Monday, September 21, 2015

Malfaux Musings Week 1: Four Quadrants, A Funeral, and an Information Broker

The mysterious stranger stood amongst the abandoned ruins, immaculately dressed despite the dust and grit that seemed to blow its way into everything in the Badlands. His masked face was unreadable as he stared into the bloody charnel pit, still smoldering with the remains of whatever poor souls had been ritualistically destroyed here some time in the past. He reached into his vest pocket, retrieving a gold pocket watch. He flipped it open and nodded. "Ten minutes to midnight," he said to himself, nodding. "They'll be here soon." He looked up, eyes peering unnaturally into the gloom. They would come for Nythera, the fools. They would come thinking they could claim for themselves that which was unclaimable, and what once was would be again. And, as always, he would profit from their sorrow. That was his nature.

As the shadowy forms became visible on the horizon, eight small groups dashing towards him at full tilt, he let out a quiet, high-pitched titter of laughter. "Time to let the killing start..." 

The arsenals have been assembled, the rules are finalized, and we are underway with the Malifaux Musings Vassal Campaign League (MMVCL? sure, we'll go with that.) And the week one scenario is...

Deployment: Standard
Strategy: Interference
Scheme Pool: A Line in the Sand, Assassination, Bodyguard, Cursed Object, Plant Explosive
Vassal Map: Funeral Home
Weekly Event: 
The Information Broker
Tales tell of a masked information broker, in a dapper suit and top hat, who seems to know a little too much... Reports have sighted him all over Breachside, telling tales in the city and through the Badlands. Whether it is one man or many is uncertain, but only a fool would pass up this chance...

An Information Broker joins every Encounter this week. Place a 30mm Information Broker Marker in the center of the table (or as close as possible). This Marker is Ht 2, impassable, blocking, and it may be attacked. When it is attacked it is considered to have Df and Wp of 6 and 8 Wd. The Crew which is not Attacking it flips and cheats for it. It can only be damaged by attacks which directly target it.

Any model within 1” of the Information Broker may make a (1) Interact Action targeting it to ask it for guidance. When this happens, flip on the following chart (this flip may not be cheated): 

Black Joker
The model is immediately killed.
Ram
Heal all damage on the model.
Tome
The model’s controller may place a Scheme Marker anywhere on the table.
Crow
The model’s controller gains 2 Scrip.
Mask
The model’s controller gains 2 Scrip.
Red Joker
The model’s controller makes an additional Barter flip at the end of the game.

Alternately, any model within 1" of the Information Broker may make a (1) Interact Action targeting it to ask it for information. The player may spend 1 Scrip to gain 2 LP in any non-Nythera location controlled by another Faction. A player may not earn more than 6 LP from this event during Week 3.

Wanted to use Wyrd's weekly event, but of course there's a hiccup because we're only in week 1 and nobody has any scrip to spend on the information broker. Solution: add in the ability to use the action this guy is based on from Shifting Loyalties and get some scrip or other bonuses from him, which you could theoretically use later in the game to get some LP for your faction. 

And here are the week 1 crews. 

Player NameAndrew CasterlineScripCurrent BountyDo the job. Get paid.
Crew NameHannah's HellionsProgress0/3
Model NameSS CostSkillsInjuriesEquipmentUpgrades
Hannah10Survivalist – 1SS
Hodgepodge Effigy4
Sue8
Freikorps Librarian7
Freikorpsmann5
Total Models34
Maximum Game Size39


Player NameDoctorWhatScripCurrent BountyHit-List
Crew NameAnna's ExecutionersProgress0/2
Model NameSS CostSkillsInjuriesEquipmentUpgrades
Anna Lovelace9Spare Parts (2 SS)
Canine Remains4
Carrion Emissary10
Rotten Belle5
Rotten Belle5
Total Models33
Maximum Game Size38

Player NameBrian SchonerScripCurrent BountyCovert Operations
Crew NameRolling Thunder0Progress0/2
Model NameSS CostSkillsInjuriesEquipmentUpgrades
Ototo10Call the Thunder
Katanaka Sniper7
Komainu5
Wastrel4
Yin the Penangalan8
Total Models34
Maximum Game Size39

Player NameJoe BScripCurrent BountyLessons learned in Blood 0/4
Crew NameFlash of BrillianceProgress
Model NameSS CostSkillsInjuriesEquipmentUpgrades
Hungering Darkness8Nexus of Power (1)
The Illuminated7
Beckoner7
Beckoner7
The Depleted4
Total Models33
Maximum Game Size38

Player NameAdam RogersScripCurrent BountyStrange Times
Crew NameRyle's Retaliators0Progress0/2
Model NameSS CostSkillsInjuriesEquipmentUpgrades
Ryle10Wade In!
Francisco Ortega8
Austringer6
Death Marshall Burns6
Brutal Effigy4
Total Models34
Maximum Game Size39

Player NameTravis DeVollScripCurrent BountyClean up crew
Crew NameTokkun0Progress0/3
Model NameSS CostSkillsInjuriesEquipmentUpgrades
Yamazaki7Blot the Sky [1]
Takehiko (Thunder Archer)7
Yuuto (Thunder Archer)7
Jorogumo Takaide9
Tengu Asuka4
Total Models34
Maximum Game Size39

Player NameJon / Sensei PhiascoScripCurrent BountyMark our Territory
Crew NameWu Kang0Progress0/2
Model NameSS CostSkillsInjuriesEquipmentUpgrades
Kang9Misdirection
Chiaki the Niece6
The Thunder Brother 5
Katanaka Sniper7
Guild Pathfinder6
Total Models33
Maximum Game Size38

Player NameLittleGreenGuyScripCurrent Bounty
Crew NameBig Hats0Progress
Model NameSS CostSkillsInjuriesEquipmentUpgrades
Francois (Leader)7I'll Love It And Pet It (Lenny) (1)
Lenny9
War Pig9
Piglet4
Hog Whisperer5
Total Models34
Maximum Game Size39