Inventors Club

22. May, 2013 Categories: Characters, Gadgets, Setting by 0 Comments

You already know Ash and Oak Club. Now it’s time to introduce you to their rivals, the Inventors Club.

A hotbed of ambitions

Somebody has to invent all these wonderful gadgets used by Extraordinary Ladies and Gentlemen. And, judging by these gadgets, can their inventors be sane? Well… let’s just say it’s good to know them – at least to know from whom shall you run.

During the first World Exhibition in Orseaux many a famous inventor stumbled upon something previously inconceivable – rivals whose projects could not be scornfully dismissed. A year later the Inventors Club has been established in Lyonesse. The official goal of the organization is to expand the boundaries of science but in reality the idea is to determine once and for all who among the members is endowed with the greatest of intellects. Since the prevalent inventions are usually golems or new types of weapons and powered armor and the ones presenting tend not to respond well to criticism, the clashes of the scientists are often… interesting. The percentage of fatal accidents is relatively low, though, and the club is slowly growing.

Notable members

Winston Falconwing, Esq.: an arrogant half-elf and club president who disappeared a few months ago while testing an astral teleportation machine. Since he’s gone two questions are hotly debated among the club members – who should replace him and as who will he return from the mind- and body-bending depths of Astral.

Thorvald Nielsgaard: a Jotun technomage on the run from Nilfholm, a mysterious spitualistic corporation. Thorvald experiments on the border between technomagic and spiritism and his experiments focus on Astral teleportation. Mind you – he is too good-hearted to be even suspected of consciously making sir Winston disappear.

Alice Tinkerly: a young woman who one day appeared in a prestigious workshop, made some impossible repairs in no time and became the member of Inventors Club. She prefers golems to people and sees no problem in admitting it publicly. The gossip of her being raised by gremlins are not supported by any hard evidence.

The Inventors Club

Goals: become the best Inventor in the Club, make sure that your most worthy rivals are in the Club.

Hallmark: your own invention.

Requirement: Invention achievement.

Privileges: add one trait to any single gadget or grant such an ability to a golem or somebody with steam-powered prosthesis. This improvement works for the duration of a scene and can be used once per session.

Exclusive Edges

Engineer (10 XP)

Requirements: skilled technics.

Description: You are an artist of the Industrial Revolution. When using the privilege of Inventors Club you can decide that the additional traits works until the end of the session.

Silly Superstitions (15 XP)

Magefight!

I’ll tame your cat, you pagan fool!

Requirements: skilled technics.

Description: You consider the older forms of magic to be superstitions on the edge of extinction. When opposing ritual magic, spiritualism and True Art token gives you a +5 bonus instead of the usual +1.

Exclusive Gadgets

Magneton Boots (5 XP)

An eccentric way of transportation designed by a dwarven engineer and, in his opinion, delightfully unavailable for elves.

Traits: special: in any industrial scenery (or other places where there are many metal elements) one free move action every round.

Set of Lab Flasks (10 XP)

Using them as a weapon breaks all the rules of occupational safety and health, but the results may be worth it. You surely can’t tell in advance.

Or: Dr Irrenrechter’s Random Missile Generator and Propeller, an unstable flamethrower.

Traits: with a raise (firearms): power strike (on a black initiative card) or daze (on a red initiative card), with two raises: knockdown (black initiative card) or push away (red initiative card).

Golemic Flea (15 XP)Golemic Flea

This giant jumping contraption is fast and fun to use.

Or: steamwork stunt motorbike, boots with short-range propeller.

Traits: driving +3, with a raise: mobilization, once per session for a scene: flea jump (as magic power Flight).

Sun Spear (20 XP)Spear and Mirrors

A bizarre weapon infused with the element of fire, shooting an intense heat ray. The pack includes three mirror-carrying golems that help both in targeting multiple enemies and checking if you look as great as you should.

Traits: firearms +3, series, with a raise: power strike, for a token: increased Charisma re-roll range.

Ash and Oak Club

15. May, 2013 Categories: Gadgets, Rules, Setting, Wolsung miniatures by 0 Comments

A week ago we provided you with general rules for using societies and organizations in our game. Now it’s time to introduce you to Ash and Oak club – a perfect place for an Extraordinary Lady or Gentleman.

The heart of Uldnesse

Just as Lyonesse is the heart of the Alfheim Empire, the heart of the City of Cities is the historical Uldnesse district containing the Queen’s palace, home of Parliament and the government. And what’s the heart of Uldnesse? Without a doubt the Ash and Oak club. At least that is what its members assume.

Ash and Oak is a world-famous Lyonesse club for Extraordinary Ladies and Gentlemen. The club is renowned for its elegant, calm atmosphere, a well-stocked cellar, interesting lectures held in its chambers every month, and constant conflicts with two other famous Lyonesse societies: the Inventors Club and Triads of the Lotus Dragon. The rivalry with the Inventors is mostly a matter of pride while the conflict with the Triads is the real struggle for the influence over the City of Cities.

Important members

Sir Zachary Fiercebatten

Sir Zachary Fiercebatten

Sir Zachary Fiercebatten – a famous war hero now bound to a wheelchair, an old misanthropic and the president of the club. Some say that nowadays he is able only to shout and abuse the young but he still has enough ferocity to defend his position, probably only for the sake of being somebody important and envied.

Sir Lance Oakroot – a real Alfish gentleman (if a dandy can be one – Sir Zachary thinks otherwise), Sir Lance Oakroot is a striking elven aristocrat who seems to think of his life as of one great fashion show. It’s good to have this stalwart fencer on your side, but remember that he may demand a duel if you try to outshine him. And he has never lost a duel.

Mary Fearless – a rebel who fought against Alfheim during the lost War of Independence, fled the League of Free Countries, and is now hiding in Lyonesse. Well, at least if blatant crime-fighting and swift rise within the Ash and Oak ranks could be called “hiding”. Mary is an informal leader for those in the club who consider themselves Ladies and Gentlemen because of how do they live, not where do they come from.

The Ash and Oak Club

Goals: an interesting and elegant life of a modern Lady or Gentlemen, outshining Inventors’ Club and fighting the Triads.

Hallmark: an ash leaf-shaped earring for the Ladies and an oak leaf signet for the Gentlemen.

Requirement: any Achievement gained in Lyonesse.

Privileges: regain 1 Reputation.

Exclusive Gadgets

Bulletproof corset (10 XP)

If somebody invents something that helps both in surviving extraordinary adventures and looking gorgeous the members of Ash and Oak club will surely be first to test it.

Or: top-hat with blur mode, an umbrella from iron silk, a fine hereditary blade.

Traits: defense +2, for a token: increased Charisma re-roll range.

“Gentleman’s Guide to Technology” subscription (10+ XP)

Dabbling with modern technology requires handwork and thus is below Lady’s or Gentleman’s dignity. Using newest inventions, however, is a different matter – a perfect hobby for those modern and fashionable.

Or: a constructor golem companion, a Lady’s handbag with something for all occasions, a family’s treasury filled with ancient artifacts.

Traits: once per session: gain a Gadget with one trait for the rest of the session (plus one trait for every additional 5 XP spent on the subscription).

Exclusive Edges

A nose like no other (15 XP)

You know every single person from the upper class, you are a relative of half of them and you know when to call upon their favors.

Requirements: Charisma 9+.

Description: this Edge works similar to halfings’ Kith and Kin ability (Wolsung p. 31) with two exceptions. First, it works only in the scenes where non-player characters from the upper class are present, so you can’t use it in poor districts, in wildernesses and so on. Second, none of your contacts and distant relatives are ordinary extras, so this Edge can be used only with a Jack or a higher card.

Noblesse oblige (5 XP)

A faithful servant is a real treasure.

A faithful servant is a real treasure.

You may keep a small army of servants or journey only with your old faithful butler but either way you know how to care for your subordinates.

Requirements: Companion edge.

Description: once per session you may play a card to boost your companion’s roll result or his resistance during a conflict as a free action (without discarding a die). This Edge may be bought more than once, giving you extra uses of this ability.

An elegant bargain (10 XP)

Ladies and Gentlemen don’t talk about money and everybody knows that you always settle your bills – if not in gold then in favors.

Requirements: Reputation 3 or more.

Description: once per session you may test your persuasion or expression instead of Wealth.

 

You can find more ideas for the club’s members, Gadgets and Edges in the Wolsung SSG rules, just read the section about the club.

Next time – the Inventors Club. Stay tuned :)

Picture of the Month: the Torburgian Homage

13. May, 2013 Categories: Setting by 0 Comments

One of the things that kept us busy for a few last months was the release of The Cursed Kingdom of Slavia, a supplement about the Wolsung version of our own country (Poland). Today we’d like to share with you one of our favourite graphics from this book.

HoldPruskiPoWojnie_myszkiewicz

 The Monastic Order of Our Lady of Iron is one of iconic Wolsung villains – monks in steam-powered armors who worship a difference engine claiming to be an incarnation of the Goddess. Their intentions are unclear, their behavior is inhuman, their technology is awesome – what more would a perfect opponent need?

This incarnation of the Order is a modern threat, but long before the Great War and the revelation of the Iron Maiden the Monastic Knights were as suspicious as they are today.

In the Middle Ages the Grand Mistress of the Order got corrupted by the Mournful King and since then the relations between the Order and its neighbors – Slavia in particular – were a series of war, treaties and treasons. After one of these wars the new Grand Master had to swore allegiance to King Siemovit the Old. This great event was immortalized on the famous, anonymous picture “the Torburgian Homage” which to this day is a source of Slavia’s pride and the Order’s wrath. A popular rumor says that the painter coded important secrets of various states in this masterpiece.

And, besides, don’t you think that some of the bystanders look like time travelers from the XIX century? This can’t be mere coincidence and it’s up to Extraordinary Ladies and Gentlemen to investigate this phenomenon.

We don’t know who on Urda painted The Torburgian Homage, but the copy appearing in The Cursed Kingdom of Slavia was created by Igor Myszkiewicz.

 

Steamagination for Ladies and Gentlemen

11. May, 2013 Categories: Characters, Gadgets, Website by 0 Comments

A beautiful workroomIf you are looking for additional options for your Ladies and Gentlemen you may be interested in two posts on Steamagination: Technogadgets and Lovecraftian goods. Both contain ususual gadgets such as Aircraft Carrier Top Hat (with tiny wyverns), Dr Zeitgast’s Temporal Watch-Chain (works like a nunchaku – in no time!) or The picture of Filip Liebkraft (goes mad instead of its owner). Have a good read!

Clubs and organizations

08. May, 2013 Categories: Rules, Setting by 0 Comments

bonvivantAlmost every Vanadian has belonged to a club or a society in their life. Gentlemen’s clubs, scientific societies, students’ associations, marksmen’s societies, charitable groups, and other organizations are a normal element of everyday life. They are perfect plot devices as well as interesting options for Extraordinary Ladies and Gentlemen – and that’s why they deserve some special rules in Wolsung.

Here is the compilation of the basic rules from the Wolsung core book and some additional rules first published in the Polish sourcebook Lyonesse.

Generally speaking, organizations are divided into two categories: common and elite, some of them secret. Those in the first category are quite easy to access while the elite ones require some extraordinary qualities. How does it look in the terms of the game rules?

  • in order to join a common society, the character has to meet the requirements of that society and earn the Achievement Gratitude (society) or buy the Edge Society Member for 5 XP;
  • in order to join an elite society, the character has to meet the requirements and earn the Achievement Extraordinary Gratitude! (society) or buy the Edge Elite Society Member for 10 XP.
  • you cannot freely join a secret society, they contact potential recruits at the time of their choosing, usually after your character met the requirements and earned the Achievement (otherwise you still have to buy the appropriate Egde). Secret societies are usually elite.

If you belong to a club, you enjoy some privileges, but also have special duties:

  • you may enter the club’s premises, use libraries, studies, and other facilities inaccessible to the public;
  • during your journeys you may always count on other members’ hospitality;
  • the player may spend a token to improve the attitude of a member of the same society (without any rolls), but they still have to meet the story requirements (i.e. act friendly enough themselves);
  • refusing to help a member of the same club may cause a serious scandal;
  • the character should immediately react if a member of their club is behaving dishonorably–ignoring such a situation may cause a scandal.

Furthermore, belonging to a club gives you some mechanical benefits:

  • you may regain a token by fulfilling the club’s goals in a spectacular way (once per gaming session for every club your character belongs to);
  • you may spend a token to benefit from some of the club’s privileges;
  • all elite clubs allow you to spend a token to prevent losing a point of Reputation;
  • some gadgets of Edges are available only to members of certain clubs.

Sample Societies

Let’s have a look at two examples of Lyonesse societies, and see how the rules work:

Stunt Doubles Guild

Elite. A club of fearless stunt persons, stunt riders, doubles, and FX specialists.
Goals: surviving spectacular catastrophes and accidents.
Hallmark: smoking Lucky Shots or wearing Close Shave perfumes.
Requirements: Crash achievement.
Privileges: elite club, prevent losing 1 Constitution.

To join the club you must earn the Crash achievement, and the Extraordinary Gratitude! (Stunt Doubles Club) achievement or spend 10 XP on the Edge Elite Society Member (Stunt Doubles Club). Then you may, once per session, regain a token if you survive a spectacular catastrophe. You may also spend tokens to prevent losing Reputation (because this is an elite club) and Constitution (because that is the club’s privilege). You should also start smoking Lucky Shots or wearing Close Shave perfumes, so other club members have no problems identifying you as a fellow stunt person.

50th Floor

Secret. Elite. In Tintagel District the richest of the richest meet to boast about their spendings.
Goals: spending money in the most eccentric way.
Hallmark: a pin with golden calf.
Requirements: Wealth 15.
Privileges: elite club, +2d10 during a Wealth test.

Gadget: A pin with golden calf (10 XP)

An emblem of being obsessed with earthly riches and feeling no shame about this worldview. This gadget is available only to 50th Floor members.
Traits: Confidence +2, persuasion (negotiations) +3.

 

Next week we’ll provide you with a thorough description of the Ash and Oak Club, one of factions in Wolsung Steampunk Skirmish Game – complete with goals, privileges and gadgets for members only. Stay tuned!

Time to wake up!

05. May, 2013 Categories: Dev diary, Website by 0 Comments

It is finally spring here in Poland and we also are waking from the winter slumber.

As you have probably noticed the website was dormant for the last few months and to be honest I am mostly to blame. Too many important things to do (getting married, moving to new flat etc.), too little time :)

Now the spring is here we are buzzing with new energy and we go back to bringing you the hottest news about Wolsung. I say “we”, as there is a new person on board, to make sure everything runs smoothly and on time.

Let me introduce our new admin: Marek Golonka, our friend and one of our greatest fans from Poland.

D'martagnanMarek (aka Planetourist, aka Victourist, aka Plane) is a gamer and an aspiring gentleman from Poland who has been playing, designing and admiring Wolsung for a past few years. He is also a co-author of the newest Wolsung supplement as well as a few forthcoming ones. He is also writing about Wolsung on his English blog - Steamagination (which we wholeheartedly recommend).

As you may have noticed, our website had no regular schelude during past few months – and Marek is here to fix it. You’ll find something new here at least once a week. For starters take a look at the introductory post about Wolsung SSG.

If by any chance you are new to Wolsung, please download our free Test Drive and the World Tour - and let us know how do you like it! You can also find the free materials at DriveThruRPG.com.

If you are an RPG reviewer and are interested in a free PDF review copy of the core rulebook – just contact Marek by mail.

 

PS. In case you wandered what were we doing during the winter:

  • we were working with our friends from Micro Art Studio on new hot stuff for Wolsung: SSG,
  • we published a new Polish sourcebook about the Cursed Kingdom of Slavia,
  • we sold out the latest Polish core books and started working on Wolsung 1.5,
  • and last but not least, we finished translating the Extraordinary Voyages into English (and we are quite excited about it!)

So stay tuned and visit our Facebook page to be up to date with Wolsung news.

IMG_7036

PPS. The English printed books finally made it to Poland, and for the first time I had the chance to see them and check how they feel in hand. And it was awesome :)

More on the Wolsung: SSG

02. May, 2013 Categories: Characters, Wolsung miniatures by 0 Comments

As you probably know, Wolsung is more than a roleplaying game.

Wolsung Steampunk Skirmish Game released last fall by our friends from Micro Art Studio is a beautiful and full of action skirmish game set in Lyonesse, the City of the Cities.

It’s high time we have a closer look at this game!

wolsung-ssg

Three factions of the game: the Ash and Oak Club (center), the Inventors Club (right) and the Triad of Lotus Dragon (left).

 

Wandering Actor - when one of your heroes dies you may declare that he was the orc behind this mask all the time and thus let him return.

Wandering Actor – when one of your heroes dies you may declare that he was the man behind this mask all the time and thus let him return. Which is as Wolsung as can be.

Wolsung SSG is, of course, a cinematic game of daring skirmishes between Extraordinary Ladies and Gentlemen. Yes, it isn’t a heroes-vs-villains game – each player controlls heroes like those appearing in Wolsung RPG, using their extraordinary skills to promote the goals their Club. There are also henchmen – butlers, spies, golems and so on – acting as support and an addition to Ladies and Gentlemen’s vast repertoire of tricks and powers.

 

What tricks and powers? Well, how about a fat, jovial young aristocrat believing himself to be a perfect hunter while in fact he simply never notices that his more keen-eyed servant shoots at the same time he does? Or a dwarven inventor who can move alongside his golems without spending an action because he rides them using his magnetic boots? Or a troll lady whose automatons always carry mirrors – not only to make sure that she looks gorgeous, but also to help her in aiming with her technomagical sun ray emiter? Wolsung SSG has all this and much more. It perfectly captures the classy, pulpy and slightly hilarious feel of our RPG.

What’s more, in this game Extraordinary Ladies and Gentlemen confront each other in really beautiful landscapes that they can use in very creative ways. Just take a look at these buildings:

B3

B1B2

 

Be a hero, play cards, charge from balconies! And don't miss tea at five!

Be a hero, play cards, charge from balconies! And don’t miss tea at five!

And now imagine that your skirmish heroes can climb them, charge off them, jump from roof to roof… and they can! Wolsung SSG has very, very pulpy movement rules, allowing for such cinematic feats of awesomeness. And guess what do Extraordinary Ladies and Gentlemen need for such feats? Cards, just like in our RPG! In this skirmish every player has a few cards and uses them to allow his Ladies and Gentlemen some extraordinary ways os getting around the table (and, sometimes, casting spells). Describing these actions like you do in RPG game isn’t strictly obligatory, but honestly – is there a player of Wolsung who would resist the temptation of describing how exactly his steam-armed Shang-In spy is climbing up this stately, bourgeois manor to duel with Sir Lance Oakroot on its roof?

You can find out more about Wolsung Steampunk Skirmish Game here. You can start with the Gallery or just download the rules for free.

If you want to use some of the great ideas in your Wolsung RPG games, we have some good news. In the next update we will publish new rules governing Clubs and Organizations, and back them with examples based on the very organizations used in the skirmish game. We’ll begin with the Ash and Oak Club.

Stay tuned!

 

The Day Urda Sank on Steamagination

16. Apr, 2013 Categories: Adventures, Website by 0 Comments

Steamagination – a blog of our friend Marek “Planetourist” Golonka – is releasing an epic three-arc scenario The Day Urda Sank. It is a pulp horror story in which Extraordinary Ladies and Gentlemen face Deep Ones, Beings From Beyond Time and other Lovecraftian adversaries.

Most of the adventure is already available, just follow the links:

Phantoms of the Opera

01. Nov, 2012 Categories: Antagonists by 2 Comments

Written by: Marek Golonka

There is something magical about the Opera. Music, dance, scenery and acting all melt to create an impressive performance that rolls through audience’s senses and echoes with a wave of applause. Is there anything more wonderful than letting it happen–working for the Opera?

Probably there isn’t, but easier things are far from rare. The more there is to be done, the more can go wrong and there are myriads of things to be done when staging an Opera. To work there one needs steel nerves, otherwise he may soon begin to rabble nonsensically or see ghosts. The latter, however, might not mean insanity. For where Art becomes Magic, ghosts may be born.

Almost every old, renowned Opera building spawns its Phantom–an incarnation of True Art, of that lyrical trembling and dramatic tension that gives an opera its meaning. Phantoms are guardian spirits of their theaters, guiding the venues toward better performances and protecting from intruders–be them evil masterminds or goofy owners.

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Wolsung Steampunk Skirmish Game

15. Oct, 2012 Categories: Wolsung miniatures by 0 Comments

For the last two years our friends from Micro Art Studio have been working on a skirmish game based on the world of Wolsung: Steam Pulp Fantasy. They are now just giving it some finishing touches and the game is ready to be enjoyed by gamers all around the world.

The game focuses on the city of Lyonesse – the Pearl in the Crown, the City of Cities – and adventures of its residents – Extraordinary Ladies and Gentlemen. In the game, players control clubs made of a few such characterful personalities and their servants, to fight for fame and fortune.

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