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Spacegamer.com - Standard Barony Mission:
This uses the Tarot Card to Generate a "Standard" Mission on the Fly as described in Designing Fantasy Missions as part of the Barony Set. (Standard means it is not focused exclusively on an Underworld.) No attempt is made here to define each of the finer points.
To begin, determine who the mission is offered to and call them the Party Leader (to accept / reject Mission).
Note: This mission is temporary. Copy it out now if you want it. (It pastes nicely into Word.)
Mission Title:
Party Leader:
Patron:
- 8 Rods: Letter, Note or Message; someone seeks to meet with the players, but not at their present location. The note may specify some details (perhaps flip Mission card and tell players), but leave most of the specifics open, until the players agree to go to a rendezvous point. Once the players meet with their Patron, then flip the rest of the Mission cards, including a pick to answer "WHO??" for Patron. Almost never will this take the players to an ambush, unless "WHO??" flip reveals a past Rival ("but that's a one in seventy-eight"). Inverted, Royal Proclamation or Summons; talk about cliche' ("I'm embarrassed to even list this as an option"). The overused "court call" before the ol' "HRH" ("that's 'his royal highness' for you slow boys") presents the Patron. However, never will the king or emperor himself be the Patron; the vulgar affairs of state that require hiring "men such as these" (player characters) will be tasked to a courtier or chamberlain ("if you're lucky you'll briefly see the chancellor"). Face it again my overly romantic fools; kings in a fantasy worlds do not hold their thrones when they constantly summon misfits ("dangerous misfits") like player characters into their courtrooms. Who knows what assassin (or demon) may instead appear disguised as the players. Likewise, little nice homey kingdoms in which the king ("or often faery queen") knows all of her goody-two-shoes subjects don't exist -- they get eaten by the goblin hordes and wasted by the necromancers who control the realms of fear ("yes, probably another player character"). Sure at most conventions, you often see "Missions" that have the players first meet the "king" and go do these "great and wonderful things". Yet, I always ask myself, "doesn't this Bozo got an army? Hey, if I was king and the matter was that important, I surely wouldn't send some dufess (like the character I always end up getting to play) on the Mission; I'd go myself." Right, enough ranting (for now); suffice to say the Patron was some sort of legal mandate like the draft -- "what do you mean we got a summons to appear?"
Mission:
- 6 Cups: Spy, observe and obtain mercantile (trade and craft) information. Inverted, spy, observe and obtain information on a castle construction or fortress enhancement.
- Chariot: Success on the Mission will leave the players famous. Inverted, success will leave them infamous as fugitives or outcasts, possibly with large reward for apprehension.
Obstacle:
- (Inverted) 7 Swords: True extent of the opposition will be met after the scenario in the next mission accepted by any player. Inverted, true extent of the opposition will be met only after the scenario during times of lull (i.e. when not on a mission). Players' characters will face assassination attempts and continued intrigue for some time to come; Referee decides length of threat, but usually until they discover some secret or slay a force greater than this mission's Rival.
Motivation:
- 8 Coins: Revenge and retribution for another's deed. Inverted, revenge an old deed long forgotten by all but Patron.
Finances:
- Ace Cups: Owns a vessel, but otherwise with limited finances. Inverted, though Patron owns a ship, the craft is damaged, and he hasn't enough for repairs -- seeks players as partners. Either case, mission should be modified to involve travel on the water.
Rival:
- (Inverted) 6 Swords: Duelist. Inverted, Avenger or Queen's Champion.
- Justice: Person has numerous allies in the barons. Inverted, a foreign ruler or emperor.
- (Inverted) Devil: Secretly controls many illicit activities. Inverted, openly flaunts his illegal ways; most fear him (or another more powerful protector) and do nothing.
- Hierophant: Person has numerous allies in a religious sect. Inverted, among the worshipers of the One True God.
Phases
On the way to the Mission Climax, the Party will travel through three game Phases which may be short or long (depending on the Tarot cards drawn). These represent the obstacles and challenges along the way to the Ultimate Climax of the Mission.
(A) Initial Successes:
(B) Challenges on the Journey:
(C) Final Travel to the Climax:
Climax Flow:
Referee creates the flow of the climax OR refer to Designing Fantasy Missions!!!
Come on Back and maybe we'll have a generator in for you. Otherwise, use the Temple and Castles from our Legacy tools. (Hey, or buy the books!!!!!)
Epilogue:
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