Shadowbrook

 part 3

It was early when Caleb, our leader, called out in his sleep in some alarm.

'Must go quickly to the Mill! 

'Save the girl, save the world!'

Without hesitation I, Eli Witworth, called our band together. I sent Joshua out to ascertain the whereabouts of the mill in the area. As he went we got dressed and prepared ourselves.

Sadly, Caleb couldn't go. The psychic vision had left him weak and in no shape to accompany us. (To make the casts equal. Would it be a mistake?).

When Joshua came back we gathered for a short prayer asking the Lord's protection and help in the coming hours. We made our way out forgoing breakfast so urgent was the need.

1 sergeant & 2 Soldiers

We hastened towards the mill. The directions Joshua had been given were the most direct and easily followed. As we neared we espied through the trees a clump of people dressed in yellow and a fellow dressed in black. Were these the ones coming to harm the girl?

3 Murder of Crows & 4 cultists

No!

Dastardly deeds! One of the foul servants of evil appears as if by magic by the girl!

and she hypnotises the girl to do her will

We hasten towards the windmill

Crows fly towards us as the cultists move to intercept.

I dominate the Cult leader and turn her onto her brethren

First casualty!

We move to block the escape and are attacked by the crows

They swirl around but neither they nor we can cause any hurt.

The Crow King 

The Crow King flourishes his Fevered Feathers at Joshua, the Sergeant, and he falls, stunned.

More attacks between the birds and soldiers and neither can gain an edge.

Zachariah dominates Yvonne de Freis and she attacks the Crow King causing one health damage

The rebound

de Freis shakes off the effect and attacks Zachariah putting him out!

Although they put Zachariah and Winthorpe out of action things are turning against the cultists, and when they have less than half of the force they started with the cast is axed. The credits roll and they are left bereft. 

The End

The evil minions nearly pulled it off. After the check for being axed the die roll showed the four remaining cast were all axed in one fell swoop.

The remnants with the girl they saved.

It was a fun game.

The quality of the good guys didn't match their rather poor performance in the game. The soldiers with bladed weapon and 1'' reach only managed to kill the crows after many attempts.

Disappointing too were the murder of crows although they were tough to beat because of their defence starting at 9.

The Crow Kings 'Fevered Feathers' is a very powerful weapon even though it only stuns.

It was a crushing victory 8-2. Each concentrating on the enemy neither picked up the objective tokens.

The only one which really counted was the girl (she was an objective). Yvonne de Freis got to her but dropped her when dominated. No one picked her up afterwards.

Shadowbrook

part 2

After some little while we came upon our destination. 

We saw how pleasant the place looked, much cleaner than many similar places.

People going about their business without apprehension despite the tidings of woe we had been foretold of.

We came upon the Blackstar Inn, our lodgings for the duration of our investigation.

A rather surly fellow stood at the door, hired to stop trouble no doubt.

We spoke and he said we were expected and welcomed us. His name is Brutus, well named I'm sure.

We took the three rooms at the front of the inn.

Our goods, such as they are, were taken to our rooms and we settled in the tavern for ale and food. We spoke of things in general and looked forward to a good nights sleep. Tomorrow the men will wander the town to see how things look while I will go to the preacher for his story.

Shadowbrook

 Caleb ''Come, Friends. We must be off to Shadowbrook. Evil signs and portents have have been reported by the church elders there''

Gideon ''I knew it was too good to last, Caleb. This past year has been the quietest for a generation. I hope I'm still up to it!''

Caleb ''Experience like ours helps us through the dark, Gideon. And who else is going to do the churches bidding in these parts?''

Gideon 'You don't have to be right all the time you know.''

The cart hired and loaded, with Abraham the driver to take care of it, the band set off for Shadowbrook to see what disturbs the peace of mind of the church elders there.

Joshua ''I don't know about you but this crossroads and woods feel a bit off.''

Noah ''Anyone else thinks we should dig around for evidence of Devil's pacts?''

Caleb 'We don't want to bring suspicion on us before we even start investigating though it might come soon enough''

(Event card drawn and nothing happened)

With that the Caleb led the them on.

Joshua ''And this bridge gives me the collywobbles too!''

They could all feel it. That off-putting feeling of something lurking in the dark tunnel of the bridge.

Uriel 'Lucky it is daylight then''. ''Let's be about it'' 

He slapped the driver on the shoulder and the cart jerked forward towards they knew not what.

The bridge is haunted. (Event card drawn but nothing happened.)

Uriel ''That went well, then''.

Gideon ''I have no doubt we will be back here to find out what darkness occurred here and what haunts this place''

And the band trooped on to Shadowbrook and its dark secrets.

A reminder of Shadowbrook and its environs

Witchin' Hour/A Touch of Evil

 I've done numerous buildings last year and this for the Witchin' hour/Touch of Evil game I'm cobbling together.

I'd like some more but storage is a problem.

Narrow house  and Market Hall

I have two narrow houses and one wide house plus 3 cottages. 

Blacksmith

The Black Star coach house/tavern

Pop in my dears!

The Manor House. Needs a lick of paint as I just finished building it on the 6th

The shops

I was thinking of having two or three streets on the table but I'm re-thinking it. Looking at a map of Stony Stratford (Buckinghamshire) it was mainly one street. The houses/businesses had long enclosed spaces behind, we might call them gardens if that suffices.

That would make it easier. and cheaper, to do.

I have some of the wattle fences from Renedra for separation of these gardens but will likely need more.

The manor house might be useful for the civic buildings like the court if characters find themselves going there for some reason.

Besides the buildings I've photocopied some of the cards to use in the game. Copied because I'm going to give the board game to one of my sons when I've seen how my patchwork game goes.

17thc map of Stony Stratford

7TV

Hi!

I attended my first 7TV Games Day yesterday at Gamers Paradise in Newport Pagnell., Buckinghamshire. Local to me so it was essay to attend.

A great day if rather on the warm side despite various fans being deployed.

It was the first time in 40 years I've played against an opponent because, as you know, I'm primarily a solo wargamer.

7TV is a game that is based around gaming a TV series so you have a cast, set and script with acts 1-3. There is a chance to use props and star quality abilities to improve your chances of beating the opposite cast.

Each cast has a star, co-star and extras. It's possible to have several co-stars but it means you have fewer cast members due to the points cost for each member. 

It was to be 3 linked episodes over the day using the same cast throughout.

My cast:-

Front row from left: two Mercenaries (extras), Flora Vel Secret Agent (star),  Loyal Sidekick (co-star), Rookie (extra).

Back row from left: Sharpshooter (extra), Mercenary (extra), Scientist (extra), Reporter (extra), Two Agents (Mulder & Scully extras).

The cast generated 8 plot points and suffered from not having any figures act as a unit, where you move several figures for 1 point instead of a point for individual figures.

Two of the opponents had units and saved points for extra dice in attack or defence.

One cast had 3 co-stars and another, Transformers, had higher health statistics meaning they were much harder to kill.

All lessons learned!

First game against the Transformers. We started in opposite corners.

A wider view of the table before my second, and last game, on the set.

This being the first game I was lucky to down one of the Transformer cast to equal the game in the final act!

The score was 3-3. 

I was pleased as punch!

The second episode against a cast with 2 units of schoolgirls(rear left and right) who moved very slowly but generated 6 plot points between them!

Flora and the Rookie moving towards the star of the opposite cast. He survived, Flora was incapacitated ( she was down and out).

I had a lot of casualties in this game and had to roll to see if my cast would be axed. We survived!

The score was 6-3 to the opposite cast

The third episode. Mulder and Scully lead the way and took down a trooper. The Rookie almost did well to capture the Red Baron ( the figure with the red hair and dressed in Red Bull outfit). The mercenary took down Captain Blue, just visible near the tail of the helicopter, a high point in the game.

Flora swept forward a little too late to claim victory in the episode. 

In the last game the cast lost 5-3 though we did down a co-star.

Other sets in use that day:

Ghost Busters table

This Russian post-apoc table was voted best set

I'm tempted to do it again!

7TV

Hi!

I thought I would try out a game of 7TV using Children of the Corn cast and the 17thc equivalent of Department X or similar.

I just love the corn doll and pumpkin headed figures I bought so they had to be in mix. I am using 6 (not the number pictured).

I used a witch for Lady Winterly and a cult leader for Yvonne De Vries.

I added some cult members to give a figure of 30 rating.

For the good guys I used:

Intrepid adventurer.

Stalwart sidekick 

Rugged Veteran (I will use Henchman 'throw' for him also)

Town Watch, 4 men (Guard detail using the guard stats as they have polearm weapons).

It almost went well for Lady Winterly and Yvonne de Vries. 

The coven leader captured two guards with her powers. But the Corn Dolls were mashed by Intrepid Adventurer, Stalwart Sidekick and Rugged Veteran leaving her defenceless and she got chopped down.

With so many down they failed their checks and the cast were axed. Game called because they were never going to come back from so bad a loss.

The prop cards drawn were not much use to either side.