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Warrington, United Kingdom Founded on Aug 5, 2021

Warrington Gamers Dave Warrington Gamers Dave
Jan 19, 2025, 12:44 PM
I am contemplating running one or two new games later this year and want to put this out to test the waters.

I am contemplating running one or two new games later this year and want to put this out to test the waters. Each game would be for a small group of four or five players and be bias towards player dialogue and role play, although there is always room for a good serving of violence. Also, both games have a serious and adult element to them which will involve situations which some may find unpleasant or uncomfortable. 

Can I ask that you all take a moment to read through, and if any of this interests you then please let me know. I will then have a better view on if either of these will fly.

Here is a brief overview of each system and setting.

Here comes a rich man turned to a beggerman,

Here comes a master bound for a thief.

Here comes a father led by his daughter.

Here comes a priest with no belief.

We’ll lie side by side my love in a World turned upside down.

It is May in the year of our Lord 1642 and England stands on the brink. The King has been refused entrance to Kingston upon Hull and the people and establishments of the country start fragmenting on religious and political fault lines. Even establishments such as the nobility and Order of the Tree are not invulnerable to schisms as former friends and allies become bitter enemies.

Into this settling you will plunge. As representatives of the one of many factions you will also be linked to the Order of the Tree, that ancient society that has been responsible that magic is tempered with humanity and not exploited by Crown, Church or Commoner.

The system belongs to the “Old School Renaissance” family using the open game licence, andis a stripped down form of D&D. There are four classes, Fighters. Clerics, Mages and Specialists, each of whom may serve the Order in their own way.       

The Rivers of London 

Based on the Ben Aaronovitch books, and using the Chaosium Basic Role Play System, Rivers of London is set in the City of London around 2015. It follows the exploits of the  Special Assessment Unit (AKA The Folly), that less than well known part of the Met Police. The Folly has been the home of Newtonian magic since 1775 and deals with the “weird bollocks” investigations that causes the Commissioner sleepless nights and can upset the public if not cleaned up.

Background wise, magic is everywhere (although few can feel it) and very very dangerous, especially if left in the hands of unregistered hedge wizards or ,God forbid, a member of the Demi-Monde. Oh, for the uninitiated the DM are those who have been changed by magic or are of a magical nature, you know, weird bollocks.

Newton theorised that human interaction with their environment over a period of time led to a build up of, well magic. This can manifest itself into a Genius loci or spirit developing in the location. The many lost rivers of London have over thousands of years of human interaction become very human looking and powerful beings, some would say River Gods. They reflect the cumulative, nature, attitudes and prejudices of those lives that have helped create them.

 It is the duty of The Folly to uphold the Queen’s peace, maintain law and order, and hopefully stay alive long enough to maybe understand what it’s all about. And yes, you do have to act within the law. This is London, not Los Angelese so firearms are strictly controlled. There is a special place and punishment for rogue coppers, and it isn’t Chelsea.

It is a steep learning curve for recruits to The Folly but the opportunities for career progression are there for all. You may even learn a bit of magic, but good solid policing skills are not to be dismissed.      

 

On behalf of Mark Stewart   

Comments

Lamintations
Jan 19, 2025, 1:35 PM
@DuncanE: Duly noted squire, and thanks for responding.
Jan 19, 2025, 7:31 PM
Both sound interesting to me. Tell me more.
Jan 19, 2025, 4:58 PM
@Ben Jordan: What would you like to know citizen? Can give you a brief overview on Monday if you are early.
Jan 19, 2025, 7:32 PM
Hum, not sure I'm understanding the Order of the Tree. Are they like witch hunters but monitoring and are trying to sort the good from the evil witches before sending those who don't meet the standard into the grave?
Jan 21, 2025, 8:00 AM
@Malcolm: Hi Malc. Consider them a sort of (in modern speak) a regulatory body for magic. The details of what and who they protect is for members only and will be discovered by players in game.
Jan 22, 2025, 11:27 AM
Both look interesting but having not read the Ben Aaronovitch books so would have some reservations about Rivers of London. Is a knowledge of the books necessary to play?
Jan 21, 2025, 7:47 PM
@Mike Horrill: Hi Mike. No prior knowledge or book reading is required, in fact a blank canvas is probably advantageous. If you have a basic knowledge of London and have watched any contemporary police dramas like Luther, The Bill, Prime Suspect etc then that should suffice. After all, you would be entering a World that you had previously had no exposure to.
Jan 22, 2025, 11:30 AM
Mark- they look really interesting games! Spoilt for choice.
Jan 23, 2025, 10:52 AM
@Warrington Gamers Dave: Variety is the spice of life so thought I would offer something different to stir the pot.
Jan 23, 2025, 11:24 AM
OK to put some meat on the bones and to answer some of the queries raised, here is some detail on the two systems and settings that may help people decide if this is their cup of tea.

Lamentations of the Flame Princess.

For those not familiar with Old School Renaissance (OSR) it is a stripped back system drawing on the core principles of D&D. In essence it can be summed up as follows:
1. Rulings from the GM is more important than rule books. Concoct a clever plan and let the gamemaster rule on it.
2. Player skill is more important than character abilities. Outwit the enemy, don't simply out-fight them.
3. Emphasize the heroic, not the superheroic. Success lies in experience, not superpowers.
4. Game balance is not important. If the characters meet a more powerful opponent, either think of a clever plan or run away.

There are four classes (Fighter, Cleric, Wizard and Specialist) and only humans are playable. Only Fighters improve their fighting skill, only Clerics use Holy powers, you get the picture.

The setting is England at the dawn of the Civil War (Second Civil War to be accurate as this is post-Bishops Wars) in a country where magic exists but is very much uncommon. Only a Priest can use Holy powers but not all Priests are blessed or devout enough to use it.

Wizards, witches, mages, call them what you like, they wield the very essence of existence but unless they are a registered practitioner of the Art can live in fear of a visit from The Order.

The Specialist is a combination of rogue, spy, assassin or simple information gatherer. They do not have the martial prowess of the Fighter, nor the powers of Cleric or Wizard, but they have access to a wide range of skills that can be improved to achieve their aims.

Rivers of London.
Like Lamentations, Rivers uses a stripped back system. But in this case it’s core is Chaosium’s percentile rather than D&D’s D6. Anyone familiar with Call of Cthuluh will recognise the mechanics immediately.

Unlike Cthulu or Rune Quest, there is no tick quest as at the end of a session the player is awarded a number of Skill Improvement attempts that they allocate to hopefully improve by a set increment.

The major difference is the use of advantage/disadvantage where an additional dice is rolled. If it’s a disadvantage then the higher value is taken (high being bad when rolling against a skill or task) and if it’s an advantage then the lower value is taken. Players also have a pool of Luck that they can draw on to influence a situation.

Magic can be learned by anyone, but it is a slow and costly process. A fumbled casting can cause hyperthaumaturgical degradation (“his brain looks like a diseased cauliflower Sarge”) so maybe keeping some of that luck in reserve is a sensible option.

Hope that helps, but if you have any other queries then drop me a line or catch me before/after any Monday game.
Feb 3, 2025, 10:41 AM
Mark's game is now posted on the site - sign up at your peril...
Mar 10, 2025, 10:42 AM