Delving Wolf

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with Black Powder and Brimstone by Benjamin Tobitt , a Borg game full of gunpowder and witchery set in a fantasy version of Renaissance Germany. Reading online I've heard people complain about the editing of the book and some rules inconsistencies, but I'll be using the Italian version to create this character. Without further ado, let's get into it! 1. First of all we roll for our  CLASS AND SUBCLASS . This game has 5 classes with 3 subclasses each, so I'll roll a d5+d3: -Class , d5: 5, Practitioner (a Paladin-style character) - Subclass , d3: 3, Vow of Sustenance, who can prepare abundant meals for themselves and their party members (which give ...

The following is part 12 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! They weren't kidding, in those days Sam had to work harder than he ever did while in the Navy. It felt different, though, because on his previous ship there was a strict hierarchical order and it was difficult to get along with your superiors, while on The Shriek everyone, captain included, was always willing to have a word with him or share a joke...as long as the Rules were followed. The voyage to Havana was mostly uneventful, save for one instance. One morning, shortly after dawn, Brother Bilge, who was on the crow's nest (he was surprisingly agile for his age), told Bones, who was at the helm at that time,  Watch out, there's a field of flotsam ahead of us, turn to port! The rest of the crew immediately wen...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with  Points of Light by Dayle Grixti , a Borg hack that is even closer than Mork Manual to the B/X origins of Mork Borg, with less doomed world and more classic fantasy; I find this to be a very interesting and inspiring take. Without further ado, let's get into it! 1. First of all we roll for our  ABILITIES , using the traditional 3d6 in order method: - Strength : 14 => +1 - Agility : 13 => +1 - Toughness : 14 => +1 - Presence : 10 => 0 - Intelligence : 8 => -1 Not a bad series of rolls! The game allows us to then swap to if we want, but I think I'll leave mine as they were rolled; 2. Next we pick our  ANCESTRY  and  CLASS . I...

The following is part 11 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! Brother Bilge then turned to Sam and burst into a surprisingly loud laugh for a man his size.  You should see your face, mate! Le me explain: this is something we do every time   someone joins the crew; we bet about their reaction when they first see The Shriek, and the winners get to do only half work on the ship for a week at the expense of the losers. It's fun! You'll try it next time. -When did you even have time to do the bets?  Sam asked, dumbfounded. We were together the whole time! Bilge chuckled.  Oh, most of the crew already did when we were first talking. I added mine while you were talking to White. Sam turned to the robed man: What did you bet? -Oh, I never take part in this activity , replie...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with  Mork Manual by Rodney Rickrode , a Borg hack that keeps the iconic Mork Borg style but is closer to the classic fantasy of games like B/X, of which it retains the race-as-class. Without further ado, let's get into it! 1. First of all let's roll for our CLASS , d10: 3, Fallen  (basically an Elf), a character who has a bonus on reaction rolls made against creatures you haven't met before and is immune to diseases, poisons and old age (among other things); 2. Next let's determine our ABILITIES , for which this game offers an alternative to the usual Borgs: d4-d4 x4, to be assigned as you wish and then modified by the class (in our ca...

The following is part 10 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! White closed his eyes and muttered what sounded like a prayer before replying  May she rest in peace. Did you have a chance to visit her village before ending up here? -I did, yes , replied Sam.  We went there a couple of days after the attack. I got there just in time to see her body before they burned her and the rest of the victims to make sure they won't come back as undead. White nodded gravely.  It's sad we are forced to do this, but at least it lets our beloved to be free from this world. -...or so they say,  Sam muttered   whille making eye contact with Catherine's dark eyes; he then immediately continued to prevent questions . Anyway, once I got there I asked my captain to help me find those wh...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with  Dukk Borg  by Gem Room Games, a Ducktales-inspired Borg game. Once I found out about it, I  had  to try it, so...let's begin! 1. First of all, let's roll for our  CLASS , d4: 4,  The Devotee  (a young member of the clan with a passion for adventure...basically the nephews); 2. Next we roll for our  ABILITIES , 3d6 each in order (as usual) adjusted by our class' modifier: - Agility : 12+1=13 => +1 - Presence  8 => -1 (but the DR for all PRES tests is reduced by 2) - Strength  10-2=8 => -1 - Tuffness  12 => 0; 3. Our class gives us a few  EXTRA rolls to make: - Favorite color , d4: 4, Pink; -...

The following is part 9 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! -You're a religious man, then?  Sam asked the robed man.  Despite everything the Dark Caribbean has to offer? -Yes, I am , he replied.  In fact, I am...or rather, I used to be a pastor, back in the Netherlands. -You're not anymore? -Sadly not, but it wasn't my decision. As you've seen earlier, I possess an...unusual connection with the Lord. I am capable of asking him questions and receiving proper answers, even though sometimes they are a bit...cryptic. -Wow, that's incredible! Though not unusual, on this side of the Ocean. -Exactly. Back in my homeland, though, it was almost unheard of, and that led to me losing my position and having to escape to these lands to avoid a...fiery demise. Long story short...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with  Orc Borg  by Grant Howitt, a Borg hack set in a spaceship full of orcs whose dungeons are floating in space and sometimes randomly crash into said spaceship. The concept alone sold me on it! As it has happened other times, I'll be using the Italian version of the game for this character creation, so some table results may vary here and there. Now, without further ado, let's begin! 1. First of all, let's pick our  CLASS : in this game you can only be an Orc or an Orcborg, so I chose to go  Orc Borg  to see more of what the game has to offer; 2. Now it's time to roll our  ABILITIES , which this game allows to assign after rolling (as ...

The following is part 8 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! Ramirez almost growled as she spat on the ground.  Let's bring it back to the ship. Pedro will have a lot of explaining to do. No one dared to reply to that. Sea Whale grabbed the chest with both hands, lifted it as if it weighed nothing and everyone began the walk back following the Captain; Ophelia, whose mind had not returned home yet, had her hand taken by Bilge and started meekly following him. Sam had the feeling this was a recurring task for the old man. During the walk back to the ship the tension was so heavy they were all hunched over, barely speaking to each other. The jungle was still eerily silent, although now it felt more as if it was matching their mood. After a few minutes Ophelia seemed to return from ...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with MÖRK DÖD by Sunzenaut , a "Brutal Death Metal Chainsaw & Sorcery TTRPG" set in the same Dying Lands as Mork Borg, but with oil, industry and a lot of brutality! The horde rules are one of my favorite things of this game, something I'll probably port into other Borg games. Anyway, without further ado, let's begin! 1. Let's start by rolling our  CLASS , d6: 2,  Bonesaw Surgeon , which gives us  Bonesaw Surgery : Heal d6 HP to yourself or someone else. On a 6 you heal 6 HP, on a 1, the injured limb is amputated dealing d6 damage instead (if the surgery is to repair a vital organ or critical wound, the result of 1 is instant death instea...

The following is part 7 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! -Not yet a man covered in tattoos replied without stopping. - Did any of the skeletons turn to ASH?  asked the woman with the eye patch, raising her head to look out of the hole. -I didn't tell you to stop digging said the Captain with a sigh.  We'll take a look around, and if we find any you can have a dose when you find the treasure . - Thank you Captain!  She resumed her digging with renewed vigor, humming a song to give herself and the others the rhythm. Now that he was looking at her more carefully, Sam could notice the signs, sunken eye sockets and darkened lips. That woman was addicted to ASH, the powdered remains of the undead. Sam had seen many people having the time of their life with it, but even more...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with a new Pirate Borg character (since the first one I created, Samuel Robert Thomas , is already busy in his own adventure ), but to give it a twist it'll be a character from one of the optional classes, Tall Tale! These can range from a Merfolk (with a fish-like lower half), an Aquatic Mutant ("an abominable union between man and the sea") or a Sentient Animal (which is self-explanatory). Without further ado, let's begin!  1. Let's start with finding our  CLASS , d6: 6,  Sentient Animal , so we have another roll to determine which animal we are, d6: 1,  Foul Fowl : a demonic chicken with the ability of one random relic and one random ritua...

The following is part 6 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! There wasn't much of a choice, therefore Sam grabbed his boarding axe and stepped forward; in that moment Catherine, whom he had forgotten about for a bit, reappeared right beside the skeleton he was about to attack. He panicked and swung his axe around as if to swat away a fly, eventually hitting the skull; he barely made a denti into it, though. The skeleton tried to swing its knife towards Sam, but he was ready: a quick sidestep and he immediately saw an opening to strike back...only for the axe to get stuck between the ribs! The situation looked dire, but he somehow managed to free his weapon and take a step back. [This last bit is me rolling a nat 20 on defense, giving me a free attack, where I rolled a nat 1, imme...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with Ronin, a Borg hack set in an alternate reality version of feudal Japan, of which you can find a Barebones version for free here . Let's begin! 1. We start by rolling our  CLASS , d10: 10,  Sword Saint , a master of duels; 2. Then we roll our  ABILITIES , incorporating the class modifiers: -   Swiftness : 12+2=14, +1; -  Spirit : 13-1=12, +0; -  Vigor : 13+2=15, +2; -  Resilience : 14+1=15, +2; 3. The last ability is  HONOUR , but it works a bit differently: we roll 3d6 (modified by the class, in our case +1) and we keep this score as is; under 10 our character is considered  Dishonourable , while a result above 10...

The following is part 5 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! -You see, Sam,  Bilge continued,  the Captain is a honorable pirate, who treats us very nicely, much better than other crews I've been in before. The only thing is that she has some Rules she wants us to follow, and if we don't her mean side shows up. They're not many, don't worry, and nothing difficult, but be careful to follow them, otherwise...oh boy! -Otherwise?   asked Sam. -You don't wanna know the otherwise. -That's insane! How can you be okay with being treated like this? -Oh come on, don't be silly! We all have our little quirks. And the Captain is brave and strong enough to afford a bit more quirkiness, that's it. Besides, are you telling me the high ranks of the Royal Navy are all ...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with the (diseased) mother of all Borg game, Mork Borg itself. For this one I'll refer to the  Barebones edition  of the game, which is just the same as the full game, just without art and downloadable for free. Kudos to Johan Nohr! Let's begin! 1. We start by rolling for our  EQUIPMENT : - d6: 5, A small wagon or smaller item (after seeing the rest of the rolls I opted for a sack which can hold up to 10 items); - d12, 8:  A metal file and lockpicks ; - d12, 6:  A toolbox with 10 nails, tongs, hammer, a small saw and a drill . 2. Next we pick our  CLASS , d6: 4,  Wretched Royalty ; 3. It's now time to roll our  ABILITIES : -...

The following is part 4 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! -Anyway, why are you on this island? And where are we going now?  asked Sam. -Oh, this is a good one! We're here to loot a treasure! And not just any treasure, no sir: we're about to find the one and only treasure of Captain Morel, who he hid 15 years ago. -Captain Morel? I thought that was just a myth. -Oh no, Sam!  He definitely existed. Captain Morel was among the first Europeans to reach these shores; he was present when the dead started coming back, and shortly after he left the Spanish Armada and became one of the first pirates. Eventually the Spanish got him and executed him, but they never managed to find his treasure. It was thought that it got lost to the sea when Morel was captured, but it turns out he hi...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, marking the beginning (like I said in my year recap post ) of a series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. For the first one, we'll start with Cy_Borg , the cyberpunk version of Mork Borg created by Christian Sahlén and Johan Nohr of Stockholm Kartell. As any Borg game, character creation (and the game itself) is fast and dripping with style. As with other games before, I'll be using the Italian version of the game, so some tables might be translated slightly differently. Let's begin! 1. We start by rolling a d6 for our  CLASS : 6,  Forsaken Gang-goon , someone who used to be part of a gang but is not anymore. Why? The dice will tell us soon! We roll 3d6-2 for our Strength and get a reduced difficulty to all Presence and Agility tests. Not...

The following is part 3 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in!   One member of the crew, a woman with a patch over her right eye, erupted in a howl. That seemed to break the tension, and one moment later Sam, the Captain and the rest of the crew were laughing at the sudden outburst. Captain Ramirez turned to a short man with a hook instead of his left hand beside her:  I entrust you with the newbie, Brother Bilge. Make sure he knows how to behave and that he pulls his weight . Aye aye, Captain  replied the man, who then turned to Sam with a smile:  Walk with me, mister. I'll show you the ropes as we follow the captain . Where are we going?  asked Sam  And how ccan you trust me already? I wouldn't, if I were you . Brother Bilge chuckled.  Ah, don't ...