Our Ghost Archipelago Campaign, 2018

[Chris Palmer]

    We kicked off this year's campaign season, with our first Ghost Archipelago game this past Saturday.    Since it was the first game, and the first time with the rules for a couple of the guys, we played just a simple battle and not one of the scenarios.  

 

My Heritor's report can be found here:  First Foray onto Fantastic Shores

 

     "...As the Elf leaned over to reach into the pedestal, he caught sight of the Heritor Gregorius for the first time, emerging from a patch of jungle on his left.  The other Heritor clutched a grime-covered urn to his chest, and as he turned he likewise caught sight of Lord Fortrywn.   Gregorius' eyes narrowed as he quickly apprised what Lord Fortrywn was doing.  The old Elf could see the turmoil in his opponent's eyes as greed flashed across them.  The human Heritor looked at his urn then back at the newly smashed hole in the idol's pedestal, his mind calculating..."

 

 

[Dilvish the Deliverer]

Great write up as usual!

 

I've noticed that with the Wardens spells, there are fewer ways to block LOS (unlike the Fog and Wall spells of FG), and between that and the limits on ranged attacks that it might be a bit deadlier.  Did the other band fare similarly?  Or did you just get a run of bad luck?

[Chris Palmer]

10 minutes ago, Dilvish the Deliverer said:

Great write up as usual!

 

I've noticed that with the Wardens spells, there are fewer ways to block LOS (unlike the Fog and Wall spells of FG), and between that and the limits on ranged attacks that it might be a bit deadlier.  Did the other band fare similarly?  Or did you just get a run of bad luck?

 

 

Thank you, Dilvish!  I’m glad you enjoyed it.   

 

Yes, the fewer LOS blocking Spells is really a factor now.  I got out of the habit to worry about checking things like that, knowing I always had Fog at my disposal.    

 

     I was the only one to take the harsh missile casualties.  It was a bit of both bad luck and the changed LOS dynamic.  All three were one shot kills, which is unusual and pure bad luck. And this prevented me from getting any of the targets out of harms way once they’d been shot at.    Plus, Herndon has a missile-heavy force; and I worried him by half joking that I was going to run down the river, and steal the Central Treasure in his zone since he was relatively unopposed. 

     Gregorius took casualties as well, but most of those were from hand to hand.  Down the far end, I think Skorri Drakenberg (aka Knabe) took hardly any casualties  (I’m sure his report will be along soon); and Robin Duck took 3 or 4 ,  but his were mainly from really bad luck with Random Encounters entering in his area. 

    A real life-saver halfway through the game was the Cloud Cover spell, which really cut down on the missile  fire.  

All in all it is a much deadlier game.  But I think that is one of the good things that makes it different form Frostgrave.

 

[Pippin]

Wow!  The dynamics of this game seemed much different from the Frostgrave campaign.  Not sure if it's actually the nature of the differences between the two games or if it was just this specific adventure happened to go more violently.  I mean, losing four figures?  40% of the crew down.  I don't think you ever had loses like that back in the Frostgrave games.

Looking forward to seeing how things progress in the next games of this campaign and in seeing young Marny come into her own and proving to herself and her uncle that she's a capable adventurer.

[Chris Palmer]

On 1/27/2018 at 7:45 PM, Pippin said:

Wow!  The dynamics of this game seemed much different from the Frostgrave campaign.  Not sure if it's actually the nature of the differences between the two games or if it was just this specific adventure happened to go more violently.  I mean, losing four figures?  40% of the crew down.  I don't think you ever had loses like that back in the Frostgrave games.

Looking forward to seeing how things progress in the next games of this campaign and in seeing young Marny come into her own and proving to herself and her uncle that she's a capable adventurer.

 

Pippin- Yes, the dynamics are much different than Frostgrave.  Gone are the days of lurking behind cover sniping with spells; Wall and Fog spells at your disposal.  This is geared towards getting your hands dirty in combat.  The first key is that your main character is a super-human fighter, and the second is the move away from evenly distributed 3-for-me, 3-for-you treasures.  Now there is one Central Treasure (worth more) and then each player places two regular treasures; so the treasure count is unbalanced.  Also, there are no more really powerful LOS blocking spells.  So missile troops are more potent. 

    Glad you are looking forward to the continuation of the adventure, and seeing how Our Heroes fare.  I am too. 

[Knabe]

I finally got my report finished after subtle encouragement from Chris.  Hope you enjoy the read.

 

Knabe

Ghost Archipelago Campaign - The First Outing

[Darkmeer]

I love the warband! 

[Rat13]

The warband looks great. I really appreciate the report, it gave me a better feel for the game than the rulebook did.

 

It appears that by buying Song of Blades and Heroes, Frostgrave, and Ghost Archipelago I may have opened the floodgates for my gaming friends. Last Saturday we decided to start in on Ghost Archipelago in two weeks.

 

Your report may just give me a leg up on the competition. 

[Knabe]

Darkmeer and Rat13,

 

Thanks for the kind comments.  And keep watching here for monthly reports as our campaign grinds along.

 

Knabe

[Chris Palmer]

Great report and photos as usual, Knabe!      And I agree that it is a nice looking warband!  I didn't really get a chance to see them all set out at last moth's game. 

 

I'm looking forward to our next game on Saturday!  

[Chris Palmer]

   This past Saturday we played the second game of our campaign, and did the "X Marks the Spot" scenario from the core rulebook.  

 

It was brutal.   Brutal, and a real nail-biter. 

 

So action-packed in fact, that I'm giving you two preview samples!  

 

 

    " ...It only took Gwynwater's single second of distraction, as she noticed the Gorilla approaching, for the Crocodile to see it's opportunity; and springing forward with more energy then belied the low short legs, the large reptile was upon the Elf, and it's mighty jaws clamped down upon her leg.  She screamed out as she fell, and went down hard on her back. She could feel the bone crack in her leg as the monster clamped down, and the pain radiated through her whole body.  With what remaining strength she had, the Hunter quickly curled forward and plunged her sword, tip first, into the base of the animal's head.  The sharpened metal cut all the way through and a few inches into the ground.  The beast writhed for a few seconds and then lay there motionless, its jaws still locked around the Hunter's leg.    Quickly, Gwyn worked at freeing herself, as the huge Gorilla approached...." 

 

Meanwhile...

 

     "...With her Heritor's skill, Katheryne used her Backswing, to launch a powerful stroke at Lord Fortrwyn.  But the old warrior was ready for it, and skillfully he locked his blade in hers, twisted his arm around in a circle, and the Heritor woman's ancestral sword broke free from her grip and spun lose in the air,  landing far away behind the shattered temple outbuilding.  He had Disarmed her.  Katheryne hissed at the Elf, "How dare you!"
    A  patronizing smile, came over Lord Fortrywn's thin lips.  "Please, girl, I fought and defeated your Grandfather in the Northern Border War when you were but a babe.  You think you could be a match for me?"  The Elf struck again, as Katheryne quickly drew a small secondary sword.  It wasn't quick enough though, as the tall Heritor's blade hit it's target putting a gash in the woman's side.  Blood dripped down onto her tartan skirt.
    But the battle was not over yet..."

 

 

To read all about it... The X's Mark the Spots

 

 

 

 

[Knabe]

Great report, another entertaining read.

 

Will be posting my report soon.

 

Knabe

[Chris Palmer]

Thanks, Knabe!  Looking forward to reading yours.

[Knabe]

Once again I lag behind in posting my game report but here it is:  Ghost Archipelago Campaign Game 2: X Never Marks the Spot!

 

Hope you enjoy the read.

 

Knabe

 

[Chris Palmer]

 A great read, Knabe; and as always some super pictures!  

 

 I love your Potion of Alertness.