Review & Preview

A very good year, I think that's how I'll remember 2017  as I think I found my place in the hobby world, or as I said in a post near the end of last year my hobby bottle finely wash up on the beach :)

The surprise twist of the year was me getting back into playing 40K but that's of no real interest from a hobby point of view, no the two big things was The Heart Stone of Africa & solo play Pulp Alley & these two things drove all I did hobby wise apart from summer when I'd to get my Sisters of Battle ready for 40K, but I seen that as just something I'd to do & not apart of my hobby.

So that was the year that was so what about the year that's to be ?  well lets take a look at what my plans are for that shall we ?

First up is the Heart Stone of Africa, we left it with Connie, Taylor & Co safe & heading down river to Swatrow , this brought the first part of the story to a close & tbh brought me back to square one from the script side of things as apart from knowing where their going to head next I've not done any writhing for it by way of how the story unfolds, going forwards it will change from time to time.

Yes Congo this was part of my Christmas loot & I'd bet you've guessed where their headed ?  the plan was from the start for them to head into the heart of darkness & I'll use the game Congo to help drive the story, this makes it more interesting for me as it takes things out of my control to a degree :)

Now you know the story will continue but as I've a lot of stuff to do script, stars, props & sets I'd guess it will take awhile to real get going with it but I'm still hoping to be able to do a post a month.

Pulp Alley will see the Perilous Island campaign continue & then move on to one of the other campaign books, which one I've yet to decide but at this point I can tell you it won't be Vice Alley as I've not the stars or sets to do that one yet.

While on Pulp Alley, Dave has been kind enough to send me some new cards to add to the solo deck for play testing :) these will imho add a good deal to the game but more then that I'll not say at this point, but rest assured I'll fill you in on theses  in the AAR's.

Just before I go I'd like to announce the signing of one of the biggest stars of all time by Nickel & Dime Productions, with a career spanning close on 100 years this start has appeared in many Hollywood block busters in his time & will I'm sure star in many more, just as the Nazis are everyone's favourite bad guys this guy is one of everyone's favourite monsters & I look forward to working with him :) I am of course talking about Mr T Rex  one of my all time favourite stars.

That's a rap for this post, so all that's left is to wish you guys a very Happy New Year & as always my thanks for dropping in & if you care to comment it would be welcomed,   

 

Chapter 5, The Missionary

        NICKEL & DIME PRODUCTION'S 
                         proudly present's 
  CONNEMARA FEENEY & TAYLOR DAVIES 
                                     in
         THE HEART STONE OF AFRICA

If you are only new to this site or even if you'd just like to reread the story, I'm putting a link below to another blog of mine where all of the chapters are one after the other to save you having to look through this blog to find them :)
http://nickelandimeproductions.blogspot.ie/2017/03/connemara-feeney-taylor-davies-prelude.html

Taking with them only food water & some rope that Boswel said they would need for the climb down, into the valley where the missionary was the party set off in a sober mood.

After about a half hour of walking they started to hear a low hum which after awhile more became more of a roar of what could only be the sound of  a waterfall , as the river moved from it slow easy pace to a boiling torrent in a downward rush.

The going did indeed as Boswel had told them became more difficult as the ground started to descent very quickly, in fact so rapidly that at parts they had to climb down using ropes, Maud who had a fear of high's was having a terrible time of it, but after her callous remark earlier got very little sympathy from the rest of the group.

Down a long perilous edges they made their way slowly as the hours passed by.

It was at parts so bad that they to tie ropes from one to the other in case any of them should fall,

with the worse part just as they reach the top of the tree line.
As they stopped for a bit to eat & a small rest in the mid-afternoon.

Boswel:"You'll be please to know ladies & gentlemen, that if my guess is correct the worse of the descent is over us & from here on  the land will start to level out with a slow decline into the valley which holds the missionary"

Connie:"Taylor have you noticed the roar of the river is dropping ?"
Taylor:"No I hadn't but now that you say it, it does appear to be so Boswel certainly knows his stuff"

Connie:"It was lucky he was on the flight, as I don't think we'd have made it out of there without him"
Taylor:"Absolutely we owe him huge debt, I'll have to think of someway to reward him as I don't think he take to kind to my offering him money as a thank you"

With the sun low on the horizon they caught their first sight of the missionary in the distance, a sight that meant their ordeal would soon be at an end.

A little over an hour later with the last of the light fading they approached the  settlement on a well worn track.

Voice:"Stop right where you are & explain yourselves"

Boswel stepped forward  & explained what had befalling them.

Woman:"Your'll have to forgive my welcome but we don't get to many folk out walking this way & it's better to be safe then slaughtered as my old Pa use to say, allow me to introduce myself I'm Jill the preacher's wife"

Jill:"Come lets all go up to the house you must be all wall-falling after such an ordeal"

Maud:"You won't believe the half of it I thought I was going to die out there like poor Mr Brown"

Jill:" It is a dangerous place out there that for surer, but your all safe now"
Just as they where to go inside a small native boy appeared from one of the mud huts & waved to them.

Weber:"Tell me Madam does your husband have a wagon that he could take us to the nearest town in tomorrow ? it really is imperative that I return as soon as possible"

Jill:"I'm sorry to have to tell you that the only way out of here is by boat, but your in luck as our monthly surplices which come up the river are due in two or three days time"

Weber:"Is there no other way ? has your husband not got a boat we could use ?"

Jill:"He only has a small rowing boat that would be of no use for getting you all down river to Swatrow, but come lets all go inside & have some coffee"

Always an early riser the next day Connie was out & about looking around & been an animal love went over to the pen. the little boy she'd seen the night before came over to talk to her & as soon as he seen him the baby goat wiggled his way under the pen fence & ran over to his side

Little boy " Hello my name is Nu'um what your ?"
Connie " Hello Nu'um I'm Connie & pleased to meet you"
Nu'um " Will  you be living at the missionary now ?"
Connie "Only for a few days until the boat comes, do you live here with your Mum & Dad ?"
Nu'um "Yes but Dad is away hunting with the rest of the man, when I'm bigger I'll go to & be a great hunter like Dad"

After talking to Nu'um Connie head back to the house, when she got there Taylor was sitting on the veranda drinking a cup of coffee.

Taylor "Good morning Connie I see your up & about early"
Connie " Morning Taylor, you know me up with the larks, its truly wonderful here & if it wasn't for what happen to poor Jim I would really have enjoyed the adventure"

As she made her way towards the steps a man came out of the house.
Man "Hello you must be Connemara, I'm Jacob the Preacher of this tranquil place"
Connie "Pleased to meet you Jacob & please call me Connie.

  

After breakfast,  Connie, Taylor & Boswel went & talked  to some of the natives, Dufour was inside writhing up a report of all that had happened, while the Weber's were just happy to relax, well at least Maud was, Weber was in a foul mood at  having to await the boat.

Later on as evening was setting in Connie & Boswel were down by the river.
Boswel" Connie very slowly turn your head & look across the river:
Connie" Wow what is it Marco ? "
Boswel" That's a sight very few people get to see, Leopards mostly keep to the tree's were very lucky to be here just as he's come down for a drink "

In the afternoon of the next day a whistling sound brought them all out of the house to the sight of  the boat, while they watch Jacob hitched up a little cart to the donkey & headed for the jetty.

Connie, Taylor & Boswel followed Jocob down to the jetty to lend a hand unloading the boat, leaving the Weber's & Dufour, who headed back into the house to finish up his report.

Maud" At long last we can get out of this terrible place"

With the boat unloaded the man who's boat it was jumped on to the jetty & was introduced to the three as Tim Winks by Jacob before he set off with the first cart load.
Boswel retold their story before asking.
Boswel " Would it be possible for you to take the six of us back to Swatrow with you ?"
Winks " With the boat empty I should just about be able to squeeze you all on-board, we'll be leaving first thing after breakfast in the morning  the trip takes about 7 hours"

As the boat turned out into the river to start it journey Jacob & Nu'um waved fer-well from the jetty.

They watched the missionary go by as the boat build up speed.
Connie" What a wonderful place that is & such lovely people, wouldn't you agree Taylor ?"
Taylor" Indeed Connie indeed"

To be continued ?

 Cut
As always my thanks for dropping in & if you'd care to be a film critic your comments would be welcomed :)

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas; thank you for dropping in  :)

Soerabaja Manhunt, Pulp Alley Solo AAR

                                            NICKEL & DIME PRODUCTIONS PRESENT
                                                              Perilous Island

                                                             A story by Dave Phipps at Pulp Alley
                                                                Chapter 4  Soerabaja Manhunt

Returning from the warehouse empty handed the Blue Blooded night went from bad to worse, as arriving back at the hotel they find Harriet's room a mess & no Harriet.

Collins "Can this night get any worse ? we failed to get the package & now by the looks of thing Harriet's been taking, I would guess this is the handy work of the Germans, looks like she was right I should have let her come along"
Grace " Don't blame yourself Delbert you only done what you thought was best, & besides the night wasn't a complete waste as at least we know where that package came from"

Moore "That's right while I had it I noticed it came from a place called Soerabaja, its a town on the coast in Indonesia if my memory is right & that's where we need to head next, it might give us a edge over Jerry"
This was not to be the case as Helga had also learned the same thing from the ledger in the warehouse.

Two of the PP's left the lady selling her wears & right the gent at the door of the customs building

This time I didn't forget about Harriet (Elaine) but as the Germans won the last time she's added to their league for this game, but in keeping with the story which has her allied to the BB league, I instead of having her in the German league I just added another German with her stats.

PP Fryer  standing in the corner fixing the window, I've found that when playing PA that perilous terrain is something that is hard to make work as why would a player ever go into it if he doesn't have to, so the dog  is perilous meaning that  to get to the PP you either have to face the dog or do a perilous action to jump the wall.

The game has the two leagues trying to find an old sailor the last know survivor of Forbes expedition somewhere in the town, for this scenario there are 5 PP's on the table with 7 reward cards two of which are red herrings, the +1 experience card will earn the league who draws it the MPP (old sailor) but this will only be in the deck if your league has already completed another PP.

Two more PP's left the lady in the doorway & right the old man trying to get ride of the rats, the rats like the dog are are perilous terrain. 

The random events table seen the BB's shift their dice up to a d8 for the initiative roll off, while the Germans got to place two areas of perilous terrain, in solo play you don't use initiative but I find this roll off handy for who goes first in deploying.

The Germans up to no good create two explosions, these are the two areas of perilous terrain they got on the random events table, to ad to the mayhem I've a car that will move 2d6 around the road, this will cause a perils if it should hit anyone.

Deployment is done by each side placing one character at a time anywhere on the table as long as its not within 6" of a PP or an enemy.

Dowl up on a roof see some Germans on the road & opens fire.

Misses, gets hit by the returned fire & goes down

On the other side of town there's plenty of shooting in which Collins is wounded.

Collins heads over to the man at the door while Moore keeps Helga busy

Hess runs up the steps to talk to the lady

Brown , Eder & Fritz  get off the road & head for the building  Dowl is on.

Just as Grace is  about to cross over the road a car comes along stopping her in her tracks.

Turn 1 Grace card held in place so can't move & had no one to shoot at, Dowl failed a card challenge so can't run but didn't need to & shot at Edar who returned fire putting him down, Collins card surprise twist meaning that the activation switched to the Germans.
Helga shoots Collins both save, Gloup shoots & wounds Collins, Eder, Brown & Fritz run while Muller moves & fires a long blast blocking line of sight to both him & Gloup.
Collins runs to the PP while Moore rushes Helga, recovery Collins & Dowl both fail, so Collins still wounded health dice down to d8, Dowl out of the game

Helga might have a pretty face but she's a bit more then that as Moore finds out, while Muller moves to support her.

As the car passes by Brown spots Grace & opens fire

Grace take a wound as Brown goes down.

Gloup fires on Collins but with all the smoke can't get a clear shot at him.

Eder rounds the corner & stops dead, rats why did it have to rats he thinks.

Yes I know the man your looking for, try the inn around the corner he's found of the drink.

She tells Hess before going inside

Fritz see's Brown go down & moving up shoots Grace who goes down.

I don't know who your talking about, the man tells Collins,

before moving off

Turn 2 Helga card held in place, shoots Collins who fires back both unhurt, Brown card foul play which Grace  takes a perils from fails & takes a wound, Brown then runs & shoots Grace & goes down in the return fire, Fritz card move along runs & shoots Grace who takes a wound & goes down, Gloup shoots Collins who shoots back both make saves, Eder moves into perils area fails pails & goes down, Hess completes PP reward +1 back up, Collins completes PP reward red herring, Moore rushed Helga & wounds her but goes down. Recovery Collins pass health d10, Grace & Moore both fail & are out of the game, Eder also out of the game, Helge failed & is health d6 while Brown made his.

Helga you wouldn't hit a lady would you ?

Collins no so pushed her down the steps, as Muller moves back & fires at him.

but gets hit in the return fire & goes down

Gloup slips on the steps.

Hess heads for the old man but stops at the sight of the rats.

Brown & Fritz make their way up the street towards the sea front.

Turn 3 Collins card move along, rushes Helga knocking her down, Muller card make it count moves back from Collins to remove his close range shoot bonus while keeping his own, wounds Collins & goes down, Gloup card double down which means Collins has to take two cards, first one hesitation has no effect, second one double down which means Gloup has to take two cards, the first one is a perils which Gloup fails & goes down.
Hess moves down the step to where the rats are, Fritz & Brown run. Recovery Collins past Health d10, Helga pass Health d6 Gloup pass, Muller fail out of the game.

Helga gets back to her feet & says that wasn't very gentleman like of you. 

Gloup tries to get back on his feet & slips again.

Hess walks carefully around the rats to the old man & asks about the sailor, I'll help you if you help me get rid of  these rats he replies.

Brown & Fritz arrive just as Collins downs Helga with a sharp right, I guess that's ungentlemanly to he says

Both Brown & Fritz fire on Collins but he drops both of them with return fire, playing the part of the hero with aplomb. 

Turn 4 Collins card sprint, rushes Helga both save, Helga card hesitation brawls with Collins & goes down, Gloup card perils fails goes down, Hess movers to PP rats perils auto pass PP perils pass PP challenge makes one success needed two, Brown & Fritz both ran & shot at Collins & both went down to return fire. Recovery Helga, Brown Fritz all pass, Gloup fails & is out of the game.

Helga staggers back to her feet & tries to claw Collins, but he's to fast for her, Brown & Fritz heads for the PP. 

I'll tell you nothing until the rats are gone.

 

Collins faints a blow at Helga & moves away from her saying this dance is over sweetheart. 

Turn 5 Helga card gives +1 to her brawl, brawls Collins takes 3 hit but she saves them all, Brown card quirk of faith runs, Fritz card all clear runs,Hess auto pass rats peril but fails PP peril but saves, Collins brawls Helga but dodge away from her. Recovery Helga pass health d8

Collins now in full hero mode braves the flames to to rescue the woman.

Brown unable to get a shot at Collins  tries to make his way through the inferno but is beaten down by the flames.

Fritz does however manage to make it to Collins

but Collins floors him with a quick one two.

Helga runs after the man who'd come out of the customs office, but her womanly charms have no effect on him, might be something to do with the black eye & thick lip she got from Collins. 

Well if your not going to do anything about the rats I've no more to say to you the old man tells Hess before wondering off.

The sailor staggers down the steps 

& Collins runs towards him but just as he reaches him.

The sound of a shot rings out & the sailor falls to the ground, here my logbook take it the old sailor says to Collins with his final breath . 

Turn 6 Collins card missing clue pass, perilous area pass, PP peril pass, PP challenge pass reward +1 tip, Brown card perils fails goes down, Fritz card when it counts, perilous area pass rushes Collins but goes down in the brawl, Helga runs to the PP, Hess rats perils auto pass, PP perils pass & completes the PP challenge reward red herring. Recovery Brown fail & Fritz passes
Harrowing escape Muller fails & loses his league 1 reputation, Moore passes so BB roll d8 in the roll off at the start of the next game.

Designers note, well after the events in the last game & with Collins the only one of the BB's left after two turns I was fearing the worse, but Collins turned into the kind of hero that makes price of the ticket worth it, you did pay on the way in :) 
The game ended 1 vp each so a draw, the little bit at the end with the old sailor like the bit at the start with Harriet gone missing was just added to help build the story, so four games in & what is called act 1 over things are fairly close with the Germans slightly ahead by 8 reputation to 6.
I have to say that so far the solo rules have worked very well & still give things the right kind of feeling, also been able to play the games so close together is great as it keeps everything feeling fresh.

Well that's it for this post, my thanks to Dave https://store.pulpalley.com/  for the script & as always to you guys for dropping in & if you'd care to leave a comment it would be welcomed. :)