Monday, September 18, 2017

Fall-In Playtest Game: Doctor Who and the Pirates of the Cyberiad Main

      A few of us got together yesterday to playtest a couple of our games for the upcoming Fall-In convention in Lancaster PA.  I ran a Doctor Who scenario called "Doctor Who and the Pirates of the Cyberiad Main", using GASLIGHT rules.  The set up was that the Doctor was enjoying a trip to a quiet 18th century Caribbean island when it was unexpectedly invaded by pirates who had rescued some Cybermen from their spaceship which had crashed somewhere in the ocean.   The Cybermen had made a deal with the pirates, and the prates had agreed to secure victims captives for the Cyberman.  So the goal of the Cybermen/Pirate players was to capture 6 Townsfolk and/or Garrison troops, and carry them back to their landing boats.  Meanwhile the Doctor had to  travel to three different buildings in the village to collect the equipment he would need to make special ammunition that would penetrate the Cybermen's armor (otherwise they were very hard to disable.)
An overview of the table.
   It was a fun and exciting game that went right down to the wire, with the Cyberman/Pirate alliance coming out on top with 6 captives in the end.
Townsfolk, Pirates and Cybermen scuffle outside the warhouse.

The Garrison takes on its share of Pirates and Cybermen as well.  In the upper right of the photo, a poor trooper is being dragged away by a Cyberman.

    The most exciting part of the game was when the Doctor and his companions (Amy, the Governor of the island, and the Governor's Daughter) attempted to get the last item the Doctor needed.  It was in a warehouse that was overrun with pirates, so the only way the Doctor could get in safely was by an upper story window. So, they ended up hovering in the TARDIS outside the window as the Doctor leapt trough the window into a room full of Pirates.  Amy tried to follow, but fell and was knocked unconscious when she hit the ground.  After the Doctor fought the pirates ineffectually for a couple turns, the Governor decided to jump across too, and a fun multi-turn swashbuckling duel occurred.  Eventually they cleared the upper floor, and the Doctor was able to secure the last item he needed, but it was a little late in the game, and the Cybermen/Pirate team were already near their victory goal.
The Doctor fights off Pirates in the upper floor of the warehouse.
   I'm really looking forward to running this again at the convention in November!

6 comments:

  1. I think you should get a job writing for the BBC, this would make one of the better episodes!

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    1. Thank you, Don M! Screen-writing would certainly be a dream job. :)

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  2. Hey, the only reason we (the good guys) lost is because the judges hate my guts and constantly ruled against me. Otherwise it would have been the youuugest victory in the history of Dr. Who-dom, believe me.

    Chris J.

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    1. Lol... I thought it was the Pirate-Cybermen side accusing me of favoritism when I was cheering you on in the warehouse. You always know you're doing your job right when both sides accuse you of favoring the other! :)
      Seriously though, Chris, I thought you did a great job as the Doctor.

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  3. Chris,
    This is entirely off the subject, but Dollar Tree stores are selling bags of 2" (approx.)-tall zombies!
    Chris

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    1. Thanks for the heads up! By coincidence, I was just in there today and saw them as well. Had to pick up a bag to check them out. :)

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