WFRP 2e Solo with Mythic Final - Forest Fun

Concluding the solo playthrough of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2e, with mirrors, coaches, bands and beastmen. Following on from the Part 3.

WFRP 2 solo - intro | start | partway | finish | all season 3 | all rolling solo

Disclosure - I'm a DriveThru RPG affiliate

Thoughts on Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2e

wfrp 2e thoughts | solo tools | scenes | characters | threads & npcs

Continuing on from last time's notes. Admit to being distracted by other games and gamebooks!

I got to see the WFRP combat and magic system in action.

Sadly that was only one petty magic spell, that went fine. And a combat that had 50% of the hits as criticals, so was over pretty fast.

Luckily Hilda was never about the magic or the fighting, so she's gotten by with her wits and ability to Charm 50 people thanks to Public Speaking. If she ever gets the Master Orator it goes up to 500 people. Angry mobs are the secret weapon of WFRP!

The core game rules doesn't have an extensive bestiary but it does have some creatures and NPC stats. I used the Wrecker and the Footpad without any trouble for two adversaries.

I still love WFRP, and hope to do some more solo with it off the blog. I think it's an entire game with all you need and a strong setting which is reflected in the rules, careers, art, style and magic system.

One day I might get to 4th edition WFRP (but never 3rd). However, Warhammer: the Old World Roleplaying Game looks very interesting...

Solo Tools - Mythic 2e

wfrp 2e thoughts | solo tools | scenes | characters | threads & npcs

Building on previous Solo Tools notes.

Scene 9 was possibly my longest Rolling Solo scene in my notes. Some with a long combat may have taken more time, but this one was one that started in one place and setting (a party), became something different (a fight on a wagon) and ended somewhere else again (in the forest). And then Scene 12 was one of the shortest scenes.

Mythic gives advice on when to end a scene and start a new one. After playing a few solo games you get a feel of what works for you. In this one one thing flowed smoothly into another so it didn't feel as if a new scene was needed.

In a solo game more focused on combat, this could easily have been a new scene here. But Hilda was never about the fighting, so it was fine to keep in with the first part of the scene.

Mythic has been good to use. I still sometimes forgot to mark people and threads used in scenes, but that's not something that negatively affects a solo game.

It's a solid tool for solo, even if you reference it for the d100 tables or advice on certain solo aspects.

Adventures of Hilda (and Berlinda)

wfrp 2e thoughts | solo tools | scenes | characters | threads & npcs

Continuing from Previous Scenes. And the ending Threads and Extras.

Scene 9 - Escalating Party

Everything is coming together. I'm supporting a respected performer, I've got friends that could become are own troupe in time, and tonight I'll be in front of nobles and the best from the Wolf Star Festival. As long as we don't see the Pienose Players or Detlev, everything should go smoothly...

Expected Scene - Party for Gerhardt Stoll at the Wolf Star Festiva. Mythic gives Scene as Expected. Meanings of Cluttered, Suspicious and Rock for location.

Around a cave mouth rocks and trees mingle as a setting for the party of Gerhardt Stoll, Knight of the White Wolf. There are noble guests, merchants, Kislevites, and a mix from the Wolf Star Festival. Hilda is warming up with Berlinda and a couple others when Pienose Players arrive. Most of crowd is there for Natalia the ice witch.

Mythic Event - PC Negative, "Inspect Project"

Hilda notices a shift in the crowd, from a sense tuned in years of performing. The Pienose Players and their entourage seem to be watching, for now...

Berlinda can sense magic in a wagon at edge of event, and things it might be the mirror that connects Gerhardt Stoll and Detlev.

Ethelreda, one of the Pienose Players, leaps onto a wagon and denounces a Kislevite entertainer playing while good Empire ones starve and are thrown out of their homes. The Players and their allies came prepared for trouble and crowd grows ugly. At Berlinda's suggestion, she and Hilda head for the wagon. They're in luck as any guards worried by crowd and wagon is hitched to horses.

Sees Ida Hoch and other performers from the Loud Whistler heading their way. Berlinda conjures noise of a bestial roar and Hilda tries to control the panicked horses (Drive Cart at 1/2 Strength was 10%). The cart lurches off, but Ida and another companion, Albrecht, climb aboard.

The wagon lurches down forest path and everyone occupied with holding on. Eventually Hilda manages a lucky slingshot when Albrecht came into sight, and he falls off from the pain (Critical for 15 damage). Ida injures Berlinda atop the moving wagon, before the wizard takes reins from Hilda. As Hilda climbs up, a screaming Ida strikes her and she tumbles from the wagon (taking fatal wound and spending a Fate Point to survive).

Berlinda tries to control wagon but fails. Ida jumps down to try to take the reins but wagon goes off the path and tumbles down the hillside.

Scene 10 - Among the Wreckage

I awoke in mud and blood, a beast calling nearby in the night. There was pain in my head but my body was whole. Fate wasn't finished with me yet. Fortune favours the halfling, as I found my pack a short way down the road and the wagon trail a little after.

Expected Scene - Investigate wreckage of the wagon. Mythic gives scene as expected.

It was darker when Hilda followed the path of the wagon. Halfling night vision meant she could see Berlinda's body, thrown clear, lifeless against a tree. Ida's body was pinned where the wagon came to lay.

Mythic Event - Remove, "Succeed Fame"

Her friend was dead, but in the wizard's bag was a fancy-looking letter. Hilda couldn't read but she could recognise her own name, written on the front.

Noticing a movement below she saw feral humanoids that could only be beastmen. They'd found Ida and the wagon. (Mythic Meanings - Intensely Familiar & Treelike, Aggressive). One hulking beastman was covered in bark like a tree and one arm was plantlike, whipping out as a vine to strangle Ida.

Afraid to be alone at night with the beastmen, Hilda still recognised this creature. He was Azhor Whiphand, a beastman warleader with a hefty bounty on his head. She watched from a distance as they butchered horses and built a fire.

Then crept off to find help.

Scene 11 - Wolf Star Performance

How long had Berlinda had that letter? Was it something she'd just been given or part of something else? I'd have time to mourn my friend of a couple weeks later. For now it was time to ensure people knew about the beastman and that it was I who found him...

Expected Scene - Gather Help at the Wolf Star Festival. Mythic gives Altered Scene - Remove a Character

A little after midnight when Hilda returns to bustling festival. Quickly surmises (with a Gossip check) that Pienose Players returned toward Middenheim with a crowd of supporters. She's a little disappointed her absence doesn't seem to have been noted.

Hilda makes a speech about valiant wagon fight on the road and then seeing the beastman Azhor Whiphand. That gets peoples attention. She repeats it a second time, making a grand storytelling performance from it. Gerhardt Stoll swears to find the beastmen early next morning, as fighting beastmen in forest at night is unwise. And Hilda will lead them there!

She asks Natalia to read the letter, and finds it's an invitation to perform for the rule or Middenheim. She's caught someone's attention!

Scene 12 - The Beastmen

The Pienose Players have given me the chance when they ruined Gerhardt's party. Now from a wagon ride gone wrong I'm to be known for bringing a beastman to justice. On top of my obvious talents as storyteller, animal performer and rising star...

Hilda leads Gerhardt and an assortment of mercenaries, revellers, priests and hangers-on down to where the beastmen were gathered. On the way she recounts the tale of how she tried to rescue the wagon to entertain.

Find beastmen tracks a couple of hours old and pursue. The group catches up with Azhor Whiphand and defeat him a couple of hours later on nearby road.

Hilda is watched and recognised.

Scene 13 - Homecoming

A few weeks ago when I came back to Middenheim, I wasn't ready to meet the full family. Now I am, returning as someone who matters and going places, instead of a performer with no troupe and an uncertain future. And now Katerine tells me she's found one of the best to improve my singing and musical playing!

Expected Scene - Hilda Welcomed Home by Friends and Family. Scene as Expected

Hilda's uncle Berwit proudly holds a welcome party for Hilda with extended family and friends. She's famous now, for performing and connected to the slain beastman warleader.

Detlev has disappeared and the Pienose Players are planning something big.

But for Hilda, she's welcomed among family, enjoying fame and planning her performance for the ruler of Middenheim.

End.

Epilogue

The old minstrel had hands that could barely play the lute anymore, but still taught others to sing and play.

He didn't see many halflings interested, and few who stayed around. This one was keen, talented and had the favour of a powerful noble. She'd also kept coming for over two months. Longer than most of his students, halfling or not lasted under his sarcastic tuition.

Maybe this one was the one he could pass the secrets onto. Not like he had many other options, as the rot took hold.

Yes, it was time to pass on what he could to another Minstrel...

Character Notes

wfrp 2e thoughts | solo tools | scenes | characters | threads & npcs

Ended last time with Gears,Lamp and Hatty.

Brunhilda "Hilda" Mugwort

Hilda is from Middenheim, but left a while ago to escape life as a cook and foes in the city. She's returned, seeking fame at any cost.

Halfling female Entertainer. " Humorous", 3'7", 130 lb, corn hair, dark brown eyes, a large mole on her face, four brothers, Star Sign of Wymund the Anchorite (endurance), 50 years old.

Accompanied by Franz the Crow. And Nogrim, a noisy monkey with nasty fangs that glow faintly.

Skills - Academic Knowledge (Genealogy/Heraldry, Int), Animal Care (Int), Charm, Common Knowledge (Int, the Empire, Halflings), Gossip +10 (Fel), Perception (Int), Perform (Fel, Comedian, Storyteller), Speak Language (Int, Halfling, Reikspiel +10), Trade (Int, Cook)

Talents - Luck, Mimic, Night Vision, Public Speaking, Resistance to Chaos, Specialist Weapon Group (Sling)

Equipment - common clothes, tattered cloak, leather jerkin, dagger, sling, backpack [costume, tankard, wooden cutlery set, blanket, trade tools (performer), fire juggling sticks, fire-making gear], purse with 11 gold crowns

(Those abbreviations stand for Weapon Skill, Ballistic Skill, Strength, Toughness, Agility, Intelligence, Willpower and Fellowship. Plus secondary characteristics of Attacks, Wounds, Strength Bonus, Toughness Bonus, Move, Magic, Insanity Points and Fate / Fortune Points.)

Threads List and Character List

wfrp 2e thoughts | solo tools | scenes | characters | threads & npcs

I'm updating the list of characters and threads as I go. In Mythic GME a thread or character involved in a scene is marked. These gain importance, weighted to have a higher chance of appearing on a random roll for Thread or Character.

Threads

• (1-2) Support Kislevite Natalia Zima
• (3) Find out who is backing the Pienose Players
• (4) Prepare to play for the ruler of Middenheim

Characters

• (1-3) Hilda's former entertainer group, the Pienose Players, 1 halfling, 1 dwarf (Elangar), 3 humans (Ethelreda +2 others). Fomenting trouble
• (4) Previous friends and foes in Middenheim
• (5-7) Katerine, former performer friend, human, from forest village, combative, one of Loud Whistler entertainers
• (8-9) Doralikina, dwarf female, seller of animals, old, aggressive in buying and selling
• (10-11) Farwit Mugwort, halfling Militiaman, cook, merchant, caring, large, loud, liked by Franz
• (12-14) Entertainers from the Loud Whistler, some helping Farwit, some fallen in with the Pienose Players.
• (15-17) Gerhardt Stoll, knight of the White Wolf, agenda vs the commonfolk
• (18-19) Detlev, Watchman, strong, muscular, old foe of Hilda and halflings
• (20) Natalia Zima, Kislevite ice witch and performer

Finishing Up

Well that was a blast from the past. I enjoyed that one even if I'd initially thought it might be more to do with ratcatchers, troll slayers and outlaws!

Up next with something more solo focused. Probably a little game called Starforged...