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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:
- (Inverted) 8 Coins: Dwarven Craftsman; near-human of diminutive size (in some game systems, the term goblin may better apply). Not evil nor good, dwarves inhabit the mines and underworlds away from man. By Norse legend, dwarves were banished to the task of hiding gold and precious metals deep in mountains. Rumplestiltskin (another dwarf) had wondrous powers ("spin straw into gold"), but he also was a creature that enjoyed eating human flesh (especially babies). Note, in Barony system, dwarves are basically viewed as repugnant and base -- greedy, undependable, sarcastic and moody. They normally do not associate with the "tall humans", a minor evil chased away by dogs or thrown stones. Players should be fore-warned, never to fully trust a dwarf. However, Mission will almost always involve great riches (or opportunity to gain such). Do not pick a card (or ignore picks) for Motive (that can be assumed to be greed) or Finances (dwarf will offer nothing, but promise to share in fortune). Inverted, Dwarven Mercenary; a warrior for hire of dwarven race. If dwarves are untrustworthy, why use them in battle? Well, as long as they are not detailed for routine guard duty ("grow bored easily"), they are courageous fighters -- single-minded in purpose and bloodthirsty, often later feasting on the remains of the dead (from either side). Also, greed drives them to do anything, and they are easily manipulated by magic (amplifying their desires). Dwarves have fought en masse in many wars on the surface. Legends describe their prowess in these battles as unmatched; key battles have been turned from stalemate to victory, after the dwarves hammered into the fray. Dwarf Mercenary is almost always on assignment from another (pick "WHO??", but he will never directly reveal such); yet, he is faltering in his assigned task ("I need your help"). Players join knowing not to seek reward from the dwarf, but instead later from true Patron ("you should have hired a man in the first place"). Again do not pick a card for Motive or Finances (or ignore picks).
Mission:
- (Inverted) 10 Swords: Outfit a cargo for smuggling or secret transport. Inverted, find and purchase an illegal substance (i.e. chemicals or materials for magic incantations -- like freshly buried bodies) and bring it to the Patron.
Obstacle:
- 8 Swords: Players will feel constantly cheated during scenario. Inverted, if scenario reaches Climax, players will feel so violated in their trust, that they must forever change the attitude in which they role-play their characters.
- Force: Players must face Rival in a Climax battle that they are the least prepared or weakest to fight (i.e. ship's crew must fight on land or horsemen must go to sea; storming a siege is always difficult). Inverted, Climax battle is in players' strongest means (their choice).
- Hierophant: One (or all) player will be threatened with banishment from his religion, unless he abandons his quest. Inverted, if the players successfully complete the scenario, all must adopt a new attitude or religion ("their previous gods no longer listen to them"). This offer means characters become converts to One True and Only God.
Motivation:
- (Inverted) Knight Cups: Thinks player is easily bribed or paid to look the other way should mission become more base. Inverted, feels everyone has a price and is prepared to pay.
Finances:
- 5 Swords: Working under set fund that will not be exceeded. Inverted, Patron has a set amount from which his profit is also taken; he doesn't want all of this fund spent.
- Tower of Destruction: Early in the scenario, the Patron's finances, not taken on the mission, will be consumed by an unrelated event. Inverted, at scenario's end, all the finances taken on the mission will be consumed (possible confiscated by a more powerful opponent or authority).
- Empress: Nobles provided the Patron his finances. Inverted, finances were provided from peasants or humble city craftsmen or tradesmen.
Rival:
- 9 Cups: Foreign or Exotic Emperor. Inverted, Ambassador from Distant Land.
- (Inverted) Emperor: Person backs pretender to a monarch's throne. Inverted, instead, is himself a potential usurper of a throne.
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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