Cthulhu Hack player and GM

Cthulhu Hack: The Woodson Estate

Cthulhu Hack The Woodson Estate Today at work I ran Cthulhu Hack for the first time. I have the rulebook with me for some time now and had not tinkered with it last weekend. Then, Irfan and I went through character generation and the dice basics, just to get the hang of it. Later I read several of Michael LaBossiere’s online scenarios, after which I decided to adapt “Woodson Pond”. Here is the story from the game I ran for my colleague Robert who like me also teaches English. The Letter The year was 1980. It was on a Friday during one of his lull weeks when Sean Columbo received the letter. The Seattle-based private eye discovered that the letter was from his former high school classmate Margaret Hilton, a real estate broker in Tallahassee, Florida. Margaret had was set on acquiring and selling a land to a developer as […]

Continue reading
The Expanse Title Card

The Expanse: Scheherezade Tales

I ran The Expanse RPG for the first time last night. It was a solo session with Irfan playing the ex-soldier Kazuo Khan, based on the pre-generated PC Casey Khatri. Let’s get right down to it… The Expanse Scheherezade Tales The asteroid was once known as 643 Scheherezade discovered in by August Kopff in 1907 at the Heidelberg Observatory. Its diameter was nearly 36 kilometres and it orbited with an orbital inclination of about 13 degrees. It was part of the Cybele family of asteroids out in the Belt and its orbit was closer to Jupiter’s than it was to Mars’. Now – centuries later – the solar system knew it as Scheherezade, or “Zadi” to its inhabitants. It had three settlements – Aberdeen Baharu, Gamelan Sakti and Gertak Lembu, built into it. Almost a century ago, engineers spun Scheherezade so that the settlements would experience 0.4g spin gravity. The […]

Continue reading
Strrikeforce Enteague

SWD6: Where No Saboteur Has Dreamt Before

Strikeforce Enteague Episode 13: Where No Saboteur Has Dreamt Before Soon after the events of Kinooine, an independent scout named Brett “Bloodhound” Baden joined the strikeforce, after being invited by Drew Greyhelm. As Brett settled into the team, the outpost received a priority message from the informant on Igmalar Ooogle Flutzgle. The message informed them that a new Imperial science installation had been constructed in the Gemone system in the Enteague sector. It was rumoured to be a biological weapon research facility. They had learnt that the Empire planned to test it on the highly-populated planet of Chandrila in the Core Worlds. The planet was chosen as it was the homeworld of Mon Mothma, the leader of the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Once again, Drew assembled a team to travel to the mountains of Gemone, consisting of Brett, the mercenary Force user Athala Navin and bounty hunter Ace Browning Crossfire. […]

Continue reading
Strrikeforce Enteague

SWD6: Quest for the Weaponship

Strikeforce Enteague Episode 12: Quest for the Weaponship Previously, the strikeforce travelled to Golrath to rescue Drew Greyhelm and Luke Skywalker from incarceration… After Commander Skywalker had departed Enteague Minor to return to his own base, Drew returned to work and received information from Ooogle Flutzgle, his informer in the Igmalar system. The communiqué stated that the Kinooine Pirates had stolen an Imperial EF-76B Nebulon-B Escort Frigate codenamed Weaponship. Drew assembled a team that consisted of the bounty hunter Shanna Toarinar, minor Jedi Ben One-Howel, gambler Scurvy H. Sharky, and pirate Phoenix Avalon. Drew tasked them with contacting a known retired Kinooine Pirate commander in the Velktwarr system. They believed that he would be participating in the Lost Moon Festival there. Vegorr Spaceport Phoenix’s new freighter Firebird landed in Vegorr spaceport on the continent of Eastern Nexyn in the late afternoon. The spaceport was located 17 kilometres north of the […]

Continue reading
Strrikeforce Enteague

SWD6: Rapid Rescue

Strikeforce Enteague Episode 11: Rapid Rescue Previously, some time after the last Strikeforce mission, Drew Greyhelm and another rebel agent were captured during a mission to Tatooine… Enteague Outpost Commander Dominic assembled bounty hunter Shanna Toarinar, pilot Viveede Briylle Colore, and the gambler Scurvy H. Sharky for the rescue mission. Alliance Intelligence indicated that Drew and the rebel agent he was captured with have been transferred to the molten metal mines of Golrath. The team boarded the Nexus Point, departed from Enteague Minor and made a jump towards Golrath. Imperial Entanglements The rebel strikeforce dropped out of lightspeed near a red-tinged world scarred with craters and glowing magma fissures. As Viveede piloted them closer, Shanna detected a distress beacon from a small asteroid moon. Viveede piloted them closer to investigate. Suddenly, a new group of signals appeared out of nowhere. Three Imperial Customs Frigate come hurtling from beyond the asteroid and […]

Continue reading
Sandtroopers on patrol

SWD6: Dangers of the Wastes

Strikeforce Enteague Interlude Contacts in the Dark Episode 3 Dangers of the Wastes Previously, during the mission to intercept critical information from being transmitted by an Imperial Ubiqtorate encampment on Tatooine, Mark Grog the bounty hunter, Steven Waverider the outlaw and Roland Ritcher the gambler meet up with Drew Greyhelm the rebel commando. They all rendezvous with their contact named “Wormie” on Taboon, after which they travel to Tatooine. There, they discover that the encampment is located in the Jundland Wastes… From Beyond After their run-in with the Devaronian scoundrel named Labria, Mark, Roland, Steven, Drew and Wormie procure transport for their desert excursion from Unut Poll the Arcona manager of the Spaceport Speeders. After a short time, Drew and the trio rent a SoroSuub XP-291 Skimmer while Wormie rents a rusty Incom T-16 Skyhopper because he claims that, “It reminds me of Beggars Canyon back home.” All psyched up […]

Continue reading
Mos Eisley Spaceport

SWD6: Once Upon A Wretched Hive

Strikeforce Enteague Interlude Contacts in the Dark Episode 2 Once Upon A Wretched Hive Previously, three rebel agents from the Cratertown rebel cell on Ord Mantell, Mark Grog, Steven Waverider and Roland Ritcher  headed out on a mission with Strikeforce Enteague commander Drew Greyhelm from Enteague Minor. Their mission was to stop an Imperial Ubiqtorate team from transmitting the locations of their bases and outpost to the Empire. Streets of Mos Eisley Twin suns greet them as they revert back to realspace. Drew’s rebel contact “Wormie”  obtains permission to from Mos Eisley Spaceport to land at Docking Bay 94. As Drew and Wormie pay the port officer, the Ord Mantell trio catch a glimpse of a Twi’lek grinning madly at them from the landing bay entrance. They blink and the Twi’lek vanished like a ghost. Mark, Steven, Roland, Wormie and Drew venture into the hot bustling streets of Mos Eisley. […]

Continue reading
Cloud City

SWD6: Many Meetings

Strikeforce Enteague Interlude Contacts in the Dark Episode 1 Many Meetings Some time after the abduction of Viveede Colore and Akela T’sing during their mission to Igmalar,  Commander Dominic informed Drew Greyhelm that Alliance High Command had a mission for him. An Imperial Ubiqtorate temporary encampment on Tatooine had discovered the locations of four rebel bases. The locations involved were the Enteague Outpost, the Tierfon Outpost, the Cratertown cell on Ord Mantell and the Outer Rim Communication Centre on Generis. The Imperial Ubiqtorate agents, supported by a platoon of stormtroopers, were waiting for the recall signal for them to relay their information. Drew’s mission was to stop this data from being transmitted with three rebel agents from the Cratertown cell. The trio will rendezvous with him in Cloud City on the gas giant planet Bespin. The team of four would next travel to Tatooine to meet their guide codenamed “Wormie”. […]

Continue reading
Strrikeforce Enteague

SWD6: Derelict of Death

Strikeforce Enteague Episode 10: Derelict of Death After their return from Tatooine, the team had several uneventful weeks on Enteague Minor. But before long, Drew Greyhelm acquired a new recruit: the scout Akela T’sing. He wore a dusty camouflaged trench coat and a combat helmet with canvas weather flaps down the back and sides. Plus, he was quite a laconic human being. The Enteague Outpost base Commander Dominic informed Drew that they received a wide band Alliance distress call from the swamp world of Igmalar. Drew assigned both Akela and pilot Viveede Briylle Collor to investigate. IGMALAR Viveede piloted the small Corellian Turbocarrier freighter Fallen Angel into the thick, foggy atmosphere of Igmalar. Akela acquired permission to land from Igmalar City Traffic Control. The Angel settled gracefully onto a landing pad. Upon disembarking, Viveede found it strange that no port officers had come out to greet them. The pilot and […]

Continue reading
Strrikeforce Enteague

SWD6: Tatooine Manhunt

Strikeforce Enteague Episode 09: Tatooine Manhunt It has been many years since I last continued writing an actual play report entry of my oldest Star Wars RPG campaign: Strikeforce Enteague. Where was I? Oh yes. Still back in 1989 real time… Enteague Minor As Cal Tynblade was tossed into a detention cell, Captain Robetre thanked them for allowing him to observe their mission and bade them farewell. Two weeks later, Commander Drew Greyhelm returned to Enteague Outpost with a pair of new recruits. The first was Scurvy H. Sharky, a high-stakes gambler complete with a cape and an axe to grind against the Empire – by literally wielding a vibroaxe. The second wore padded armour covered by voluminous robes. The mercenary sported a flat-top mullet and carried twin automatic slugthrowers. He went by the moniker “Wisecrack”. Bounty hunter Ace Browning Crossfire then felt he had some soul searching to do […]

Continue reading
The programme participants

The Laundry: Getting Ahead of Themselves

Episode 3 Getting Ahead of Themselves Last time on The Laundry, Team Bunga Tahi Ayam was sent to Ulu Yam to look for the missing Team Bunga Kemboja of Capital Laundry Services agents. Their de facto field supervisor Pn. Izani escorted them in their car while micromanaging them loudly and obnoxiously. The trail of the agents lead them to the kedai runcit of En. Sabri Mat Hassan where a pair of undead armed with automatic weapons attacked them. Later, they discovered the house of En. Saad Ibrahim, a sculptor who works with wood. One of his sculptures had been possessed by an extradimensional entity and killed Team Bunga Kemboja leader Keith Yong. It seemed like this was caused by occult pages of a book that was found all over the countryside. The conclusion of the encounter with the possessed wooden sculpture was a blast… Dramatis Personae Azizah a.k.a. Jijah (Yuzi) […]

Continue reading
Paperminis

The Laundry: An Unbelievably Wooden Dialogue

Episode 2 An Unbelievably Wooden Dialogue Previously, the agents that comprised Team Bunga Tahi Ayam and their de facto field supervisor Puan Izani travelled to Ulu Yam to investigate the disappearance of Team Bunga Kemboja Capital Laundry Services (Malaysia). Their investigations led them to a kedai runcit owner named Sabri Mat Hassan and an ancient occult book written in arcane Jawi titled Kitab Serba Serbi Budi Bicara Alam. Also, they were attacked by undead gunmen. The mission continued… Dramatis Personae Azizah a.k.a. Jijah (Yuzi) – a Fifth Form student who is also an experienced spy from Pulau Langkawi. Badrul (Bazli) – a 65 year-old antiquarian from Ipoh, Perak. Lucy Abdullah (Farah) – a “plumber” from Tangkak, Johor. Rayha a.k.a Ray (Noriha) – a linguist from Batu Pahat, Johor. Talhah Abdullah (Rizal) – a computer hacker from Segamat, Johor. Chapter 1 A KAMPUNG HOUSE STANDS ALONE The team decided to travel […]

Continue reading
The GM Awakens

SWD6: A Wild Stranglepod Appears

Time is the Hunter Episode 07: A Wild Stranglepod Appears Continuing the adventure I ran for Ain and Irfan – (counts fingers) – 16 months ago… Bounty hunter Jax Hunt and amnesiac lady who called herself Iris Helena were waiting in the Corellian Engineering Corporation VCX-100 light freighter assigned to them, the Screeching Arrow, by the rebel fleet when the Togorian rebel coordinator Meow Skywalker came to them with a job: “The mission will require you to travel to the Chandrila system in the Core Worlds to extract Imperial bureaucrat Ton Kelauae, his wife Aklu and his daughter Wencie. Land at Nayli Spaceport. The Kelauaes are holed up in Apartment 7C, Blackback Building. The Empire is looking for them and it will be a matter of time before they are discovered. Get to them before the Empire does and bring them back here.” During the mission, the duo got into […]

Continue reading
The CIL tabletop RPG group

The Laundry: The New Normal

Episode 1 The New Normal Two weeks ago, my colleagues from the Centre for International Languages and I started with a session zero. Today, we played our first actual The Laundry RPG session. A group of language teachers attempted to play as a group of ultra-secret government intelligence agents trying to – ultimately – stop the end of the world. From the Capital Laundry Services (M) Sdn Bhd Employee Handbook Ver 34.2: The Laundry (Malaysia) is a unit in the Malaysian Ministry of Education. After a 6 years being an independent British agency after the independence of Malaya, the Laundry (Malaysia) was gazetted and absorbed into the new Malaysian Federal government in 1963 in a Top Secret ceremony with the blessings of the Majlis Raja-Raja. The Laundry was integrated into the Ministry of Education using high level computational sorcery and magic. In 1997, the Laundry (Malaysia) was attached as a […]

Continue reading
Ready player one

EOTE Tabletop Day Session: The Pilot and the Spy

Interlude 1 The Pilot and the Spy Last night before the end of International Tabletop Day, Irfan returned to his role as Hondo Pash the Smuggler Pilot in Star Wars Edge of the Empire role-playing game. We began with an obligatory Star Wars crawl: Movin’ It had been several years since the fateful Battle of Shadda-Bi-Boran. While his family were safely sequestered away on an Alliance safeworld, Hondo Pash had been working as an Alliance operative travelling the galaxy taking on one piloting mission after another. The Corellian Engineering Corp G9 Rigger-class modified freighter known as the Junk Bucket dropped out of lightspeed off the Igmalar system. The planet Igmalar was a humid, fog-covered swamp planet deep in the Enteague Sector in a minor star cluster slightly above the galactic plane. Nestled in the Outer Rim Territories, the Enteague Sector was under the absolute grip of the Empire because of […]

Continue reading
The title card!

Mini Six: Rescue in the Rainforest

Mini Six: Doom Agents 03 Rescue in the Rainforest Last time on Doom Agents, four operatives sent to investigate the Eternitech factory deep in the South American rainforest located by the Amazon river had been captured by Eternitech’s security forces led by Hideo Eguchi. After an enemy flashbang grenade did its job in the store room where they were laying an ambush, the four agents found themselves each tied to a chair in the Eternitech factory floor, specifically on a conveyor belt that would lead to a shredding machine. Dramatis Personae Agent Trolala Zelimkhanov, a Chechen driver – Nasha and Nurul Ain Agent Nancy Nassirian, an Iranian fixer – Athirah and Sabrina Agent Adam Mbokota, a South African shooter – Syafiq and Weng Zun Agent Adrien Nicolas, a French hacker – Malvinder and Asyraaf Agent J. Johnson Jonathan, a Nepalese hitter – Alif Agent Harry Wilson, a British talker – […]

Continue reading