Dolmenwood Solo Intro & Characters: Brackenwold Nights

Introducing lastest solo actual play using Dolmenwood in the city of Castle Brackenwold.

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RPG Introduction - Dolmenwood

dolmenwood intro | solo tools | chars | threads & extras

Dolmenwood is an RPG written by Gavin Norman and a host of other writers. It comes in three hardbacks (or pdfs), the Player's Book (196 pages), Monster Book (132 pages) and Campaign Book (468 pages). The Dolmenwood Rules and everything needed for players are available online for free.

While a roleplaying game in it's own right, it's built on the shoulders of Old School Essentials (OSE), which Gavin also wrote. Cleaned-up, spruced-up, running with a different class roster and kindreds that fit the setting. And that setting is a fairy-forest inspired by folklore of the British Isles.

My first experience with Dolmenwood was listening to the first campaign of 3d6 Down The Line (a podcast / youtube channel playing in old-school style). Since then I've been wanting to play it solo. I'm currently running a weekly game for my ttrpg group so familiar already with rules and setting. Also been using OSE for my Stonehell Solo, moving now to using an OSE / Dolmenwood hybrid rules-wise in latest chapter.

While the domain of Dolmenwood is only about 120 miles across, it's filled with wonder, discord, whimsy and the eerie. Each 6-mile hex has it's own description in the campaign book, which also details odd magic items, the 7 factions, other powers and how they all relate.

The kindreds are split into mortals and fairy. Mortals being humans, breggles (goat-kin) and mosslings (dwarves who love fungi). Fairy and demi-fey being elves (more faerie than D&D), grimalkin (cat-fey) and (bat-faced fun-loving goblins). Many groups like to restrict starting characters to being human or mortal, to get a grounding in the Dolmenwood feel.

The classes are the familiar 4 of fighter, cleric, magician (wizard / magic-user) and thief. Note that the thief is the old school version (with the same d4 hit die as the mage) and not the skirmishing rogue of 5E. Other additions are hunter and bard (both without spells), the friar (full-casting divine spellcaster), the knight and the enchanter (faerie magic, and some fighting abilities)

The players guide and other books are a delight to read, as the art is thematic, everywhere and shows off the setting. Layout is excellent, with things being easy to find, reference and use. My ttrpg group's last experience was Mutant Year Zero, where we found referencing rules (and anything else) a nightmare. But no complaints yet from are Dolmenwood sessions.

There's also a stack of things players can use and buy to get a feel of the settings. These include a variety of dogs, pipeweed, mounts, fungi, herbs and beverages, each with 1-2 pages. The magic is split into holy (clerics, friars), arcane (magicians), fairy magic (enchanters, elves, grimalkin) and mossling knacks (such as bird friend and yeast master).

It's also full of random tables, from character creation (2 pages of tables for each kindred), through encounter tables, rumours, weather, treasure, fish and saints. Each monster has it's own set of tables for encounters (d4), lairs (d4) and traits (d6).

I'm really looking forward to running this solo. It's a unique sandbox setting with old-school chassis, a familiar feel, british fantasy, humour, and easy to use. And fungi, a personal interest in the last year!

Solo Tools - Chaos Solo Engine

dolmenwood intro | solo tools | chars | threads & extras

This game is going to be more episodic, played over a month or so for each "quest". Each one will have a mystery or similar to solve / complete / resolve for the characters.

I'll be using my own Chaos Solo Engine as my emulator and oracle. I released the Chaos Solo Engine - Fantasy Basic version in December, so I'll be using that. Possibly with some addition tables I'm writing, specifically some hinterlands, wilderness, city, fungi and dogs ones.

That's all I plan on using at the moment, as Dolmenwood is packed with tables and material to use!

Introducing Clover and Sister Emelda

dolmenwood intro | solo tools | chars | threads & extras

Clover Shankwold

A tall breggle with long floppy ears , russet fur and wearing tweed. Often smoking a pipe from a drooling mouth. He is always solving problems for friends. Has lived all his life in Castle Brackenwold, leaving once to go 20 miles to a village.

Neutral breggle male beekeeper, Level 1 Bard. Seeks to recover ancient breggle lore. Warbling speech, 148 lbs, 6'3", 23 years

STR 7 (-1), INT 12 WIS 14 (+1) DEX 13 (+1), CON 10, CHA 13(+1), HP 6, AC 12, Speed 40

Abilities - Counter Charm, Enchantment (1/day, 2 lvls, mortals), Horns (d4), Fur, Languages (Caprice, Gaffe, Woldish), Skills (decipher document 5-6, legerdemain 5-6, listen 6, monster lore 6)

Equipped Items - sling & 20 stones (1), shortsword (1), flute (1), 15 gp

Stowed Items - backpack (twine, oil flask, sack, marbles)

Sister Emelda Swinney

A brooding human in a nun's habit, with large ears and many pimples. She is recently arrived in Castle Brackenwold and plans to map the stones of Dolmenwood.

Neutral human female cobbler, Level 1 Friar, 5'7", 136 lbs, 31 years, Believes prayer redeems evil deeds.

STR 9, INT 14 (+1) WIS 13 (+1) DEX 7 (-1), CON 10, CHA 9, HP 4, AC 11, Speed 40

Abilities - Armour of Faith (+2), Culinary Implements, Decisiveness, Herbalism, Holy Magic (1 x 1st), Languages (Liturgic, Sylvan, Woldish), Leadership, Poverty, Skills (Survival 5-6 when foraging), Spirited, Turn Undead

Equipped Items - sling and 20 stones, sledgehammer, 12 gp

Stowed Items - backpack (rope, oil flask, firewood, old note from mother to return soon, silver pendent of St. Pastery)

Threads and Extras

dolmenwood intro | solo tools | chars | threads & extras

For my starting Threads (open questions and plot threads) and Extras (npcs, factions) I took one or two for each character.

Threads

Find first job for Shankwold Scholars, Clover's new venture
Decide on what breggle lore Clover is focused on
Map first stone for Sister Emelda
Locate the Shrine of Saint Pastery for Emelda

Extras

Berrild Crumwaller, breggle sister of Clover, last living close relative, married to a human
Drerdl Forlocke, breggle cleric, friend of Clover who introduces him and Sister Emelda.
Friends of Clover - based at a nearby tavern.
Samwise Fraggleton - a local human who can guide Sister Emelda to her first stone. Hobbitlike