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Important Disclaimer
This fantasy game is a work of fiction and intended only for enjoyment. However, the world and events of this game are inspired by, based on, and in some instances mirror, a chapter of real world history. Whilst all similarity to world wars 1 and 2 is intentional, this is in no way meant to be a political statement. Whilst the traditionally 'good' fantasy races have been mapped to the allied powers of Europe and the traditionally 'evil' races mapped to Axis powers, I am in no way meaning to compare the people of these real world nations to any fantasy creature, nor make any sort of derogatory remark about their physical appearance, history or culture. Please note also, that this game will have mature and border line graphic scenes depicting the brutalities trench war fare and parallels to the real life genocide, racial hatred and fascism of Nazi Germany. If these themes are likely to upset you, I recommend you do not play this game. This game is also only recommended for players aged 18 and over because of these mature themes. Thank you for reading, and enjoy the game :)
Character Creation
You begin the game as a conscripted private of the Allied army, with no prior military experience. As usual, your might, agility and wisdom should add up to 7, your life and power to 8 and you can have 2 traits (more information below). Your role should be 'Private' unless you are later promoted Your first trait should be a racial trait. The races of the allied armies and their traits are as follows; Gnome: 1 - Tumbling, Diplomacy Halfling: 1 - Stealth, Animal interaction Dwarf 1: 1 - Physical Resistance, Machinery, Underground Perception Elf: 1 - Perception, General Knowledge Your character's name should be its SURNAME. Gnomes should have British surnames, Halflings French surnames, Dwarves Russian surnames and Elves American Surnames (see the lore section at the bottom of the forum for more ideas) Each race also receives the following special bonus; Gnomes: When an enemy fails their attack (rolls 0 stars against you) you may use your natural gnomish nimbleness to relocate to any piece of cover within 2 squares Halflings: Due to their exceptionally small size, a halfling is only pinned by a 2 star attack (see combat mechanics). A 3 star attack however will still deal 2 damage Dwarves: Due to their increased physical conditioning and natural hardiness, Dwarves gain +1 to their maximum life Elves: As one of the last races to still have some control of magic, Elves can spend 2 power points to cast a spell Your second trait should then be a unique aspect of your character. Either a skill, hobby or job they did before the war. try to keep combat based traits to a minimum as you are not yet an elite soldier! Some example trait are below, which you can use if you wish Factory Worker: 1 - Machinery, following orders Farmer: 1 - Fitness, lifting and carrying, plant and animal knowledge Doctor: 1 - medical knowledge, healing Chess Player: 1 - Tactics, intellect Keen Eyes: 1 - Senses, reactions
Other Races
The other races of the game will mostly be enemy NPCs. With special permission of the GM, a player may play a member of one of these races who has defected to the allied side. The GM's decision will be based of the character concept, and the number of players already playing these races. This section also provides information on the special skills of different enemy types Orc: 1 - Strength, Night Vision. Goblin: 1 - Stealth, Locks/Traps Ogre: 1 - Strength, physical resistance, intimidation Drow: 1 - Perception, Deception, Cunning enemy races have the following special abilities: Orcs who hit and deal at least 1 damage in melee combat increase the damage they deal by 1. When one goblin retreats (move away from its enemy) the nearest friendly goblin to it may also make a free move to retreat. Ogres increase their maximum life by 2. However, because of their large size, they need two tiles in front of them to be considered 'in cover' Drow may spend 2 power points to cast a magic spell. a 9th neutral race inhabits the continent; The Centaurs. Whilst unlikely to ever be seen in combat they gain a trait bonus to speed, charging and astrology. They also deal automatic +1 damage and roll their Centaur trait when engaging an enemy in melee combat after charging it down by moving at least 3 tiles towards it in a straight line
Combat Mechanics
This game relies on a system of cover and suppressive fire to make combat tense and tactical. You'd be wise to remember the Four Fs of early modern military combat; Find 'em - Locate your enemy and examine your environment Fire at 'em - Lay down suppressive fire so they can't shoot back Flank 'em - Advance, and move around their cover Finish 'em - Eliminate the enemy When an enemy is out in the open, attacks deal 1 damage per star. Most enemies and players are defeated after taking 2 damage. Staying behind cover is a good idea to keep living. Please bare in mind that if an enemy has made a melee attack against you (or you against them) the two of you are now considered to be actively brawling and fighting hand to hand for your life. You cannot move or make a ranged attack in this situation. When you, or an enemy, are behind cover, follow the following rules for attacks: 1 star = the target is pinned by suppressive fire (tag 'pin') and looses its next action 2 stars = the target is pinned and takes 1 damage 3 stars = the target is pinned and takes 2 damage 4 or more stars = the target takes instant lethal damage When you are pinned, you loose your action for the round. An ally however, you free you from being pinned by killing or pinning the enemy pinning you. You are considered to be in cover if you are adjacent to a ranged tile and the attacker cannot draw a straight line from the centre of its 'figure base' to the centre of your 'figure base' without going over a raised tile (most of the time this will be obvious, this rule is here for technicalities). An enemy on a higher level may be able to negate certain pieces of cover due to its elevation (GM's discretion) During combat, if you move out of cover and advance through the sight line of an enemy that is not pinned, you may be shot at by that enemy. To begin the game you will be using a standard issue rifle, additional mechanics may apply to other weapons or vehicles.
Army Ranks
your role is your rank. survive and show a good tactical mind that makes the correct military decisions and you might climb the career ladder of the army. -Private: This is your basic, beginner rank. -Private 1st Class: A private that has been recognized for their strategic skills or military achievements may be made a Private 1st Class. Whilst this rank has no real authority, Private 1st Classes are encouraged to take new privates under their wing and may be looked upon for advice from these new recruits. -Lance Corporeal: A member of the squad given a special task, and a higher rank to stop privates getting in the way. A lance corporeal may be a machine gunner or a sniper amongst other things. -Corporeal: A high ranking squad member, acting as 2nd in command under the Sergeant, or leading a sub team (for example, leading half the of the squad providing suppressive fire whilst the others go on ahead, or captaining the 2nd tank in tank unit) -Sergeant: In charge of an entire squad. A senior figure that all others listen to -Staff Sergeant: A higher ranking sergeant, in charge of his own squad and able to pull rank to get other squads to do what he says. Higher ranks than these are officer ranks, for which you need to go to officer school. Unfortunately you are here by conscription, and won't be climbing any higher. Army Structure You do not -have- to read this information, but knowing it might help you make the right decision in the heat of the battle. You are serving in the 103rd Unified Battalion, which accepts members for all common races. On a battalion level, you have the following officers and men, of which you'll have very little interaction: -Major Whittaker (The Gnome in control of the whole show, trusted by the allied army to send you where you need to be) -Captain Egorushkin (A lower ranking Dwarven Officer, deputy commander of the Battalion) -Their Batmen (a personal assistant for each officer) -Two artillery cannons for long range, explosive fire -A team of four men to operate each cannon -Three tanks, each crewed by a team of four men. -A three man radio team, including a lead engineer, a secondary engineer (who gets the job of carrying the heavy radio) and a runner who brings the messages to one of the three Platoons under the command of the Major Whitaker; Speaking of which... You are serving in the 2nd Platoon of this Battalion and it contains the following: -Left-Tenant Dupond (The man in charge of the platoon) -His Batman -Mortar Operator (For inaccurate, close range, covering fire) -Mortar Spotter (For reloading and finding targets for the operator) -Anti-Tank Gunner (Equipped to take out armour if any is encountered) -2nd Anti-Tank Gunner (Carries the ammo and loads the tank gun) -The Platoon's Medic The Platoon then has three companies (Duff, Edward and Freddie), each led by a sergeant. These are currently Sgt Kozlov, Sgt Dubios and Staff Sergeant Doe (Who is also the 2nd in command offer for the entire Platoon). This is liable to change as these officers are with you on the front line. In each company, there are then 6 men. The players in the party (and some npcs to make up the numbers) will be serving in Sgt Kozlov's company. Below this point is information about each race. I do not expect you to read it all, but please skim the section of the race you've chosen
Race: Gnomes
Country Name: The Unified Empire of Great Gnomia and its Commonwealth (the UE) Political System: Constitutional Monarchy (A King and a Prime Minister) Average Height: 4 ft 3 inches Age of Maturity: 18 Life Expectancy: 65 Skin Colours: All the skin colours of real world humanity Hair Colours: Brown, Blond, Yellow, Blue, Purple Eye Colours: Green, Blue, Purple, Silver, Pink Naming Guide: British surname.sofeminine.co.uk/w/surnames/most-common-su... History: A previous Queen of Gnomia carved an empire that stretched a quarter of the world, colonising most of further continents and creating an unrivalled super power. A series of wars has seen Gnomia repeatedly loose these territories and it has since been passed economically by the Elven States, but still it is a country that demands respect, with hard working, happy and inventive people and an unrivalled naval force. Currently the country is ruled by Prime Minister Edward Drew on behalf of his majesty King Andrew IV. When the Axis invaded a neutral region of The Republic of Halv, a treaty with those people forced the hand of the UE and they entered the war officially.
Race: Halflings
Country Name: The Republic of Halv Political System: Democracy Average Height: 3 feet 10 inches Age of Maturity: 30 Life Expectancy: 98 Skin Colours: All the skin colours of real world humanity Hair Colours: Brown, Black, Blond, Grey, Auburn, Ginger Eye Colours: Green, Brown, Blue, Grey, Hazel Naming Guide: French surnames.behindthename.com/top/lists/france/2005 History: A bloody revolution hundred of years ago in the countries past saw the end of its monarchy, and a republic was born. Since then, conflicts and skirmishes with Goblins and Orcs have been constant and the Republic of Halv lacks the sea or mountain ranges the other allies have to protect them. Fighting bravely since the beginning of the war, three years later, Halv finds nearly a third of its territory lost, and the will of its people near to breaking.
Race: Dwarves
Country Name: Dwarven Supreme Socialist Republic (DSSR) Political System: Communist Average Height: 5 ft 1 inch Age of Maturity: 25 Life Expectancy: 120 Skin Colours: Caucasian only Hair Colours: Black, ginger. Eye Colours: Grey, black, brown, Naming Guide: Russian ( todiscoverrussia.com/top-20-most-common-russian-fa... ) History: For centuries the Dwarven peasantry slaved away in the mind shafts, barely able to afford food, whilst its Kings of old traded in the gold and ore that made the Empire powerful. Then ideas spread of socialism and marxism amongst the workers, and a powerful revolution was put into place. The huge numbers of the lower class seized the means of production and forced its monarchy into exile. In its place, a system of communism was but into place... yet the average dwarf can still only just afford the food they need. Old alliances stand between Dwarves, Halfling and Gnomes; a trifector of races who long ago refused to be bullied by the larger children on the playground. With its allies going to war, the Dwarves come too, despite political tensions between them.
Race: Elves
Country Name: The Elven States Political System: Democracy Average Height: 5ft 7inches Age of Maturity: 60 years Life Expectancy: 300 years Skin Colours: Caucasian only Hair Colours: Blond, silver, white, dirty blond, yellow Eye Colours: Blue, Green, Purple, Silver Naming Guide: American surnames.behindthename.com/top/lists/united-states... History: Having won its independence from the Gnome Empire a few hundred years ago, The Elves have quickly come to value freedom and democracy above everything else. As other nations fought, they stayed separate, and clung to the remains of magic in the world. These two factors combinded saw the States catapulted to the top of the economic league tables of the world. Now controlling roughly 60% of the world's wealth. The recent divisive issue in the Elven continent has been the war in Laurasia, the Elves have the man power and money to intervene and help protect its allies (instead of just selling them weapons and supplies) but should it? After all, its not their war or land and many of its people will die horrible deaths. After several years of stalling and preparing, a Drow Naval attack on Star Harbor has forced the Elves' hand.
Race: Orcs
Country Name: Geso Orcany Political System: Fascism Average Height: 6ft 2inches Age of Maturity: 4 Life Expectancy: 30 Skin Colours: Green, Blue, Black Hair Colours: Black Eye Colours: Black, Red, White Naming Guide: German german.about.com/od/names/a/German-Surnames.htm History: Under a former Monarchy, the country of Orcany fought many wars, always the first to help when its allies were in trouble and always keen to establish itself above the other races as the people who should lead the world. Unfortunately, each time they joined a conflict they joined on the loosing side, and were left with the blame. Forced to sign treaties by the allies, the country was bankrupted several time overs, until wheelbarrows of money couldn't buy bread. Underneath the surface of this, a social and political revolution was taking place with various political parties establishing themselves with their own agendas. Then came Gorgo Richter, an uncannily charismatic Orc with his own Facist agenda, who quickly became leader of the Geso (The Green Socialists). The Geso spoke of the Blue-Skinned Kaiser and his family and the Black Skinned Orcs who worshipped a different god and controlled the banks; He said these other races of Orc were the enemy of the people, and that he could revive Orcany to its former glory. The people rallied behind him. And Gorgo Richter was declared chancellor for life over a new racially charged, fascist regime.
Race: Goblins
Country Name: Itlin Political System: Fascism Average Height: 4ft 3inches Age of Maturity: 4 Life Expectancy: 20 Skin Colours: Green, Grey, Yellow Hair Colours: Black Eye Colours: Red, Yellow, Black, Grey Naming Guide: Italian surnames.behindthename.com/names/usage/italian History: Failing monarchies are a theme of recent times, as is political unrest. The history of Itlin is much the same as that of Orcany, but on a smaller scale. Several lost conflicts, debts to pay, a monarch overthrown. With Orcany rising to a new level of power and success, Itlins own version of the Geso party have taken over the country, again preaching the supremacy of the Green race.
Race: Ogres
Country Name: The Empire of Ogrestan Political System: Absolute Monarchy Average Height: 7ft 1Inch Age of Maturity: 6 Life Expectancy: 55 Skin Colours: Green, Grey, Brown, Pink Hair Colours: Black, Brown Eye Colours: Red, Black, Grey Naming Guide: Arabic ( surnames.behindthename.com/names/usage/arabic ) History: A Thousand years ago, the Ogrestan Empire was one of the largest in the world, representing an important trading hub in the middle east, bringing exotic goods to Laurasia from around the world. Slowly, the empire shrunk as its magical powers faded and smaller parts became independent, from some time in faded into obscurity; then the oil was discovered. Black liquid gold, desired by all the powers of Laurasia to drive their new machines, both in the factory and on the battlefield. The Unified Empire fought a war to a stale mate with the Ogrestan Empire over the means of harvesting this oil (as the Gnomes had territory just the other side of the oil fields) and the Orcs came to their aid. In the years since then the two countries have been steadfast allies, one providing the oil, and the other providing the machines of war to protect both nations. Even the Geso were quick to keep up the friendships between the nations. Lately, the Geso have been leaning more and more heavily on the Ogre Sultan to take rights away from Ogres who aren't Green. Even here, Fascism shows its claws.
Race: Drow
Country Name: The Imperial Empire of Kunidrow Political System: Constitutional Monarchy Average Height: 5ft 8inches Age of Maturity: 60 years Life Expectancy: 300 years Skin Colours: Shadow Black, Purple Hair Colours: Black, White, Silver Eye Colours: Red, Grey, Silver, Yellow Naming Guide: Japanese ( japantimes.co.jp/life/2009/10/11/lifestyle/japans-... ) History: An old and imperial empire, with its own complicated culture and history separate from that of Laurasia. A mysterious nation ruled by its Emperor. High tensions between the Drow and Elves have escalated to naval warfare, leading to the Drow joining the war on the Axis side. Please log in to add a comment. |
As Fascism sweeps the west of the continent, and Communism is adopted in the north, armies sit in trenches, guns at the ready, prepared to kill for their country. Warfare has evolved like never before, and guns, deadly gas, constant shelling bombard no man's land, whilst aircraft fly over head and drop bombs. The age of swords, magic and cavalry charges is over... this is the age of machinery.
The Allied powers of Gnomes, Dwarves, Elves and Halflings are locked in a struggle with the Axis powers of the Orcs, Goblins, Ogres and Drow; but whilst the leaders play their grand game of politics, and the generals plan their great strategies for victory, you are a mere pawn, a conscript on the front lines. Can you survive, and will your contributions make a difference to the war effort? Only time will tell, private.