Castle Falkenstein, Wizard Speak

Castle Falkenstein is one of the games I have picked up because I loved the idea, had heard great things about it and planned on playing it eventually. There is a line from the movie "The Way of the Gun" that I quote way to often in real life..."I think a plan is just a list of things that don't happen.". Sadly to say that is true with my want to play Castle Falkenstein.

The game to me seems to be one part Shadowrun and one part Space 1889 which are both games I like the idea of. The layout of the game is done as a diary of a real world game designer drawn into a magical realm. The blog name is Quag Keep right so I think that works for me. I can't imagine why I have not played this game other than I just don't have time to play anymore.

Castle Falkenstein won the 1994 Origins Award for Best Gaming Rules. The idea of switching to cards instead of dice at first seems a little bit like a gimmick but in the end you can see it adds to the flavor of the game from what I have heard. Never having played it I can't speak to that. The use of cards could make it easier to play in non standard locales and you also don't have the sound of dice being rolled all the time.

The one thing that is considered a plus in many peoples eyes is that might be a detractor for me is the fact that it is set in Europe and not in England. I have nothing against Europe I am just an anglophile at heart. It is called the Victorian Age for a reason after all isn't it. This could add a flavor to the game that would help give it that just a little off feel that is sometimes helpful. Still the location would not be enough to make me to not want to play the game.

This is the original R. Talsorian Games version. There was a GURPS version of the game that was released in 2000. I have never had a chance to play that either but GURPS is usually pretty good at adapting systems so I am not sure how it would play.

If anyone has played this game I would love to hear about it and get some feedback. Then again it may just add to my want to play the game and that would lead to making plans to do so and I have told you how that seems to end up for me. Maybe I should make plans to not play the game and not win the lottery!


Spell:

Wizard Speak

Level: Second
Range: 6 " + 1"/Level
Duration: 5 Rounds + 1 Round/Level
Ares Effect: One Creature
Components: S
Casting Time: 2 Segments
Saving Throw: Special

By means of this spell the magic user assumes control over what the victim of  the spell is saying. The voice will be that of the victim and will be in the  language that is native to the victim or the common tongue based on the  casters desire.

The caster will be mouthing the words that are said while the victim is  speaking them. The victim must be within the range of the spell while this is occurring though the caster does not have to remain in visual contact.

For the first  round the victim will not realize that what they are saying is  not what they mean to say. The affected individual will not be able to alter  the words they are saying in any way. They are not under any sort of control  so they can try to communicate in other ways but they will not be able to  alter or stop what is being said.

The victim is entitled to a saving throw. If the save is successful then the  spell still takes effect but the words the caster are saying will be  gibberish. 

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups  last, were all written up or conceived of back in the 80's so the terminology  may not appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I  did back then it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any  duplication of spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :)  Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If  anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please let me know in  advance and all I ask is proper credit.

Serenity, Ghoul Touch

Serenity the RPG is based on the movie by the same name and thus on the TV series called Firefly. I really wish they had called it Firefly but that is being nit picky. Not since the original Star Trek series has such a short lived TV series attracted and maintained such a fan base. I am not a fanatic so as to call myself a Browncoat or anything like that but I am a fan of the show and of the movie that came out as a result of the fans. The RPG does a good job of being faithful to the feel of the show and the existing source material. The presentation is also top notch being full of full color photos from the show and other images. The setting is better than most adaptations based on a TV series or movie in that the characters in the show (other than River) are everyman. They were even on the losing side of the war. This means that the level of expectations and actions that need to take place are not set at the epic Luke/Kirk type of level. The adventures can be more along the lines of a typical D&D game but set in space. An excellent thing since the show had more than a little feel that it was Boot Hill in space. If you are looking for a non d20 Science Fiction game and you want something newer then this is the game for you. That and the base material comes from Joss Whedon so how wrong could you go with trying it out.

Spell:

Ghoul Touch

Level: Fourth
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 round/level
Ares Effect: Creature Touched
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 5 segments
Saving Throw: Negates

When this spell is cast the magic user grants themselves or another of their choice the ability of paralyzation by touch similar to the touch of a ghoul. The individual with spell on them will cause all they hit to save versus paralyzation or become paralyzed when attacking by hand without a weapon. Those who save will only suffer normal hand to hand damage from the attack. Those who fail will suffer the hand to hand damage and will become paralyzed for 3-6 rounds.

This spell may not be cast on an elf nor will the touch of anyone with this spell cast on them have any of the Ghoul effect on an elf. This immunity will also apply to other creatures or beings that would normally be immune to the touch of a ghoul or other paralyzation based effect.

The material components of this spell are a small piece of ghoul flesh as well as a small arachnid or insect (alive or dead) that affects its victims with paralyzation. Both of these will be eaten by the magic user or intended recipient of the spell as it is being cast.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups last, were all written up back in the 80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :) Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit.