Excess Baggage Is Designed As a Short Demo Game and Introduction to the Night's Black Agents World
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NIGHT'S BLACK AGENTS A Vampire Spy Thriller Game by Kenneth Hite Based on the GUMSHOE System by Robin D. Laws demo by kevin kulp night's black agents - Demo Game Publisher: Simon Rogers Author: Kevin kulp Layout: Chris Huth Artwork: Alessandro Alaia, Phil reeves GUMSHOE System: Robin D Laws excess baggage is designed as a short demo game and introduction to the Night's black agents world. the core rules and supplements are available from www.pelgranepress.com ©2012 Pelgrane Press Ltd. All rights reserved. Night’s Black Agents is a trademark of Pelgrane Press Ltd. EXCESS BAGGAGE him tougher and more resilient than most the game’s start. Describe the roadway Demo goal people; despite looking cadaverously and make up any detail you want; the Your job is to give new players a fast 20 thin, he has enough unnatural strength players aren’t going to know Krakow any minute experience that feels like it could to rip a man in two. better than you do. have been torn from the best James Bond, During the demo the players will stop Jason Bourne or Mission Impossible his car (probably by crashing it), kill or movies. This requires a cinematic demo capture Limrovich and his bodyguard, Chase Rules that stays rules-light, even as it explores and recover the nuclear device. This is a perfect opportunity to use the some of the game’s major mechanics and Thriller Chase rules (page 53), although themes. A quick game like this gives the it seems a little odd in a demo to use player the cinematic feel of “we’re badass Setup a non-typical rules mechanic. You can spies!” lets them save the day against high 2 players: Use Oliver “Ashcan” either use the Thriller rules (if you’re stakes, and lets them see how general Quinn (driver) and either familiar and comfortable with them) or and investigative skills work. Felix DuBois (assassin) or handle driving checks traditionally and Ignore all extraneous rules and skills Gabriella Castellanos (thief). have Limrovich crash when he fails his and only focus on the relevant ones. Don’t 3 players: Use Oliver driving check. In either case, have the explain any rule until it actually becomes “Ashcan” Quinn (driver), driver (Oliver “Ashcan” Quinn) make necessary in the demo. When the players Felix DuBois (assassin) and driving checks while the other characters ask for something, your default answer Gabriella Castellanos (thief). in the car take offensive actions to stop or should be “Yes, and...” instead of “No.” 4 players: Use Oliver “Ashcan” slow Limrovich down. The chase should Quinn (driver), Felix DuBois be dramatically narrated, so allow the (assassin), Gabriella Castellanos players to add detail as needed. (thief) and Jackson Lee (hacker). Demo Summary 5 players: Use Oliver “Ashcan” The PCs chase a terrorist through the Quinn (driver), Felix DuBois streets of Krakow Poland. The car they (assassin), Gabriella Castellanos are chasing contains Nikolai Limrovich, (thief), Jackson Lee (hacker) and a sleazy Russian arms dealer. The car is Persephone Cardiff (analyst). driven by his bodyguard. The players believe that Nikolai stole a suitcase- You’ll need several index cards to sized nuclear device from a secret Polish track the chase distances. No other military facility. The PCs have to stop miniatures or battlemap are needed for him before he and his bodyguard escapes combat. You’ll need 1d6 and a pencil. with the goods. A map of Krakow is included to show What the PCs don’t know is that how the Wisla River snakes back and Limrovich is also a Renfield, the hand- forth across the city. The PCs will be picked assistant of a vampire. This makes racing along these roads and bridges at night's black agents - Demo Game Hit Threshold: 3 Nameless bodyguard destined The Villains Alertness Modifier: +0 to be messily killed (4+ PCs): Stealth Modifier: -1 Nikolai Limrovich (2 or 3 PCs) General Abilities: Athletics 8, Damage Modifier: -2 (fist), -1 Driving 8, Hand-to-Hand 6, Health A Vampiric Renfield (p. 152) (blackjack, knife), +0 (club), +1 9, Shooting 8, Weapons 8 General Abilities: Aberrance 7, (9mm Makarov PMM pistol) 4 Explosive Devices 5, Hand-to-Hand Note that the strength of both Limrovich and Hit Threshold: +0 6, Health 9, Shooting 5, Weapons 7 his bodyguard increase if there are more than Alertness Modifier: -1 Hit Threshold: 4 3 players. Stealth Modifier: Alertness Modifier: +1 Damage Modifier: -2 (fist), -1 Stealth Modifier: +1 Nikolai Limrovich (4+ PCs): (blackjack, knife), +0 (club), +1 Damage Modifier: -1 (fist), +0 (knife), A Vampiric Renfield (p. 152) (9mm Makarov PMM pistol) +1 (9mm Makarov PMM pistol) General Abilities: Aberrance 9, Power: Vampiric strength - each 2 Explosive Devices 5, Hand-to-Hand Aberration spent add +1 melee dmg 8, Health 12, Shooting 5, Weapons 7 Nameless bodyguard destined Hit Threshold: 4 to be killed messily (2 or 3 Alertness Modifier: +1 PCs): Stealth Modifier: +1 Damage Modifier: -1 (fist), +0 (knife), General Abilities: Athletics 6, +1 (9mm Makarov PMM pistol) Driving 6, Hand-to-Hand 4, Health Power: Vampiric strength - each 2 6, Shooting 6, Weapons 6 Aberration spent add +1 melee dmg Excess Baggage 5 scenes Preparedness (to have extra weapons doubt, describe whatever you’d expect Stage 1: or countermeasures already in place) to see in a Bourne movie. Encourage Shooting (for obvious reasons) the players to add detail. The Chase Weapons (once the bad guys If Jackson Lee is one of the characters, manage to close, or vice versa) feel free to give the player the option of his character participating via remote Questions to Ask Typical Investigative Abilities quadrotor drone while his character Ask the players what time used: lounges somewhere in a coffee shop of day or night it is. simultaneously playing MMOs. Architecture (to know old Ask the players if they have the This scene ends when the PCs stop bridges or alleys that may be faster or the more maneuverable the terrorists’ car, either by blowing a natural, narrow trap) car (their choice). out a tire, otherwise crashing it, or Cop Talk or Intimidation (to Ask the players to describe their killing the driver. This will probably keep away or manipulate car, which must be able to hold injure but not kill Limrovich, who will local law enforcement) all of the PCs. They’re welcome then fight for his life and threaten to Electronic Surveillance (to tap to have anything from a stolen detonate the device. bread truck to an armored SUV into the traffic camera network) to an expensive sports car. Notice (miscellaneous advantages by noticing local features that may Stage 2: Setting the Scene be fun to include. “Look! A local Describe an aerial view of the city, amusement park to our right!”) The Fight as if from a camera on a helicopter Traffic Analysis (to know local traffic patterns) at the start of a movie. Describe the Limrovich is a sleazy, backstabbing choked highways. As the camera moves In playtest, Quinn typically drives Renfield who is in thrall to his vampiric in, describe the flashing lights of master (a man named Viktor Eschenko, emergency vehicles and the multiple offensively to catch up while other PCs lean out of the window to shoot (with not that it matters for the purposes of accidents choking traffic. Finally, tell the this scenario.) Limrovich is unwashed players that they’re responsible for those the target number raised based on the distance and difficulty of what they’re and heroin-thin, but is astoundingly and accidents, and that they’re racing after a unnaturally strong. He could rip a man terrorist who has stolen a suitcase-sized trying to shoot; if the default number is 4, target numbers could climb as in half if he wanted to. nuke from a local military arms depot. Limrovich may threaten to explode Time to get it back before he can escape. high as 8 with many distractions and impediments), or clamber onto the car the bomb on the spot, and it’s not a roof (Athletics checks) in preparation bluff; if the car chase is going badly he’ll Typical General Abilities used: for jumping onto Limrovich’s car. set the bomb to a short (one to five It’s also common for Jackson Lee to minute, your decision, whatever makes Athletics (to climb onto the car hack traffic lights (Digital Intrusion for the most excitement) countdown roof or leap from car to car) or a spend from Traffic Analysis), or that he can cancel once the PCs let him Digital Intrusion (to hack into for any PC to use their Network (or go. He’s use this as a bargaining chip to OnStar or the traffic light network) Preparedness) to control the flow of try and escape. Of course, the PCs are Driving (to catch up) traffic. likely to just kill him and disarm the Hand-to-Hand (once Meanwhile, the chasing cars weave bomb themselves. the car is stopped) in and out of traffic, plunge through Ideally, describe the area where Mechanics (for use as crowded market squares, speed through the car grinds to a shuddering halt as Preparedness by Quinn) narrow back alleys or along pedestrian one that has some interesting tactical Network (to have a local paths, and cause numerous accidents options. This could be a children’s friend in law enforcement) from other nearby vehicles. When in playground, a local street market, a traffic jam, or a square full of statues night's black agents - Demo Game dedicated to Polish war heroes. The PCs 6 may need to use their skills to delay or re-route Polish law enforcement officers in order to give themselves some privacy as they take Limrovich out.