Wherein your humble scribe presents a trio of NPCs for Barbarians of Lemuria… In Spaaaace!. These are put together mostly using the rules from Barbarians of the Aftermath and a few pulls from the other key BoL resources I’ve used before.
Traveling from the outer worlds to the Alliance capital aboard the tramp freighter Archilochus, Parjon Kelas (a minor noble with unique powers), Narsa Tash (a former slave from Aekos IV), and the disgraced boxerbot B0-RG9, are certainly bound for trouble. It’s in their nature.
Parjon Kelas / Lifeblood 10 / Hero Points 5 / Psychic Power 13
Attributes: Strength 0 Agility 0 Mind 2 Appeal 2
Combat Abilities: Brawl 0 Melee 1 Ranged 1 Defense 2
Careers: Noble 1, Psychic 1, Scholar 1, Chemist 1
Boons: Learned: History, Prismatic Soul
Flaws: Reluctant Fighter
Languages: Galactic Common, Aekosian, Fajash, Botic
Equipment: Blaster Pistol (d6+1)
Narsa Tash / Lifeblood 13 / Hero Points 6
Attributes: Strength 1 Agility 2 Mind 0 Appeal 1
Combat Abilities: Brawl 0 Melee 1 Ranged 2 Defense 1
Careers: Barbarian 2, Thief 1, Slave 1, Spacer 0
Boons: Hard-To-Kill, Lucky
Flaws: Savage
Languages: Aekosian
Equipment: Sword (d6+1)
B0-RG9 / Lifeblood 13 / Hero Points 5
Attributes: Strength 3 Agility 1 Mind 1 Appeal -1
Combat Abilities: Brawl 2 Melee 0 Ranged 0 Defense 2
Careers: Gladiator 2, Mechanic 1, Spacer 1, Priest 0
Boons: Self-Repair, Brawler
Flaws: Batteries Required
Languages: Botic, Galactic Common
Equipment: Fists (d3+3)
I’ve realized that I just don’t have the interest, inspiration or ambition to put together a proper BoL space game at the moment. But then again, with BotA handy there’s not much that needs to be done mechanically. I’ve decided that “Spacer” is a career in the same way that “Sailor” is in BoL. It covers piloting, general engineering, zero-g combat, and pretty much anything else you’d expect a person who has spent significant time in space travel to do.
You could certainly break these things down to “Pilot” and “Gunner” and other such things if you wanted to. But I think that pushes you closer to Traveller, et. al., and thus misses the point of the BoL system.
But that’s just me. And it’s not like I’m getting to play any of this anyway, so what do I know?
‘Boxerbot’–I love it.
What does Prismatic Soul mean? Is that kind of like being a renaissance man with a bunch of interests?
Everybody loves rock ’em sock ’em robots 🙂
Prismatic Soul is just a renaming of the BoL boon called “Power of the Void” but focused on the psi stuff rather than magic.
And the boxerbot is a Priest (kinda) too? Is this some reference to an Ernest Borgnine character?
Not a specific character, no. I just liked the idea of a sentient robot who, having lost its function due to an (unnamed) incident, is left to ponder its place in the universe and thus starts to get philosophical. And then I pictured it being portrayed by Mr. Borgnine, and that led to the name. Which I’m glad you caught.
I don’t think he ever played a similar character, but it’s certainly possible the concept was rattling around in my brain and manifested itself here. Now I might have to do some research…
How’d I miss this post? I’d love a BoL SF game!
My hope is that the “mythic edition” (as Simon seems to be calling it) will be an even broader base for putting together a scifi romp using BoL. Though, to be honest, with access to BotA there’s no much you need beyond a little will and interest. And that’s all that powered this post, since I don’t even have anyone who’s up for playing BoL in any form right now. Dagnabbit.
I was just looking at this post again and it finally sunk in that you named the ship Archilochus. That is so cool. He is one of those figures from history that just fascinates me. Warrior, poet, traveler, colonist, broken-hearted lover… Such a intriguing mix of pragmatism (running away from the Thracians) and passion (lambasting the lover and her family).
Hey! Maybe I’ll stat him up for BoL!
I wish I could claim to have been referencing that Archilochus, Narmer. But instead I was referencing the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). But I like your take on things better, so I’ll never admit this again 🙂
I think statting that Archilochus up sounds like a brilliant idea. Go for it, dude!
I guess my years of reading Greek history is showing through. I will stat him up soon though.
Actually, it’s my very poor grades in my Classics classes showing through 🙂