[IC] Game based on Joe Abercrombie Novel

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May 12, 2024 8:24 am
Few years ago I run a short scenario (6 or 7 sessions at the table) 5e game based on fantasy novels The First Law by British author Joe Abercrombie. Adopted for 5e by me.

I did enjoy running that scenario and would consider repeating the experience here on PBP if there would be enough interest.

Limitations:
1. Only martial classes allowed (may allow ranger as an exception) . Only human race (each PC will get an extra homebrew feat)
2. You will need to pick your PC among listed characters and use their base class as following (multiclass to other classes as you want)
- The Blood Hunter - Order of the Lycan.
- Fighter - battle master
- Rogue or Monk - sublcasss TBD
3. There will be some homebrew rules (i.e. no Intelligence score and no Intelligence checks)

If there are enough interest to have 3 players and at least two more on a wait list I would take my time to re-read the novels and setup game in months time
Last edited May 15, 2024 6:10 am
May 12, 2024 8:43 am
That all could be interesting. Might be best to read some those novels. :)
Last edited May 12, 2024 8:49 am
May 12, 2024 8:48 am
I’m a huge Abercrombie fan and have read ALL his books (and salivating waiting for his newest book that’s on beta right now), though at this point it’s been over 10 years since I read the first trilogy. Are you looking to run a game that takes place within the events of one of the trilogies? Or are you just looking to run a game in that setting, but without using the NPCs?

What level range are you thinking of?

I really enjoyed the one-shot game you ran, so this one definitely sounds interesting.
Last edited May 12, 2024 9:10 am
May 12, 2024 10:12 am
Big fan of Joe Abercrombie , can't say i am a 5e fan, not sure is a good fit for such a low magic setting, you probably have to homebrew a lot. What is the expected post frequency?
May 12, 2024 7:42 pm
This was unexpected. In a positive way. Should we get a team of players all familiar with the trilogy, I would see to change the plan, but originally
we told story very close to events in the book. We had lvl 10 PCs: Luthar, Ninefingers, Ferro and later added Longfoot -Rogue-Swashbuckler to the mix. Bajaz were the patron and his apprentice - lore dumping NPC.

System wise I never found 5e to be a problem, except defining PCs with abilities they have in the book, but so would it happen with any system, wouldn't it? In any case I'm open for alternative system suggestions
May 12, 2024 7:47 pm
The fact that Intelligence is pretty useless compared to the other ability scores has bothered me for a while. Removing it instead of buffing it is an interesting solution to that discrepancy!
May 12, 2024 8:04 pm
Ah, I see, so it’d be taken directly out of the book. I don’t think I’ve ever played a game like that, that’s pretty neat.

Outside of like one or two scenarios, I seem to recall Jezal just runs around hiding all the time lol. And who wouldn’t wanna play Logen? I assume he’d be a barbarian? Though I’m not sure what subclass. Ferro would be badass too.
May 15, 2024 6:28 am
OK I see @grifter730 and @Ricardoi91 probably interested in Joe Abercrombie based story, @GeneCortess is probably also interested. I would still like to see more interest in case anyone of those find either system, mechanics or approach not appealing when we start.

Answering some questions
We will go through events and travel the journey of the book, but details and even outcome of each of encounter may differ from that in book. You may talk or sneak out of a combat or two. Or you may fail to prevent encounter Book's heroes escaped.

About Jezal ... I may be wrong, but I remember him having great combat skills, just scared of the first real combat with his life at a stake. Besides hiding behind Logen's and Ferro backs will anyway be your best strategy in combat.
I also welcome altering Jazel's morale or even making Jazel and NPC (use Longfoot PC instead allowing him to have hidden combat talents)

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