Anyone run a Beowulf type of game?

Eisenmann · Post by **Eisenmann** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:42 pm

I'm itching to run a Beowulf inspired game and was wondering if anyone else has already done this. Any pointers pertaining to running it with C&C?

Thanks!

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:35 am

You may want to modify the grappling rules, to make it a bit easier, especially if you intend to make the opponent something more like Grendel, and less like a wuss. I'd also suggest the elimination of almost all the classes, and would probably only use Monk (modified somewhat, and only to represent those better skilled in hand-to-hand than most), barbarian, druid, fighter, rogue, and bard. Only races would be human, and the outcasts to which Grendel belongs, unless you're mixing in other Nordic themes, in which case you'd have Aesir Dwarfs and Alfar Elves, and maybe a Colin Chapman Gnome or two. Dragons would kick a lot of butt, and there likely wouldn't be many of them. Oh, and magic items would be very rare, but extremely powerful when found... sort of like all magical items are artifacts, gifted by the Gods.

So, I guess the real question to you becomes: just Beowulf, or everything that surrounds the culture and time?

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 4:26 am

No, but a nifty idea. Low magic, viking fellowship, ale... ahh, a fine game it would be!

.................................................Omote

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catenwolde · Post by **catenwolde** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 9:41 am

As Serleron said, you would have to tailor the use of classes and types of monsters to reflect the assumptions in the culture portrayed by the poems, but the real question is what style of play you want. Although Beowulf is of course the focus of the saga, the overall theme is one of the relationship between a heroic lord and his warband. The individuals of the warband, while not as capable as the hero, are nevertheless powerful warriors in their own right, and are constantly tested in loyalty and prowess. In the end, of course, Beowulf is abandoned by almost all of them in his final battle with the dragon.

So, the real question is whether you are after the atmosphere of the setting or the style of play suggested by the poems. For atmosphere as such, there are several excellent "Viking" type sourcebooks for other systems, the best of which are the old GURPS and Rolemaster volumes, while Pendragon has several volumes on older Saxon cultures and such which are actually a better fit for Beowulf. For style of play, you would have to decide if you want an "entourage" style of play (one hero and a group of lesser PC's or even NPC's) or an alteration of the genre to suit standard PC party play.

Cheers

csperkins1970 · Post by **csperkins1970** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 4:06 pm

catenwolde wrote:
Pendragon has several volumes on older Saxon cultures and such which are actually a better fit for Beowulf. For style of play, you would have to decide if you want an "entourage" style of play (one hero and a group of lesser PC's or even NPC's) or an alteration of the genre to suit standard PC party play.

Cheers

I was thinking the same thing. Pendragon's Land of Giants supplement would be perfect (if you can find it). I think it's available as a pdf but is EXTREMELY hard to find in print.

Lurker · Post by **Lurker** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 2:28 pm

Quote:
I was thinking the same thing. Pendragon's Land of Giants supplement would be perfect (if you can find it). I think it's available as a pdf but is EXTREMELY hard to find in print.

I have it along with a few others. They are great for resurching & feel type things. Pagan shores is a good one to. I'll have to look for the PDFs for any I've missed.

I've always loved historic gaming so IMHO I'd go for "alteration of the genre to suit standard PC party play." - The entourage can rub some players the wrong way. If you have a group that is good to go with that style go for it. Also you will have to work on your discriptive style. I've soft copies of some of the Saga's some were if you need reading material.
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Philotomy Jurament · Post by **Philotomy Jurament** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 3:29 pm

Lurker wrote:
I've always loved historic gaming so IMHO I'd go for "alteration of the genre to suit standard PC party play." - The entourage can rub some players the wrong way.

I've been kicking around the idea of using the "entourage approach" where the main hero is an NPC and the PCs are the entourage, but the hero isn't as heroic or puissant as he is popularly perceived to be. However, I can't help thinking that the idea would be a tough one to pull off with a RPG (although it would probably work just fine as fiction/prose).

Eisenmann · Post by **Eisenmann** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:47 pm

I picked up Saxons! and Land of the Giants PDFs. They're excellent material for running this style of game. Thanks for the heads-up!

Lurker · Post by **Lurker** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:03 pm

Quote:
I've been kicking around the idea of using the "entourage approach" where the main hero is an NPC and the PCs are the entourage, but the hero isn't as heroic or puissant as he is popularly perceived to be. However, I can't help thinking that the idea would be a tough one to pull off with a RPG (although it would probably work just fine as fiction/prose).

If you have the right group it could be a good game & probally something they have never played before.

The wrong group, a quick knife in the back, the body into the swamp, & hidy ho off we go......
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Lurker · Post by **Lurker** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:04 pm

wooo hooo Hobgoblin!
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Keolander · Post by **Keolander** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:11 am

I like the idea of an early Anglo-Saxon setting, as long as it doesn't simply say Beowulf but look like Malory's Le Mort D'Arthur instead.
Allowable armor: Padded, leather coat, leather, ring-mail, hide, studded leather, mail shirt, scale, mail hauberk, only wooden shields
Allowable melee weapons: Axes (any), Bill (especially since it was Saxxon weapon), Club, Dagger, Fist, Hammer (any), Mace (any), Pike, Scythe, Sickle, Spear (any), Swords: Long, short, two-handed
Allowable ranged weapons: Arrows, bolts, bows (no composites), crossbow (light), dart, javelin, rock, sling
Miscellaneous: Barding of any type would be incredibly rare, representing something like a Byzantine Cataphract. If you allow 'Near Eastern' warriors as well, then they could have Composite shortbows (one of the favoured weapons of mounted Steppes warriors) and the heavy lance (similar to the Sarmatian Contus).

Now, I do think that there is room for a few more pieces of armor, like Lamellar (+4) or layered armor like: Lamellar over Mail (+7) Leather Coat over Mail (+6) as well as adding Splinted Greaves/Vambraces (+1 ac). This allows you to achieve about the same level of protection as what Plate and Full Plate would, though heavier in the exchange.

Swords would be incredibly expensive in this era, whereas Bows would be cheap. A 2-handed sword should cost about 100gp, longsword 75gp and a shortsword 40gp. A long bow would cost 5gp and a shortbow 1gp. Reason: metal is expensive beyond belief. The typical warrior of the era carried a wooden shield, maybe had a leather coat, maybe a metal helmet, a spear and a dagger.

rabindranath72 · Post by **rabindranath72** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:17 pm

The old D&D Gazetteer GAZ7, Northern Reaches, has LOTS of ideas to run a "viking-like" campaign. Strongly recommended, and it can be adapted to C&C in a breeze. It also has rules for runic magic, a witch class, and many adventure snippets. A must!

Cheers,

Antonio

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:36 pm

There was also a Dragon Magazine which had an article on running a campaign set in 5th century england with the Saxon invasion. I wish I could remember the issue, I think it's not too far after where the Dragon Magizine archive CD's leave off.

Lurker · Post by **Lurker** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:32 pm

Quote:
I like the idea of an early Anglo-Saxon setting, as long as it doesn't simply say Beowulf but look like Malory's Le Mort D'Arthur instead.

Keolander, I cant agree more. I love the idea of Arthur, but hate Le Mort in reference to historic.

Like your ideas on all the armor weapons etc. Id limit the mail to the upper class & mercenaries. I agree & would make the layered armor the norm.

Quote:
Swords would be incredibly expensive in this era, whereas Bows would be cheap. A 2-handed sword should cost about 100gp, longsword 75gp and a shortsword 40gp. A long bow would cost 5gp and a shortbow 1gp. Reason: metal is expensive beyond belief. The typical warrior of the era carried a wooden shield, maybe had a leather coat, maybe a metal helmet, a spear and a dagger.

Very true historically. To balance this Id work on making the shield & spear more effective. There are a few threads around here that work on that. Something about using shields to deflect attacks instead of just a 1 ac.

GAZ7 I havent seen that in long time.
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