(Brutal Quest) Escaping with the Pig

 I figured it was time to run another quick game of Brutal Quest with my OG Reaper Mouslings.  Last time, they blasted their way to claim the Golden Pig.

This time I flipped the map in two dimensions (the mouslings start where they finished last, and I literally flipped the double sided but identical map from green to red for fun.).

And I gave their opponents an identical wizard of their own... although the goblin mooks were based on an underpowered "mercenary" template I found on the Lead Adventure Forum.  

Fresh off the painting bench and onto the mini-battlefield...

Objective:  The Mouslings need to move the Golden Pig off the board with 20cm of the opposite corner.  Whoever held the Pig could not attack or use spells, less they drop the pig as a free action, but needed to use an action to pick it up.  This is the big reason the Mousling Wizard didn't just cast teleport and blink out of there, leaving his minions to handle the mess.

 I did not set up a turn limit.

That was the biggest mistake of all.

Turn One:  Two Goblins take a defensive position at the bridge and the wizard hurls a fireball, damaging, but not forcing a break test.  

Scrye, the Mousling Wizard was wisely hiding within the ruins, peaking out to throw a fireball of his own.    The other mouslings charged across the bridge, making one goblin flee.  

Turn 2-?:  And then the dice seemed to fail... The goblin had weaker stats but the the experienced mouslings simply could not put them away.    The axe-wielding mousling was wrecking havoc, even managing to track down and dispatch the opposing wizard.  That 3d4 damage against the unarmored 1d4-1 damage soaking meant considerable damage each time.  

Still, those mangey goblins were persistent.   The Brutal Quest system is based on a Bennie system known as ... Brutality.  You earn Brutality by hurting opponents, making them fail break tests, killing them outright, etc....  and you can turn those points in for number of things such as:

• Giving your figure a bonus to it's next action (1 Brutality) 
• Automatically Passing a break test (1)
• A Reroll (3)
• An extra action during the turn (6)
• Increase a core skill by 1 after the game (6)

It's a bit of bookkeeping, but fun. 

About five turns in, the sword wielding mouse used his Persuasion trait, which forced the goblin he was fighting to break off from combat and step back.   That gave  Scrye the Mousling Wizard an opening past the bridge to make a break for it.

One problem:  the goblins hadn't taken their turn yet, so the disengaged goblin starts to run towards the mousling holding a solid gold pig.  

It was apropos to call combat brutal.  The goblin got a couple good hits into Scrye, and the other mouslings attempted to rescue their leader, and it alternated between no one failing their break test, of the goblin's leather armor absorbing all the club and sword damage. 

Another way to earn Brutality I omitted previously?  You gain a Brutality if you absorb all the damage from an opponent's attack.   Between  hitting the wizard twice, the goblin suffered no damage from four successful attacks.

Another way to use Brutality?   This character does an automatic 1d10 damage to their opponent.  Opponent may make armor rolls as normal.   AS A FREE ACTION AT ANY TIME (4 Brutality)

That was a large 9 points of damage on Scrye, and he officially dropped, both his body and the pig.  

In the end, the mousling I've simply named Grey Hat, scooped up the prize and ran off the board, but that lone goblin was still standing toe to toe against two vastly superior mousling, including the one wielding the devastating axe.  

In the post-game, The goblins and their wizard master recovered with minimal issue, but Scrye the mousling wizard, suffered Brain Damage, giving him a permanent penalty to his Psychic (Magic) and Awareness traits.  

It was a fun game, I enjoy the Brutality mechanic, but it can get bogged down in play as often as a group could easily dispatch a crew in a round or two.  As much as I love the concept and scale of Brutal Quest, and it's sci-fi parent Planet 28, I think I'm returning to Savage Showdown for the mouslings and continue with Fistful of Lead for sci-fi. 

(Brutal Quest) Retrieving the Gilded Porcine

I had realized as I was updating my little spreadsheets and blog data that, although I've played Planet 28 and I've had some fun with it, I still had not tried it's fantasy cousin, Brutal Quest.  Brutal Quest's core  seems to be a bit more robust, with Brutality, and a healthier experience system based on it, so I'm beginning a few test runs with the rules. 

Breaking out some of the OG Reaper Mouslings from the early 90s, and the 3rd Edition D&D Twig Blights, I hastily statted them out to be somewhat equal and grabbed the small map included with the print copy of the rules: 

Part of the use of Brutal Quest is to emulate the greater narrative ideas I uncovered with Tales From Farpoint Using Rory's Story Cubes.  This scenario was dipping my toes into using Story Cubes and seeing how horrible I made the units.  

The scenario was simple:  The Mouslings needed to investigate the old well and see if the Cursed Gilded Porcine was there.  Interrupting their mission was a pack of Twig Blights coming out of the nearby forest.

The OG Mouslings.... 

The footmice were statted WYSIWIG,   Green Sword had the Persuade talent, Gray Hat could traverse difficult terrain, and Scrye, the Red Mouse Mage was poor in combat, but could cast Fireball (d10+6 damage to one target within LOS on a successful Psyche role) and Teleport (move to any spot within LOS). 

The Twig Blights of the Well

The Twigs were a simple group of monsters, low stats for everything (melee was the highest at a 4).  They were all surefooted, so they might develop a tactical advantage.  The Mouslings might be able to simply strike them hard and scare them off.

Using the Lone Warriors expansion for solo play, I rolled a new Agility score each turn for the Twig Blights (Initiative is in order of highest Agility to lowest amongst the figures.)

The Twigs charged over the bridge at the mice.  The three Mice-at-Arms simply parted to give Scrye a clear line of sight, and he rambling brambles with not one but TWO fireballs!    Fireball in the game is a single action spell, dealing d10+6 damage to one target, with the chance of continuing fire damage.   The Twigs were weakend, and only have 16 hit points each, so the blasts were enough for both of them to fail, break morale, and turn tail and run.  

Boom!  

The Mice-at-Arms charged forward, wounding a number of them, and splintering the Twigs attack.  

In the subsequent turns, it became a bit of slog.  Lots of missed rolls, and two-on-one fights that didn't pan out as suspected delayed the battle.   One of the broken Twigs rallied and rejoined the fray, meanwhile Scrye used one more two more fireballs before finally getting attacked by one very resilient Twig.  

The one thing I found interesting in the rules is Brutality.  As the characters wade further and further into combat, their rage and pain allow them to fight harder and achieve miraculous things.   Characters gain Brutality by certainly actions (Wounding an enemy each time is 1,  Rolling max damage is 3, Slaying a character is 0.  

Brutality can be cashed in at any time, such as improving skill rolls for an action (1), a reroll (3),  and even cashing in Brutality at the end of a session to increase a core skill by 1 (6 points).  

Scrye's indiscriminate spell use earned him a LOT of Brutality, and when it looked like a rogue Twig and just about to charge him, and cause a lot of havoc,  Scrye cashed in 5 Brutality for "The Characer deals 1d10 damage to their opponent.  Opponent may make armor rolls. "  It was enough to kill the Twig and cast a Teleport spell over to the unguarded well.  It did take four turns, but they recovered the pig, and the one surviving Twig ran off into the woods to warn the others.  Huzzah!  

Carnage!  But the pig is ours! 

The Mouslings didn't lose any figures, the routed Twigs had two run off the table, two return unphased, and two so battered they were simply placed near the brambles to finish their short time left.  

Brutal Quest is specifically designed to match a certain old school play style.  The repetitive die rolls and bookkeeping definitely sent me back to simpler times (when I had more time to keep track of this time of stuff.).  While I'm expanding my sci-fi game now using Fistful of Lead, I will play with a number of other scenarios for Brutal Quest, even improving the Mouslings for the next time.  

Brutal Quest - Zorvax the Azure Seer - Blue Martian Cultist - #CharacterCreationChallenge

After getting a year-long fascination with breakfast pastry off my chest, we shift gears to the "statting out figures I've painted" category with Zorvax the Azure Seer, a Blue Martian Cultist leader statted out to Brutal Quest, a narrative based skirmish game.  

Zorvax the Azure Seer  (308 points)

Agility: 7
Melee:   6

Ranged:  8

Awareness: 4

Psyche:  4

Speed: 10cm

Hit Points:  20

Armor: None (1d4-1)

Traits: Blessed, Barbaric, Inspiring

Inventory: Short Sword (1d6+1), Short Bow (Range 20cm, 1d6)

The "Blue Martian" is a scavenger race in most settings.  Highly adaptable and adept at using technology, the race does not show proper respect and knowledge with basic care and maintenance with any equipment.  Without an adequate civilization to steal/raid/scavenge from, the race will devolve into barbarism.  

The Cult of Droflic, the big red god, believes in a constant state of barbarism, destroying any sign of pre-medieval tech or magic.  

Zoravx is one of the more senior members of the cult, having survived dozens upon dozens of raids.  While his leadership is far below that of the zealot priests, he is above reproach within the community  This has allowed him to avoid the cult's greatest downfall:  pursuing civilization into larger and tougher communities which ultimately counter-attack the tribe.   Travelling farther along the fringes of civilization has allowed Zorvax great glory for himself and in the name of Droflic. 

(Brutal Quest) Modren the Rogue Fusilier - #CharacterCreationChallenge

Winding down the #CharacterCreationChallenge, I've still got a few random figures I've painted over the past year that need a purpose.  

Modren

Modren - Rogue Fusilier   280 points
Agility:  6

Melee:  4

Ranged: 6

Awareness:  5

Psyche: 5

Speed: 10cm

Hit Points:  20

Abilities:  Deathless, Mercenary, Aimed Shot

Inventory:  Leather Armor (1d6), Handgonne (2-handed, 4d6 damage, 25cm range, must spend one round to reload.), dagger, 

Firearms have been a great equalizer on the battlefield, the weakest man can pull a trigger or ignite the primer and cause gruesome harm to everyone, friend and foe alike.  While even the strongest and bravest fighters fear a wall of black powder weapons, the wisest warriors in particular, fear the Emperor's Fusiliers.  It appears that not only are they viscous warriors, but they stubbornly refuse to die on the battlefield unless given the order directly from the Emperor himself.

Modren didn't leave the battlefield with the Emperor's permission.  He outright deserted his post, and is wandering the countryside, evading the men he assumes is pursuing him, while earning what little gold he can.  While one handgonne doesn't have the same effect as a company, It is catastrophically great in close quarters fighting.

(Brutal Quest) Balor Redstaff - Human Wizard - #Character Creation Challenge

As I continue to delve into Brutal Quest for filler days for the #CharacterCreationChallenge, I am starting to appreciate the few 15mm fantasy figures I've acquired from my orders to Battle Valor Games.   Smaller figs, quicker paintjobs, and I can retain the movement and shooting ranges for faster feeling games.

The big dude coming out of my Brutal Quest runs will be a wizard, Balor Redstaff specifically.

15mm Mounted Wizard from Battle Valor Games

Balor Redstaff - Human Wizard -  381 points
Agility: 4

Melee:  4

Ranged: 7 

Awareness:  6

Psyche:  8

Speed: 10cm 

Hit Points:  20

Abilities:  Master Sorcerer, Drain 

Spells: Blinding Light, Fireball, Shield, Teleport

Inventory:  Ancient Scroll, Staff (1d6)

(Brutal Quest) Qhit Duskreaper - Mouse Scout #Character Creation Challenge

Day 15 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge I return to Brutal Quest, specifically using some of the few 15mm minis I've acquired and painted. 

Brutal Quest is a more of a narrative skirmish game, there has been some more descriptive tools available.   Once everything becomes second nature, I'd like to transition to a solo RPG using Rory's Story Cubes.

Meet Qhit Duskreaper, Mouse Scout

Qhit Duskreaper

Qhit Duskreaper - Mouse Scout -  181 points
Agility:  9

Melee:  6

Ranged: 2 

Awareness:  6

Psyche:  2

Speed: 10 + 1d6 cm per turn

Hit Points:  12

Abilities:  Fast 

Inventory:  Leather  Armor (1d6), shortsword (1d6+1), Healing Potion (1 dose heals 5hp)

Noting like using a random Skaven name generator for the irony.

(Brutal Quest) Kerenga Vai - Blue Martian Harem Guard - #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 4 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge, and I'm already shifting gears.    I had planned on using some minis I painted over the last year as inspiration, and had this dude ready to be statted out for Savage Worlds.

Kerenga Vai

Of course, that was before I realized I still haven't unpacked my Savage Worlds books from my move in December, so we'll default it to Brutal Quest.

Kerenga Vai - Blue Martian Harem Guard   285 points
Agility:  7

Melee:   8

Ranged: 1 

Awareness:  7

Psyche:  3

Speed: 10cm

Hit Points:  24

Abilities:  Brave, Iron Skin

Inventory:  Mail armor (2d6 + 1d4 Iron Skin), Zweihander (3d6+2)

Derelict and Questing Knight by Hobby Dungeon

Everything else is crumbling, so it's nice to have these rays of sunshine on my radar.  

Hobby Dungeon Games has made two necessary supplements for Mammoth Miniatures Planet 28  and Brutal Quest.

Derelict fills that necessary void for Planet 28: searching derelict space ships, encounter aliens, shooting them, and more!

Questing Knight introduces solo and co-op play to Brutal Quest.

Both items are Pay What You'd Like at Wargames Vault.