Last weekend I ran the final alpha playtest session for the Bloodfall TTRPG and have come to a few interesting conclusions going into the final rewrites before publicly opening the table. This article is going to talk about those changes and give y’all a really good idea of what the final game is going to look like.
Firstly, running this session really hammered home to me the fact that single enemy encounters absolutely do not work with the combat system. In order to really challenge player characters there really needs to be at least two enemies in any given combat encounter. The way that declaration and phases work out the PC side just as so many more actions to exploit between characters and retainers. Single enemy encounters wind up with most players basically sitting around and doing nothing the entire combat. Noted.
Secondly, using a 2-15 range for ability scores sits better with with the 2d6 resolution mechanic than 3-18 did. It offers a better spread and shortens the math to a degree that means most skill checks aren’t completely trivial. In the same vein, I need to tone down to amount of skill points that each Profession begins with to distribute and cap starting skills at Rank 2.
Finally, dividing the Professions into Tiers and tying the progression of Profession and Faction rank into one system has really streamlined the way that advancement works. It also allows us to work on and release the rules for each Tier in chucks (think like B/X or BECMI). Having 15 ranks gives us a nice interesting spread of 5 Tiers of 3 Ranks each.
Other than that and tuning up certain Profession abilities, I think that the main design cycle on Bloodfall is pretty much finished and I expect to have the table opened and the Novice rules mostly finished by October 9th.
The Chosen of Nergal are the once human followers of the Demon God of Pestilence who underwent his unholy rites to rise again as his undead servants. They seek to spread the salvation of Nergal’s grace far and wide, praying for a day when the world in enveloped in holy pestilence and the paradise of undeath can be realized.
Chosen of Nergal Medium Undead, Chaotic Evil (Chaotic) Armor Class 16 (chain mail) Hit Points 94 (12d8+40) Speed 30 feet
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
15 (+2)
11 (+0)
12 (+1)
10 (+0)
16 (+3)
13 (+1)
Saving Throws WIS +5, CHA +3 Skills History +2, Religion +2, Perception +5, Athletics +4 Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from non-magical weapons Damage Immunities Necrotic, Poison Condition Immunities Exhaustion, Poison Senses Darkvision 60 feet, Tremorsense 30 feet, Passive Perception 15 Languages Common, Abyssal Challenge Rating 4 (1,100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Festering Aura.Any creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of the Chosen of Nergal and isn’t at full hit points takes 1d6 necrotic damage as the wounds on its body become infected and fester, the creature must then make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save the creature is poisoned for one minute.
Spellcasting. The Chosen of Nergal is a 5th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It regains its expended spell slots when it finishes a long rest. It has the following cleric spells prepared:
Undead Fortitude.If damage reduces the Chosen of Nergal to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the undead cleric drops to 1 hit point instead.
Turn Resistance. The Chosen of Nergal has advantage on saving throws against any effect that turns Undead.
Actions
Pestilence Hammer. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 feet, one target. Hit: 11 (2d8+2) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.
Putrid Salvation (1/Day). The Chosen of Nergal offers up a prayer to the Demon God for the salvation of those it has slain in combat. It targets the corpses of up to three humanoids within 30 feet of it. Those targets are then raised as Undead Warriors*. The raised creatures are considered friendly to the Chosen of Nergal and hostile towards any creatures hostile towards it.
*Undead Warriors use the same stats as zombies
Published by: River Lynds/Red Lily Adventuring Published on: 09/27/2023
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The 9th of Highharvest was a rain-chilled autumn day in the town of Ebenhall. The fire roared in the hearth of The Tin Moray Inn that night, where the general staff of The Betrayed sat discussing there next move. The company was fresh off a contract with an alliance of southern lords and had come north as soon as rumors of war with Aelaroth began to flit about. At the head of the table sat their reluctant captain, the former thief Éilatril, a bronze skinned, silver eyed Ardir with a short crop of fine black hair.
He fingered along the road from Ebenhall up to the nearby castle and said to his companions, “It’s been at least two days since the siege broke and there is still no word from Midwallow to the northeast either. We ought to at least mount a small party to see what is happening up there”.
He paused and looked around the the table to give his fellow officers time to think over the suggestion. Directly to his right sat the company’s head medical officer, the mysterious woodthane ranger Varissa Sylkas and to his left was seated the staff librarian and disgraced physician, a tawny cloister elf named Scarlett Blackthorne. Opposite him at the foot of the table sat the newest member of the general staff, the enigmatic fighter who only went by the name Selena.
After a few seconds, Varissa piped up, “Getting an idea of what there is around the vale is probably a good idea”.
The rest nodded in agreement.
“So we agree then”, Éilatril said, rolling up the map. “We head out in the morning then, first to Castle Cadworth to inquire about the lord’s missing daughter, and then to Midwallow to see what might have happened there”.
The next morning was clear and chilly, the dew half froze on the purple oat grass that grew so well in the valley’s grasslands. The half day’s journey to Castle Cadworth went by without so much as passing merchant, the road was almost too quiet. When they arrived at the castle, the party initially met the castellan, Callum.
“We are honored to host such a storied company as The Betrayed”, the greying Fortrian man said. “Count Leodegar is busy overseeing repairs but will be holding court on the morrow, I will see that your audience is added to the itinerary”.
“Very well then, we will be glad to make use of your hospitality”, Éilatril replied.
Dr. Blackthorne and Selena headed to the libraries of the Cathedral of St. Enurchus in order to research. Éilatril and Varissa went along with Éilatril’s junior officer Paul Hoffman to the training grounds. While at the training grounds Varissa held an archery contest with two soldiers, Malaric and Hunald. Varissa cleanly won but Malaric came in a close second.
In good spirits at the end of it, Malaric jested, “Well winners of tourneys can oft afford to pay for drinks that night!”.
Meanwhile Hoffman had been sparring with a soldier named Pepin. Getting a little carried away, Hoffman knocked Pepin upside the head with his training halberd and knocked a tooth out. Éilatril attempted to smooth things over by healing the soldier but Pepin was not amicable to such apologies.
Later that night back at the inn, Dr. Blackthorne enjoyed quite a bit of the free drinks provided by their hosts. Varissa and Malaric enjoyed the local kumis (an alcoholic beverage made from fermented goat’s milk) and swapped stories. Malaric told Varissa that the Aelarothian troops that had retreated from the broken siege around Castle Cadworth were spotted around Midwallow the 4 days prior and before heading into the moorlands north of Bhurnaldur. Hoffman smoothed over his offenses with Pepin over drinks at the behest of his superior officers.
The next morning, the officers headed back up to the keep to attend the court of Count Cadworth. Most of the session was quite long and boring, many peasants seeking to mediate disputes over grazing rights or restitution for property lost to marauding knights. Finally, the time appointed for their audience arrived.
They all stepped forward and bowed courteously. Éilatril said, “My lord, we the officers of The Betrayed, humbly have sought audience in your court to seek work and information, as we might about the rumors of your missing daughter, Alda Cadworth”.
The count was a short, rude looking man, aging but not at all ugly. He had shaggy, greying blonde hair that fell down to just past his chin.
“Alda has been kidnapped by that bastard wizard Gilfroy”, the count choked out between cups of wine. “He’s taken her to that citadel in the Wolfwillows, I’m damned sure of it”.
“We shall make haste in attempting to secure her return to your side my lord, as soon as we return from Midwallow”, Éilatril replied and then retired from the floor.
After Castle Cadworth, the party continued on towards the halfling town of Midwallow. About ½ mile outside of the settlement proper they noticed that the farm fields and cottages appeared to be sacked and plundered as if some retreating army had passed through here some days ago. From this point on they decided to be cautious, leaving their horses tied up outside the town they snuck through alleyways toward the village square. Here they found some of the townspeople taken prisoner and Aelarothian soldiers sorting through plunder.
The leader of the enemy troops was questioning some of the halfling elders on the whereabouts of their treasure and any other loot that soldiers could carry before they returned to their camp.
Éilatril and Dr. Blackthorne used some minor illusion magic to direct the attention of the leader of this group away from where they were so the rest of the party could get the drop on the soldiers.
Selena pretended to be the source of the noise as she emerged from the alley. Dr. Blackthorne cast invisibility on herself and snuck towards the cage that contained the halflings, utilizing the distraction her comrades provided. When everything was in place everyone struck. The fighter teleported behind the redheaded Aelarothian lieutenant, Isahak, striking and injuring him. Varissa attempted to get off an opening shot at him as well but missed. Éilatril cast chill touch at another one of the soldiers but his aim was off.
Hey y’all! Exciting news, I am officially throwing my hat in the ring and attempting to go full time with tabletop game design. So that means there is going to be a lot more articles up here on the blog (I would expect at least two a week most weeks) of all varieties (session reports, small dungeons, house rules, interesting homebrews, design musings, etc). In addition we now have a Patreon up! So if you like what I do here and want to see more, go there and support the blog.
In other news, we are making a lot of headway on Bloodfall design stuff and there will be a lot of updates to that both here and on the Patreon. We are hoping to have a sort of “0eish” version ready to launch fully by October 31st. This is a very exciting time and I hope to be part of your adventure gaming experience for years to come!
Red Lily Adventuring 