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Author Topic: Guns & Gasmasks: Ongoing Post Apocalyptic Adventure  (Read 6080 times)

mattormeg

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Guns & Gasmasks: Ongoing Post Apocalyptic Adventure
« on: September 30, 2006, 06:38:09 PM »
I'm using my bare-boned, always under construction, retro-designed "Guns & Gasmasks" rules for this game.

Drop on into the game at any time. Just make up a character using my rules, PM me with any questions. Come and go as you please. We'll be using the honor system for rolling dice, and a lot of the more complicated rules we'll houserule where necessary.

Here's Scene One: Vanderbee Station
You buncha misfits and ruinrunners are all up at Vanderbee Station, a little flyspeck town on the edge of the wastelands. Aint much to do up here, cept drink the fermented swill what passes for liquor and waste your little lives away.

There's a whorehouse and waterin hole that's good for that, and maybe findin a bullet in your back, and not much else.

There's an ol trading post, got the occasional rarity and notion, but usually just got old cans of food, ammo (mostly reliable reloads), and louse-ridden blankets.

Man in charge here is Guvnor Mikul Pepsee. Sometimes the Guvnor got work for thems with strong backs and itchy trigger fingers, and some of them what start out freelancin for the Guv sometimes get to join the town militia.

If'n you got the notion, you can talk to him, or drop into the waterin hole, or maybe just wander round a bit.

While your thinkin it over, a homely looking cur wanders over to you. Damn dogs thick as thieves in this town, and bout half as trustworthy most of the time - wild ones'll bite you as soon as look at you - but this one looks fair friendly.

There's a voice callin out. A deep, gruff dirt caked voice: "Hey, Asshole, what you think you doing with my dog?"

Knightsky

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Guns & Gasmasks: Ongoing Post Apocalyptic Adventure
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2006, 06:57:11 PM »
(Note - the link needs correcting)

Karl   (Archetype: Junker)

STR 6      CON 7      AGL 7      INT 11

Skills
Lore 3 (Specialty - Life before the burn)
Liaison 3
Medicine 1
Stealth 1
Survival 1
Tech 2
Weapon 1

Money & Equipment
Gasmask
Canteen
50’ rope
Dried meat, two days
Crowbar
Knife
Pistol
Medkit
Several clips of ammo
$20

Edit: equipment list modified via an e-mail from Mattormeg.

Description
Slightly taller than average, his build leaning toward skinny, comes off as a bit gangly.  Dark hair, blue eyes, medium complexion.  First impression he gives off tend to be non-threatening, so he keeps the pistol visible so as to not appear as too much of an easy mark.

Quote
Man in charge here is Guvnor Mikul Pepsee. Sometimes the Guvnor got work for thems with strong backs and itchy trigger fingers, and some of them what start out freelancin for the Guv sometimes get to join the town militia.

If'n you got the notion, you can talk to him, or drop into the waterin hole, or maybe just wander round a bit.
Karl figures trying to get in good with the Guvnor seems as good as plan as any.  Never hurts to network, as they would say in the old days.  

Quote
While your thinkin it over, a homely looking cur wanders over to you. Damn dogs thick as thieves in this town, and bout half as trustworthy most of the time - wild ones'll bite you as soon as look at you - but this one looks fair friendly.
"Huh," says Karl, mildly intrigued.  "Sorry, pooch, no extra food to spare."  He will hold out his hand, though... not moving toward the dog, but letting the dog move toward him to be petted, if it seems to remain friendly.

Quote
There's a voice callin out. A deep, gruff dirt caked voice: "Hey, Asshole, what you think you doing with my dog?"
Anyone watching, and paying close attention, will see Karl tense up for just a moment at the word 'Asshole'.  After that, it appears as if he didn't hear the insult at all.  "This your pooch?" he asks toward the man with the gruff voice.  "Damn fine dog you have here.  We was just getting acquainted.  Say, didn't catch your name there, friend..."

[Rolled a 14 for Liasion, which matches his total skill score.  If there are no negative modifiers, he succeeds in at least mollifying the man somewhat.  If there are negative modifiers, then he just succeeds in pissing the man off even more.]
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mattormeg

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Guns & Gasmasks: Ongoing Post Apocalyptic Adventure
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2006, 07:49:58 PM »
"Name's Maducks. This here is Ace," the bald man says, his voice gruff and choked with dirt. "Thought you might be one a thems crazys what wander outa the desert now n' again."

The man eyeballs you. His gaze feels like it could cut you near bout in two.

"I suppose you look alright, but I can't recall never seein' you. I know just bout everbody here, seein' I'm in the guard," he says, with just a bit of tension on the word guard. "What business you got here in Vanderbee?"

That cur dog just keeps on sittin there, haunches in the sand. Just another one'a gods forgotten creatures left livin on this burned earth.

Knightsky

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Guns & Gasmasks: Ongoing Post Apocalyptic Adventure
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2006, 08:46:07 AM »
Quote from: mattormeg
"Name's Maducks. This here is Ace," the bald man says, his voice gruff and choked with dirt. "Thought you might be one a thems crazys what wander outa the desert now n' again."

The man eyeballs you. His gaze feels like it could cut you near bout in two.

"I suppose you look alright, but I can't recall never seein' you. I know just bout everbody here, seein' I'm in the guard," he says, with just a bit of tension on the word guard. "What business you got here in Vanderbee?"

That cur dog just keeps on sittin there, haunches in the sand. Just another one'a gods forgotten creatures left livin on this burned earth.
Karl holds out his hand to shake witht he old man.  "I'm Karl," he says.  "Heard that Guvnor Pepsee might have some work for someone willing to get their hands dirty..."
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mattormeg

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Guns & Gasmasks: Ongoing Post Apocalyptic Adventure
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2006, 08:01:37 PM »
Maducks raises an eyebrow above one of his cold, cold eyes. A smile creeps to one corner of his mouth, as if it were a fugitive in hiding from the rest of his unforgivin' face.

"That's for truth, young 'un, but it near bout depends on how dirty you willin to get them mits o' yours," he says. "What kinda speciality you bringin' to this here enterprise?"

Knightsky

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Guns & Gasmasks: Ongoing Post Apocalyptic Adventure
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2006, 10:22:29 PM »
Quote from: mattormeg
"That's for truth, young 'un, but it near bout depends on how dirty you willin to get them mits o' yours," he says. "What kinda speciality you bringin' to this here enterprise?"
"Well, I'm a fair hand in figuring out old tech," Karl replies, wondering how much of this is just Maduxks being nosy, and how much impressing Maducks might help in securing employment with the Guvnor.  "But mainly, what I know is how what and how people did what they did before the Burn...  which might not sound like much, but I've always found it useful in playing around with any of the oldtech that I've gotten my hands on in the past.  Figuring out how something works is only half the battle... if you know why something was built the way it was, you've got a better chance of using it to its full potential."

Hoping he hasn't started sounding to highbrow, he adds, "Oh, and I know I don't look like it, but I can take care of myself when trouble comes.  The really interesting stuff out there isn't in the safe zones."  While not a lie, his implied combat capabilities are a bit exaggerated.  Hell, it never hurts to stretch the truth just a little on a job interview...
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mattormeg

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Guns & Gasmasks: Ongoing Post Apocalyptic Adventure
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2006, 12:05:50 AM »
"Son, I bout understood a good thirda what you said, but if'n your good with the old tech we can sure get some work for you."

Then that ol' boy puts one boot in fronta the other and starts walking toward the center of town.

"C'mon, let's go see what gives with ol' Pepsee. I have a feelin' he's gonna wanna talk with you sooner rather n' later."

It's just as good, too. Daylights startin to dim on this blasted little town.

GM: Is there anything you want to do before you head further into town to see Pepsee?

Knightsky

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« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2006, 08:03:22 AM »
Quote from: mattormeg
GM: Is there anything you want to do before you head further into town to see Pepsee?
Not really.  Let's go see the Guvnor...
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mattormeg

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« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2006, 08:12:37 PM »
Maducks walks ahead, leading you a good bit into what the city.
The streets, buildings, even the citizens are covered in dust. Occasionally, a long, hot wind blows through bringing nothing but a wave of heat, like someone opened up the furnace door in hell.
There's a scattered lot of humanity that call the Station home: junkers, highwaymen, rangers, whores, and merchants with flinty black eyes.
Following Maducks, you find yourself in a large building that looks like it might've been a church - one of those houses in which the Old Ones worshipped the God that surely abandoned them.
A small antechamber hosts two guards, each holding fine old scatterguns and wearing tatteredblack gasmasks that offer more anonymity than protection, and you get the sense that this might be the idea.
These two part for you and Maducks, and reveal a set of double wooden doors.
Opening the doors, you find yourself in a vast chamber full of a maze of canned goods and junk: old movie posters, ancient 33 records - the detrius of a lost and burned world. Guards wander through the stacks, carefully watching you. On an elevated dais you seen a very old man sitting at a desk and reading a very old book. Looking up, he closes it and begins to speak:
The man, whom Maducks tells you is the Guvnor, speaks in an antiquated tone - a whisper of the forgotten past.
"Maducks, I see that you've brought another weary wanderer within our ranks. Who might you be, young sir?"

Knightsky

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« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2006, 09:41:05 PM »
Quote from: mattormeg
Opening the doors, you find yourself in a vast chamber full of a maze of canned goods and junk: old movie posters, ancient 33 records - the detrius of a lost and burned world.
Karl tries not to stare too obviously at the contents of the chamber - not merely the canned food, which could helpt to keep a man alive for a long time, but for the relics of a bygone age, the sort of stuff that Karl could easily lose himself in, examing and studying these lost treasures.

Quote
"Maducks, I see that you've brought another weary wanderer within our ranks. Who might you be, young sir?"
Karl tries to compose himself, not letting the impressiveness of his surroundings rattle him overly much.  "My name's Karl, sir.  Karl Matheson.  Most people would call me a Junker.  I've made my way by exploring through the ruins of the old cities, in search of items to barter or repair.  I know a fair amount about the workings of oldtech, as well as understanding the people who made those devices, and why they did what they did."

"I understand you might be looking to hire on people with the skills necessary to do 'special' jobs.  I guess you might say I'm here to apply for a job..."

[Karl's Liaison roll was a 10, which should hopefully make a fair first impression with the Guvnor]
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mattormeg

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Guns & Gasmasks: Ongoing Post Apocalyptic Adventure
« Reply #10 on: October 06, 2006, 11:35:50 PM »
Guvnor and Maducks exchange a look, information and implication traveling across those grim faces faster than lightning in the summer sky.
"I'm delighted to hear of your expertise; we need it in this town. Rest assured that we can put it to good use," the guvnor says. "Given these propensities of yours, you may be just the person I need to accompany a few of my men on a brief expedition out of town. Maducks, perhaps you might procure a drink for me and my young friend? The good stuff, please."
Maducks excuses himself, walking into the greater darkness beyond the stacks.
"Maducks is a good man, rest assured, but he isn't exactly what I'd call a thinker. This is where you come in."
The guvnor crosses his hands, threading his aged fingers.
"A band of raiders - barbarians, really - have turned their tender mercies toward the people of this town and the traders who make it their destination. The've set up camp at an ancient site of power a few days walk from here. While Maducks and company can certainly handle these urchins, I need someone to accompany them who knows their way around oldtech. I think that you could be that man. My particular concern is that these raiders may have accidentally discovered an artifact of great power: a weapon of the elder days. If this is true, it must be secured and if possible transported back to this city. If you are amenable, I can give you your choice of supplies and several men to accompany you."
Maducks returns, a bottle of ancient brandy in hand.
"Drink?"

Knightsky

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Guns & Gasmasks: Ongoing Post Apocalyptic Adventure
« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2006, 06:48:38 AM »
Quote from: mattormeg
Maducks returns, a bottle of ancient brandy in hand.
"Drink?"
"Thank you," says Karl, sipping at the brandy.  He takes the drink slowly; he's not a heavy drinker, and he doesn't want to make a fool of himself.

"I'd love to take a look at this ancient site you described."  No lie there - now that he knows about the place, he would be tempted to go off and explore it by himself, but having an armed escort is probably the safer option.  Not that he thinks the Guvnor is overly trustworthy, but for the moment Karl is playing with the hand he's been dealt.

"I suspect we'll just need food and water for the trip, plus whatever transport your men may already have.  I'm certain that your men are already well-armed for the task at hand."  [I'm assumjing that Karl has a basic toolkit with him... let me know if I need to purchase it from his remaining money]  Karl finishes off the glass of brandy.  "I just need to grab a bite to eat, and maybe catch some shuteye - it was a long walk to get here - and then I'll be ready to head out whenever your men are."
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mattormeg

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Guns & Gasmasks: Ongoing Post Apocalyptic Adventure
« Reply #12 on: October 19, 2006, 09:05:45 PM »
Maducks gives you an appraising look and a smile.
"Let's get to it, youn'un."
You're given a set of basic tools along with some water and food, and directed toward a cot in a guard barrack.
Sometimes toward dawn, you are roused out of sleep by a thin, young guardsman. "Hey, ferner, I wan speak wif you out back."
Following him, you end up in a back alley.
The man looks nervous.
"I'm gon' tell you somethin. We aint jus gon to check this site out. That guvnor, he wants somethin, and he don't care how he get it. See, thars a big ol bomb out that way. Guvnor wants it so as he can tighten his grip on this here town. I aim to see that don't happen. So, I gotta ask. You goin my way on this, or have I made me a big mistake?"
Looking back and forth, the man waits for you to give him an answer.

Knightsky

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« Reply #13 on: October 19, 2006, 09:30:38 PM »
Quote from: mattormeg
"So, I gotta ask. You goin my way on this, or have I made me a big mistake?"
Looking back and forth, the man waits for you to give him an answer.
Still annoyed at being woken up, Karl is a bit more surly and snappish than usual.  "Any reason why I should believe you?  You got anything to back up your claims?"
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