Department case file 217-011

Maurice and I sat down a couple weeks ago to try out The Department, a nifty Goalsystem game of police procedure investigating fabricant crimes (think Blade Runner.) I'm a fan of the Goalsystem ruleset, and like how it simulates the RPG-style 'downtime' for in between adventures, and thusly could be a good replacement for gamers like me who dig minis but don't have the committed weekly roleplaying games in our lives anymore.

Case file: 217-011
Target: "Nick," Anti-Human Terrorist Cell Leader
Starting budget: 100
Primary officers:
Detective Inspector Huang Lo (Fabricant Crimes division) (46 pts.)
Deputy Sgt. Zogby (Enforcement division) (46 pts.)


1. Incident report: "Grass the Neighborhood" (Budget: 5.)

Our officers hit the streets to start collecting rumors from the usual suspects, hoping for a good lead to start things rolling. Spotting Madji, a local rumormonger, with an unnamed accomplish near the market, Lo and Zogby approach and begin to question them. Lo's questions go nowhere, but Zogby hints at some intimidating outcomes if they don't cooperate, and Madji gives up the goods [successful Intimidate roll secures one People evidence.] Neither suspect has anything else to hide, and the DFM officers return to the station to file reports.

[Snoozer. Spent more time setting up the terrain than actually playing the scenario. Good for getting the investigation going, though, which I think is the intent. And we just re-used the terrain setup for the next mission.]


2. Incident report: "Meet the Snitch" (Budget: 5.)

Following up on other information, officers head to the wrong part of town. Reaching the scene, they find a riot in progress, and are set upon by at least four rioters. After attempting to get the situation under control, they reconsider, contact the Urban Control authorities, get back in their car and drive the flip away.

[EGADS. We went in without any backup or requesting additional equipment, and wow. We just called this one a wash, chalked it up to experience, and pretended it never happened.]

3. Incident report: "Bust the Dealer" (Budget: 5, -1 People evidence.)
Requisitioned: 2 light armors, shotgun, blaster pistol (Budget: 6.)

Following up on Madji's tip from earlier, officers head to the site of the riot to corner a local dealer, Omar. Sticking close to the buildings, Lo and Zogby try to stay out of the dealer's line of sight. This proves to be a wise move. On confronting Omar about his connections to Nick's cell, Omar's bodyguard "the Gorilla" opens fire on the DFM officers. A skirmish ensues, with Lo attempting to stun Omar while Zogby charges the bodyguard. After subduing the Gorilla, Zogby also takes down Omar, and both are brought downtown.

At the station, both suspects are found to be fabricants, and fold under questioning. Omar gives up details on money drops for the cell, while the Gorilla spills about where other cell members were hiding out. [Successful interrogation rolls lead to one Financial evidence and one People evidence.]

[OK, now I think we got this down. Initially I thought the budget for the investigation would be too high, but requisitioning and backup look to be crucial in the right circumstances. Like keeping yourself alive.]


Remaining budget for the investigation: 79.
Zogby has accumulated four experience, Lo a mere two.

[Looking ahead, we'll need to bankroll a lot more evidence to confront Nick at his compound. And keep some budget banked for that, because that will be a war zone. The game is pretty cool, once we got used to the ebb and flow of the operation. Missions can be quick or involved, and you have to think ahead as to what you're doing.]

11+1: Sgt. Nick Stone

Positively the iconic hard-boiled hero with a pulse rifle, his futuristic armor worn down from a dozen enemy engagements. Most of the figs I pick up for use in one game (or more!) but at best he could be a Pulp City minion, with the games I currently play. I have an oblique idea to use the IMEF Marines as CCC proxies for Mercs, but that's what we call a long-range plan. Couldn't resist this sculpt, though.

The mini is from Reaper's Chronoscope line (which I love.) Also pictured is an initial paint test for one of the barriers I picked up at Historicon from Acheson Creations. The stone lantern terrain piece is from the pet store aquarium aisle, because that is how I roll. Keeping detail on the wall and the lantern scale-neutral, as I think they will work for both 15mm and 28mm.

Necroplane attack!

Last week, snuck out to Virginia to play a rousing game of Pulp City. We may have been investigating some new rules proposals, so no real batrep. Suffice it to say the Necroplane incursion was repelled with authority. True to form, Super Zed push too far ahead too quickly, and was eliminated from the battle in short order. And despite Night Fright mounting a fearsome assault, Sovereign and Stoner Hawk saved the day.

Been too long since we duked it out with the supremes. Came up with a bunch of good questions for future revisions, and looking forward to playing more again soonly.

On a related note, the inimitable Hendybadger is running an excellent contest to Paint the City Pink. Check it out! Especially you people who are, like, good at painting. And like the color pink.

Mr. Murch, Mr. Peterson, and more

On my non-gaming blog, I post news articles that I run across and thoughts on TV shows and movies (and trailers) that I run across. And I've been doing it... a while. The temptation has always been to do the same here, but there's more than a couple sites that aggregate links already. But I think from time to time I am going to toss up ones that are definitely relevant to my interests, in case someone else gets the same enjoyment from reading them.

To wit: Bring Your A-Game recently posted a great interview with Bob Murch, the sculptor behind Pulp Figures. Easily one of my favorite lines out there, I've used his figs for 7tv, AE-WWII, Pulp City, Strange Aeons, and probably a couple more I am forgetting. Check it out. 

On an unrelated note, one thing I like about the gaming community is that they're pretty generous, which makes sense given that, really, we all play around with our disposable income. Next time you have a couple bucks to buy something online, do me a favor and consider donating it instead to help out a fellow gamer who has been having a rough time of it this year. I had the privilege of hanging out with Mr. Peterson at Gencon a couple years back while we were working a booth together, and he's a stand-up guy.

alien centipede size comparisons

Yet another size comparison for a discussion thread elsewhere. Alien centipede-ish critters!

GW millisaur, GZG civilian, GZG Crustie, Khruasan Kontrol trooper

Monsterpocalypse Chompapillar (Planet Eaters,) Monsterpocalypse Corruptor

I should really come up with a tag for these posts...

sefadu vs. FCC, then vs. Texico

 Maurice's FCC glamour shot

Couple weeks back, finally got in some more Mercs. We used the scenarios available here on the forum, and I admit it improves the game. Looking forward to seeing it I took a few notes, but realize now they're pretty boring, so I will let the pictures do a lot of the work here.

 Table layout. Second game, we just switched deployment zones.

 First game my sefadu rolled Elimination, and FCC rolled Deliver the Package. my corporate agenda was the Lions Run, and really, the other two are... situational at best. sefadu is always about the run and gun game, so why not pick that one?

 Enemy sighted down 'Firing Lane Alley.'

The blue die above represents how long the Ice Grenade kept these two frozen in the middle of the board. So painful. The both survived the game, but were essentially useless after they got stuck in place.

Sabotage!

My first time using the Gunner was a learning experience. The FCC-ified USCR Sniper delivered his package to my deployment zone with time to spare.

This is approximately my Sniper's line of sight, where I delightfully spot the FCC Boomer through the door jamb. 

Meanwhile, the gunner finds out he has company. And they didn't RSVP first.

But the Grenadier shows up to even the score.

Oh, right, that USCR dude, still creeping around.

Both Maurice and I complete our objectives, and points were even. Meaning it's decided by blood, and I just barely eke out the win on that regard. Love the close games.

And despite me not having a lot of experience with Mercs, we still have time to sneak in a second one.

Game two: Texico shows up. We both roll Recon, and decide we're both after the big empty building in the middle. Bounty is named on my Berserker (who replaces the Gunner from last game. It's kind of a coin toss between the two.)

sefadu, roll out!

Six turns fly right by. Seriously. Spears are flying left and right. My Sniper isn't getting anything done. I get the Medic to recon the building in turn three, but there's really an uphill struggle to get him safely back towards the deployment zone.

Oh, and the Recon building. a.k.a. the hallway of death. I do manage to get the room recon'ned, and surprisigly enough prevent Texico from dong the same due to some delicately-applied violence. We do actually end up with the Berserker in close combat with the Jaguar, but the latter proves too much for our sefadu hero (he does survive until the last turn, though.)

We achieve an embarrassingly low number of points. I get one, yes, one Recon point, since the Medic is alive, if only barely on my side of the board. That plus a second take of Lions Run gives me the W again.

So yes. Totes ready to pick up my ISS at some point in the near future, and maybe after that, KemVar? Heh.

In which I don't play Mercs, but name-drop Team Rocket

The plan was to meet up with the guys, learn a new game, and then sneak in a game of Mercs. One of the joys of using public transportation is that, well, sometimes plans just don't happen. A non-showing bus made me late to the store and put me in a bit of a mood. Tried to make the best of it, though. (Maurice covers the Mercs gaming here.)

Apparently this book is pretty rare...

I did get to see Relic Knights in action, though. As noted elsewhere, the guys ran some demos of this at Gencon, and had already been discussing the hot hot Kickstarter campaign. I was initially resistant. I mean, I have a lot of other games I don't have time for, and the models are, well, a little cheesecakey. Thematic for anime, sure. But still.

The game itself is fun and fast-paced. I was pleased with the diceless measure (and the cards aren't just for replacing the dice.) You can download the beta rules here if you'd like to learn more.The setting is heavily into the anime, and they aren't subtle about hiding their influences. (Like, it makes Anima Tactics look subtle.) And even on a cursory read there's some interesting ideas in the backstory, so, that's enough to get my attention. Not taking itself seriously makes the pinup models a little easier to accept, too. Add in a giant four-armed space pirate chef cat, and you got yourself a deal.

I'm leaning towards Doctrine (frikkin' Sailor Moon!) and Speed Circuit (seriously entertaining. And I am considering Team Rocket uniforms.) And probably Pirates, because again, giant four-armed space pirate chef cat.

So if you like the look, the Kickstarter is a great deal, and looks to be really moving into high gear. But brother, let me tell you. It's going to be hard waiting on all these great Kickstarter deals is going to be painful. Delves will be soon-ish, but next spring for the Reaper mega-deal and Relic Knights. Patience is a virtue. Luckily I have, you know, all my other games to keep me distracted.

One bad mother.

So Mercs isn't forgotten. Hopefully will get the details done on the rest of my figs over the weekend so we can get that game in soon.


Unrelated, but speaking of Delves - check out this tutorial on cavern terrain. So pretty.