maxwriter

Journalist and GM, presently writing freelance for Knights of the Dinner Table Magazine.

Call of Cthulhu – With Extreme Prejudice

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On Friday, May 2, 1969, an M35 2 ½ ton truck crossed Vietnam from Long Binh Jail near Saigon to a relatively deserted area of jungle west of Pleiku, near the border of Cambodia. Each of the men within had accepted the offer that was made by a mysterious officer present at Long Binh Jail to go on a top-secret mission with the promise of having the charges against them dropped.

On March 28, 2014, I ran the original Call of Cthulhu scenario “With Extreme Prejudice” at CaesarCon 2014. My players were Josh, Lily, Steve, Liu, Nathan, and Chris.

Role Playing Journals of the game can be found here:

http://www.yog-sothoth.com/blog/172/entry-2688-with-extreme-prejudice-part-1-the-mission/
http://www.yog-sothoth.com/blog/172/entry-2687-with-extreme-prejudice-part-2-the-village/
http://www.yog-sothoth.com/blog/172/entry-2686-with-extreme-prejudice-part-3-terror-in-the-cave/

A video playlist of the game is here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonZ7fuFAFDonuZ1W8Vad62tlX29GVdbs

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Recon

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In the spring of 1967, a small, newly-formed recon team was sent on a dangerous mission into the bush. They had been on recon missions before, but the one this time was much more dangerous.

This is their story.

Ghidorah San was from South Vietnam, a member of the army there. He had been leant to the group as a local scout and medic. He was called “Possum” by another private in the squad because he always went to ground when trouble happened.

Private Colt Texas had seen about six months of action in Vietnam and was the one who called Ghidorah San “Possum.” He was, unsurprisingly, from Texas, though, unlike that state, he was very small. He was the group’s grenadier. Ghidorah San called him “Longhorn.”

Private John Jackson was a demolitions guy, originally from Louisiana. He was short but fat, being only five feet, two inches tall, but weighing 191 pounds. His weapon of choice was a grenade launcher, which he had named “Brenda,” though he also carried a .357 magnum he’d named “Reginald” as his backup weapon. He was very skittish and nervous. Some of the guys called him “Gravy train.”

Sgt. Jack Johnson was tall and blonde with a crew cut. He hailed from Savannah, Georgia. At 23, he’d just gotten out of sniper school and had gotten promoted very quickly. He was armed with an M-14 scoped assault rifle. He carried .45 semi-automatic pistol as his backup weapon. He was law-abiding and a pretty boy who stuck to the rules. Ghidorah San called the man “Blonde Joe.”

On March 16, 2014, I ran a game of Recon to play test it for review in Knights of the Dinner Table Magazine. My players were Logan, Kyle, James, and James.

Role Playing Journal of the game can be found here:

http://www.penandpapergames.com/forums/entry.php/1848-Recon

A video playlist of the game is here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonZ7fuFAFDomhMQ7AiqabNCNoVjMx9iW

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Pendragon – Beast Quest

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In the days of yore, before the reign of King Arthur and his mighty Round Table, there were knights who might someday be part of that illustrious king’s entourage and of the Round Table. That would be in years to come, however, for in the Year of Our Lord 492, they were young knights who did not yet know their way.

Sir Nonius the Red was only of average size but had thick, curly red hair and a bushy red beard that stood out from his face. Sir Gwarddur was a strong knight who was said to have a body like steel. Sir Buddfannon, also called by some “The Dark Knight” was said to have the softest hair and hands in all of the kingdom. Sir Avitus the Forked Tongue was Roman born. His smile was disarming and made men trust him, often to their dismay. Sir Gothryn was known for being very chivalrous: chaste, forgiving, modest, generous, merciful, and temperate. His squire was called Rhiwalon of the River.

On Feb. 9, 2014, I ran a game of Pendragon (1st Edition) to playtest it for review in Knights of the Dinner Table Magazine. My players were with Logan, Bo, Kyle, James, James, and Aly.

Role Playing Journal of the game can be found here:

http://www.penandpapergames.com/forums/entry.php/1843-Pendragon-Beast-Quest

A video playlist of the game is here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonZ7fuFAFDrJSiZg9c6rqY1TgPmmzrQ0

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Paranoia 2nd Edition – Into the Outdoors with Gun and Camera

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Security Clearance ULTRAVIOLET

WARNING: Knowledge or possession of contents by any citizen of Security Clearance VIOLET or lower constitutes treason, and is punishable by summary execution. The Computer is your friend. You have been warned.

Humanity had advanced greatly since the bad old days of the 20th Century. There was now no war, no famine, no disease. Alpha Complex was a utopia run by the benevolent and omniscient Computer. The Computer was every clone’s friend. The Computer provided for their needs. The Computer ensured that each and every citizen of Alpha Complex was happy.

Or else.

Five Infrareds had recently been promoted to RED level troubleshooters by The Computer for ferreting out treason. They were ready for their first mission.

Jake-R-SWD-1 was a large clone though he was rather average in every other aspect. He was assigned to the Research and Design service group. However, that was just a cover for his real service group: Internal Security.

Bob-R-OSS-1 was a small clone who had a great deal of chutzpah and was more laid back than any clone had the right to be. He was very mechanically apt and a member of Power Services.

Falion-R-TIT-1 was another large clone, who happened to be very intelligent as well. Also a member of Power Services, he and Bob-R-OSS-1 got along fairly well, mostly.

Jack-R-JRW-1 was another bruiser who was quick and good with his hands. He was a great liar as well. Being a member of Housing Preservation and Development and Mind Control meant he was one of Alpha Complex’s glorified clerks.

Peachy-R-LCS-1 was a large clone who was dumber than a box of Happiness Energy Bars. He was also a member of HPD&MC.

STAY ALERT. TRUST NO ONE. KEEP YOUR LASER HANDY.

On Jan. 19, 2014, I ran a game of Paranoia 2nd Edition to playtest it for a review in Knights of the Dinner Table Magazine. My players were Jacob, Bo, James, James, and Logan, all students from nearby Appalachian State University.

Role Playing Journals of the game can be found here:

http://www.penandpapergames.com/forums/entry.php/1842-Paranoia-2nd-Edition-Into-the-Great-Outdoors-with-Gun-and-Camera-Part-1
http://www.penandpapergames.com/forums/entry.php/1841-Paranoia-2nd-Edition-Into-the-Great-Outdoors-with-Gun-and-Camera-Part-2

A video playlist of the videos of the game can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonZ7fuFAFDrnQamssYlyAZ_VQXVfpsxH

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Doctor Who – Adventures in Time and Space – Death of the Astral Queen

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Mickey Sullivan and Peter Black have been thrown through time, back to the Astral Queen just before it was destroyed in the early 26th Century. Now it is up to them, The 10th Doctor, Sgt. Major Phillip Wingate, and Captain Jack Harkness to save the 100,000 passengers and crew of the ship before it can be destroyed, all the while maintaining the space/time continuum.

At CaesarCon 2014, my friend Matt ran a game of Doctor Who – Adventures in Time and Space. I was actually able to play The Doctor, which was a LOT of fun. The game was played on March 30, 2014 and continues the game from the year before. The other players were Adam, Steve, and Chris.

Role Playing Journal:

http://www.penandpapergames.com/forums/entry.php/1855-Doctor-Who-Adventures-in-Time-and-Space-Death-of-the-Astral-Queen

Podcast: Play in new window | Download