. He rarely goes for the flashy fireballs that youths seem to expect from a spell-slinger these days. He would much rather use Growth and stomp on problems as a giant old man than toss around vulgar fireworks. Or, take control of a problem’s allies and make them do the work for him. Alternately more satisfying or elegant.

[This is the final canned post for a while. Further activity will be spontaneous and irregular for a while. But, do not despair true believers! I shall return!]

Filed under: Rogues Gallery, Supers, TTvV

Bridge

drcheckmate — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:16:48 +0000

I find my self at a crossroads. Hackneyed and cliché, I know. However, it remains true. Less than two years ago the future looked very different from what it does now. I’ve changed. It is possible that I am the only one that sees it, and I’m OK with that. But, I have changed. I know I have. My priorities have shifted. I don’t just mean the sorts of games I want to play or the people I wish to hang with… OK. I don’t mean just those. Those, too. Sure.

I can adapt to certain “little things” that – in my petty calculus – seem like much bigger things than they actually are. My current employment and my home life are both currently “support” positions. A friend sums it up pretty well when he describes my RP style. I am the “Side Kick.” Sure, individual adventures might shift that dynamic some what, but for now? It is where I am at. I am – knock wood – nearly content. For now.

There is a mission afoot. Simply put, “less than a year.” The last 18 months have blown by. Relatively speaking. Individual days drag, but it is all in the mind. By “Friday” “Monday” seems like it was a long time ago even as on “Monday” “Friday” seems a life time away.

“What the hell are you babbling about?”

As priorities shift, as goals become closer, and as games come and go, I find that I need different things from the hobby. Rest assured that there are still things I want to do with Savage Worlds. It is my go to RPG when I want to “RP” and push toy soldiers around. These days, toy soldiers just aren’t a priority.

Please don’t bother telling me that Savage Worlds is fine with out miniatures. I know this. However, you could also say a Rolls-Royce is not a Rolls-Royce with out the all leather interior.

I am not broke, though, I am fond of saying I am. I just do not have the financial flexibility to do the things I want to do with Savage Worlds. I could do other stuff with it, and I have. However, here we sit in the twenty-first century, the jinn is so out of the bottle and will not be put back in. Do not even bother. HTML SRDs, free games, clones, and I’m just talking RPGs here. My recent afternoon spent rolling dice and flopping cards with college chums reminded me of why I play any of these games.

And Warrior, Rogue, Mage and Old School Hack have stolen my brain. Also, I still want to run some BX. There is, in summary, a lot of sword and sorcery going on up in my melon (mmm… melon…).

I also resolve to run, some Spirit of the Century or ICONS before… before my birthday. Yes. That sounds good.

So, this isn’t a cancellation or a hiatus. Posts will become intermittent here – not consistently on the sixth, but when they do come it will be on the sixth (OK. Occasionally on the Thirteenth, but that’s where I draw the line).

See you around, folks. Spend those bennies, they’ll recharge when I come back!

Keep an eye on the Daily Sentinel if you are interested in ICONS or my main blog if your interest is OSR or BX.

Filed under: Schedule, Vanity Post