Over the last year I have been working on a number of Rome themed gaming projects. We are at the moment running a Kickstarter campaign, For the Glory of Rome that includes some fantastic Early Imperial Legionaries and civilians sculpted by Iain Lovecraft. They are the start of a significant range that includes Germanic warriors and Auxilia infantry, archers and cavalry. These have already featured on the table-top in a range of encounters using Infamy, Infamy, To the Strongest, Mortem et Glorium, Feudal Patrol and Wars of Orcs and Dwarves. These have all been mass battle systems. As a long term fan of Pulp Alley, I wanted to try a Pulp / skirmish game. I’ve recently backed a kickstarter from Modiphius for Cohors Cthulhu, a RPG set in the Roman Empire with Cthulhu horrors, so thought that would be a great theme for some pulp adventure.
We played ‘The Lair of the Worm’ scenario, written by David Phipps to go with our Viking range, but easily transferred to some where in the Roman Empire. If playing the scenario solo four level three characters are fielded in your league. If playing versus or co-op, each player fields two level three characters. My first character was Optio Caius, a no nonsense senior NCO from III Legion, a tough fighter, lacking finesse used to team work and aiding a colleague.
Click here to download the scenario:
My second character was Flavius Albus a deductive and quick witted political advisor to the Legions Commander, a bad bet in a fight but good orator in the debating chamber. A set of Pulp Alley Roman character cards can be downloaded from the Kickstarter page, click here.
As a scenario event, my league also picked up a friendly local to help us out. This was in the form of Rex, a hound seen at Flavius’ side. The scenario uses a set of scenario cards: Inhuman Scream, forcing all to take horror checks, Secret Meeting and Grisly Murder, both of which cause plot points to be played if there is not one within 6″, Unseen Danger that causes a random peril to be played and Lying in Wait that causes the character to be attacked by the monstrous beast. Scenario cards are played when a character activates and they are more than 6″ away from another character. At this point Optio Caius is heading towards the drinking fountain to investigate the evidence left by ‘A grizzly murder’
Poor old Flavius did not have much luck. He did not understand the principle of strength in numbers, went searching for clues under the arches of the Coliseum and was pounced on by the beast that was ‘Lying in Wait’.
Meanwhile, our doughty Optio pieces together the clues and leaves with some startling evidence. The minor plot point also provided a boost to his Finesse (that normally leaves a little to be desired).
However, before he can act on the information he too is mauled by the chaos beast.
In a daze from his recent fright, Flavius headed off to investigate a nearby clue. Unfortunately he did not get that far before being assaulted by one of Mikes characters, a hardened Gladiator who knocks him unconscious with remarkable ease.
Behind the shops, at the far side of town, Mike’s other character, Hirtia is investigating a poor beggar, hoping for a denarii.
However Hirtia’s intention was not to interview the witness, but to silence him… forever. Once she had slit his windpipe the coast was clear for her to reveal her dark secrets and transform into the demonic chaos spawn. In this form she charges through the main street and is eventually defeated by the combined determination of Optio Caius and Mike’s Gladiator…. although it would be remiss of me not to note for posterity that it was indeed Mike’ Gladiator Spuriusta Vesonia who finally dispatched the hideous beast.
Useful Links:
Roman Soldiers and Civilians from Sally 4th’s For the Glory of Rome Campaign
Chaos Thing from Sally 4ths Classic Movie Miniatures Range
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