Monday 16 July 2012

The Altar of Pthoatl-Gree

A dark vision of insanity over at the Black Gate.  Reminds me of William Gibson's Lovecraftian tale "Hinterlands".  Here's my own version of ready-to-use game material.

Appearance


Explorers in different ages, delving in vastly different subterranean locations, have made similar reports of a strange altar-like arrangement.  The main feature of the altar is an idol, in the form of a hideous crouching, grinning entity.  Before the idol, is a large, cylindrical compartment, which may be opened/closed via rotation.

Both the idol and box are carved from a single, enormous black stone block.  The block is covered in hieroglyphs depicting strange entities of countless forms placing offerings of money in the box.  The next panel is invariably the same creature extracting some item from the box.  The coins in the hieroglyphics contain flecks of pyrite and glitter with a bit of a gold-ish color.

The close observer may notice that the number of coins in each subsequent hieroglyph is steadily increasing: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8..

Some of the explorers report the altar being gone on subsequent visits, despite no obvious means of egress for the colossal stone arrangement.  (Any time the party  returns to room, there is a 10% chance it will no longer be there)

Mechanics


If gold coins are placed within the compartment and the compartment closed, then after 1d100 minutes, there will be an effect.  If any other item is placed within(or gold coins and some other item) then there is no effect.

If there was not a Fibonacci number of gold coins, use this table:
  1. Explosion upon opening(Save or Die for creature opening it)
  2. Liquid begins pouring out upon opening(1d100x1d100x1000 liters(1000 L per minute) of: 1-fresh water, 2-acid, 3-lava, 4-fruit juice, 5-blood, 6-seawater(with strange creatures in it), 7-sticky ichor, 8-poisonous liquid)
  3. Altar disappears from this location
  4. Violent Earthquake(each room/passage in dungeon has 10% chance of collapsing.  Collapse occurs in 1d10 rounds)
If there was a Fibonacci number of gold coins(1,1,2,3,5...10946), then when the compartment is opened, the coins will be gone and in their place will be an item.  Each Fibonacci number will only work once(except 1 which will work twice.  In general, higher Fib(X) values will yield more potent results:

Form: 

  1. food item
  2. drink item
  3. creature
  4. device
  5. adventuring equipment(weapon/armor/etc)
  6. text(tablet, scroll, book)

Commonality(roll 1d100+5X):

  • 1-33 ordinary(common on this planet)
  • 34-67 rare(rare on this planet)
  • 68-100 extraterrestrial(similar to something on this planet, but slightly different)
  • 101-150 alien(something strange, no resemblance to anything of this planet)
  • 151-200 other-dimensional(something from another dimension)

Effect(roll 1d100+5X):

  • 1-50 inert
  • 51-100 beneficial
  • >100- detrimental

 

An Example


OK, let's make a table of effects of different Fibonacci numbers of coins:








.
XFib(X)=Number of GPFormCommonalityEffectItem
.
11creatureordinarybeneficialA rather large, black housecat. Petting it causes character to be 'blessed' for 1d10 rounds
.
21deviceextraterrestrialbeneficialField glasses, apparently for a 3-eyed creature. Provides electro-optic magnification x2-x200
.
32food ordinaryinertred apple
.
43devicerarebeneficialSilk Rope(400ft) Moves as snake to obey simple orders
.
55devicerarebeneficialMithril pickaxe
.
68food extraterrestrialbeneficialLoaf of bread with unusual tangy flavor. Unidentifiable grain. (permanent +1 CON)
.
713food raredetrimentalBowl of fine caviar. Anyone partaking in them will develop gills, webbed feet, transforming fully into a Mackrel-man in the course of a month
.
821food alienbeneficialCheetos from http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-261. Can charm people/monsters at-will for 1d12 hours
.
934textextraterrestrialdetrimentalStone slab with strange symbols/writings on it. For each day spent studying it, (INT)% chance of going permanently insane, otherwise, (2xINT)% chance of learning a random spell(regardless of class)
.
1055devicealiendetrimentalDevice of Rods, Wheels(Masks of Nyarlathotep)
.
1189adventuring equipmentextraterrestrialdetrimentalShiny Ray Gun. Explodes as grenade upon pressing trigger in high-O2 atmosphere.
.
12144creaturealienbeneficialFriendly, Super-Intelligent gas creature. Can creep through any crack. Takes 1 day to begin learning basic terrestrial words.
.
13233devicealiendetrimentalDark-Vision glasses. Also shows another dimention. 10% chance of losing insanity point for each 10 minutes of use
.
14377deviceextraterrestrialdetrimentalCollapsable space-ship. Pressing a button will cause it to launch, stopping on the first planet it hits. Cannot be aimed--virtually no chance of ever returning.
.
15610textextraterrestrialdetrimentalSilver-inked religious scroll. Meditation on indeciferable text will result in contact with Chaos Patron http://monstersandmanuals.blogspot.co.il/2010/02/chaos-patrons-revisited.html
.
161597devicealienbeneficialTactical Helmet- improved initiative, trap-finding, ranged weapon accuracy, etc
.
172584creatureother-dimensionaldetrimentalVampire mist
.
184181textother-dimensionaldetrimentalLiquid symbols, float in air, dissappear within 3 rounds. Highly acidic.
.
196765deviceother-dimensionaldetrimentalBall of anihilation- any matter it touches is sucked-in forever
.
2010946drinkother-dimensionaldetrimentalSecond <Unknown> item from http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-261


And let's say the players screw-up and put in an invalid number of gold coins...

2, 10, 82, 2- so as soon as the players open the box, a sulfurous liquid begins shooting out in a powerful stream.  It is acid and the one opening the box must save vs breath weapons or be splashed.  The room and dungeon will begin to fill-up with acid, up to 820,000 liters!

Chief Quartermaster Ltn. Yuri Leonov



Following last session where the party met Chief Quartermaster Ltn. Yuri Leonov, next session, the officer will make the party the following offer:

The party can give-in equipment for credit(in Rubles):
  • Russian arms for 80% of value
  • German/Polish arms for 40% of value
Likewise, they can buy equipment from him with the credit.  The chance of him having a particular item from the list on a given day are:
  • Russian-made 90%
  • German-made 50%
  • Polish-made 10%
  • Heavy-equipment on a case-per-case basis
Similarly, the party can redeem their credit for cash(Rubles) at a rate of 50% it's value.

Sunday 15 July 2012

Polish Resistance: Expanded Equipment List


I previously listed the starting equipment for Polish Resistance, but now here is the expanded equipment list, including many arms that can only be won through play:










.
NameTypeConcealDMG/AmmoMagROFRangeCost
.
Club Mel L 1d6 FreeMELL1d6


Free
.
Light Knife Mel P 1d6/2 10MELP1d6/2


10
.
Heavy Knife Mel P 1d6 25MELP1d6


25
.
Bayonet knife Mel P 1d6(+2 when attached) 30MELP1d6


30
.
Axe Mel J 2d6+3 35MELJ2d6+3


35
.
Brass Knuckles Mel L 1d6+2 10MELL1d6+2


10
.
Sledgehammer Mel N 4d6 20MELN4d6


20
.
Szabla(cavalry sword)Mel N 2d6+2 50MELN2d6+2


50
.
PitchforkMELN1d6


15
.
CrossbowExN3d611150m120
.
LongbowExN2d6+112150m150
.
Nagant M1895PP1d6+2(7.62x38R)7150m100
.
TT-30PP1d6+2(7.62x25T)8250m150
.
Vis PistolPP2d6+1(9mm)8250m300
.
Walther P38PP2d6+1(9x19mmP)8250m
.
KISSMGJ2d6+1(9mmLuger)3220150m350
.
BÅ‚yskawicaSMGJ2d6+1(9x19Para)3232150m400
.
MorsSMGL2d6+1(9x19Para)3232150m500
.
MP 40SMGJ2d6+1(9x19mmP)3232150m
.
PPD-40SMGL1d6+2(7.62x25T)25/7143150m
.
PPSh-41SMGL1d6+2(7.62x25T)35/7148150m
.
MG 34HVY(machine gun)N6d6(7.62x57mmM)50/75/25045400m
.
Degtyaryov(DG)HVY(machine gun)HVY(machine gun)6d6(7.62x54mm) 4730400m
.
Ckm wz.30HVY(machine gun)HVY(machine gun)d6+16(7.92x57mmM)25025400m
.
DShk HMGHVY(machine gun)HVY(machine gun)5d10(12.7x108mm)5032450m
.
Winchester 1912SHTN4d6(12Gg)5150m450
.
Karabin wz.98aRif(b)N6d6+1(7.92x57mmM)51400m450
.
Mosin/NagantRif(b)N6d6(7.62x54mmR)51400m500
.
Lee-EnfieldRif(b)N6d6+1(.303Mk VII)101400m550
.
Browning wz.1928RifN6d6+1(7.92x57mmM)2020400m600
.
Karabiner 98kRif(b)N6d6+1(8x57mm IS)51400m
.
Zf-41 1.5X telescopic site for Karabiner 98k: +3 med/long/extremeRif(accessory)





.
Gewehr 43RifN6d6+1(8x57mm IS)102400m
.
StG 44Rif(b)N5d6+2(8x33mm K)3030400m
.
WZ-35Rif(Anti-tank)N4d10AP(7.92x107mm)41400m1000
.
PTRDRif(Anti-tank)N6d10AP(14.5x114mm)11450m
.
PTRD-41Rif(Anti-tank)N6d10AP(14.5x114mm)51450m
.
FlamethrowerHVYN2d10+1d10+1d610150m
.
Stick Grenade(C)HVYP5/7d6(15m)1110m x body
.
Grenade(F)HVYP4d6(40m)1110m x body30
.
Grenade(C)HVYP5/7d6(15m)1110m x body30
.
DynamiteHVYJ6d6/kg


30/kg
.








.
Ammo






.
7.62 Pistol(100) 15






.
9mm Pistol(50) 15






.
12 Gg(12) 15






.
7.92/7.62/.303 Rifle(100) 40






.
7.92x107mm(12) 20






.
Arrows(12) 24






.
Bolts(12) 30






.








.








.
ArmorCoversSP




.
Aviation Flack Jacket Torso 10SP
10




.
Heavy Leather JacketArms,Torso4



50
.
Steel Helmet
14



80
.








.
Clothes






.
Pants 20






.
Top 15






.
Jacket 35






.
Shoes 25






.
Glasses 50






.
Jewelry 10-100






.








.
Other Cost






.
Donkey 70






.
Mule 100






.
Riding Horse 200






.
First Aid Kit 10






.
Medikit 50






.
Rations 150/week






.
Rope 2/ft






.
Gasmask 50






.
Magnetic Compass 10






.
Binoculars 70






.
Lantern 10






.
Kerosene 5(1hour)