Pulp goes 17th Century
We decided to have a Pulp Alley game at Wigan Wargames over the Easter weekend. As we’ve been gaming ECW Pikeman’s Lament quite a lot recently we decided to set our Pulp game in the post ECW 17th century. These excellent rules are adaptable to any period as our game showed.
The setting was the sleepy village of Lower Peeover nestling in the brooding shadow of Fanny Hill.
It looks a rural idyll but was everything as tranquil as it seemed in Lower Peeover?
Advisors to the Lord Protector himself had heard that papism was abroad in the area. This wouldn’t be tolerated and officers of the Anti-Papal Puritans League of England (APPLE) were dispatched to root out ant heathen papist idolaters.
Captain Throgmorton leader of APPLE
The League had Bastion of Science and took the C17th equivalents of Utility Belt and Gadget X.
At the same time word had reached Rome of an abomination happening in the Holy Churches name in rural England. Father Feltwell, a catholic priest who should have been ministering the true faith to the repressed catholics of England had turned to the dark side and embraced His Satanic Majesty. The League of WHO (Witch Hunters Order) was dispatched to work under cover and bring the depravity to an end.
The Duc de Condom’s WHO. They went for Gifts as a religious group (in a non-Dark Pact way of course).
There was a third League involved in proceedings. Colonel Slackbottom’s fiance had been kidnapped. Being a former royalist officer from the recent wars he was a man of action and raised a group of retainers to search the surrounding areas. As may be expected the evil priest’s forces had kidnapped Slackbottom’s fiancé and were to offer her as a sacrifice.
Slackbottom’s Fencibles
The Fencibles took Company of Heroes so had two side kicks Captain’s Digby and Tancock.. Slackbottom took Commander as an ability so allowing him extra slots in his League.
Scenario events were Reconnoiter (APPLE), Familiar Area - The Fencibles who took another level 1 supporter and helpfully for everyone Danger Danger from WHO (all perils are extreme).
Leagues came on in different corners and each had 2 plot points within a 2’ square as well as two perils in the same area. The Leagues had to take both plot points to learn of the whereabouts of the evil Father Feltwell.
We had Red Herring cards in the reward deck because- well just because its worth seein the expression on Andy’s face (WHO player) when he draws one of them – which he is guaranteed to do.
The WHO approached through the village. Confirmation of the evil abroad was present in the terrified expressions of the locals. Their first plot point was a small child. Clearly he didn’t know enough to be too scared to talk. Things didn’t go well though and it took League sidekick Anna Bolic three turns to prize the truth from little Jimmy- perhaps he was scared after all.
Worse was to come for the WHO as Father Escargot who had the Leagues Gifts Aura of Night and Glyph of Knowing was periled by a fortune card as he ran through the village. He tripped and fell knocking himself out.
The WHO prepare for their Little Peeover gig
Father Escargot bites the dust.
The Duc de Condom came to the rescue and swatting away a dog (Peril) got the truth out of the second plot point (an old woman). Clearly he had a way with words – or knuckle dusters under his gloves as he made it look easy.
Whilst this was going on APPLE came on the board via the ruined church. They quickly took the first plot point, a village idiot sitting alone in the ruins. Things then went from bad to worse to appalling. A wandering peril (a bull) came over to the gathered league holding up their progress. Captain Throgmorton got past the bull and approached a crazed looking shepherd only to be shot twice by advanced members of The Fencibles. He failed both health checks. He was shot again the next turn and failed recovery at every turn so being down and out, A truly terrible set of dice rolls.
It was left to Sergeant Bibby to complete the shepherd plot point returning fire and KOing a Fencible as he went along.
It all looked so easy at first
But then things fell apart as Throgmorton is laid low.
The Fencibles took their first plot point (a deranged old man wandering in a field) and then split up to attack APPLE and take their second plot point. Unfortunately for them one of the perils (an angry villager) randomly moved to them and periled both allies. Fortunately the two captains survived and moved to take the second plot point.
A crazed villager with a pointy stick rushes at the Fencibles depite their being near the ‘edge of the world’.
The first part of the scenario was over with the WHO being first to take two plot points followed by APPLE and then the Fencibles.
They all got the message, there was a secret temple under Fanny Hill, Father Feltwell was likely hold up there planning another sacrifice.
Feltwell had a mini league with him. He took Dominion and Overlord which generated a level 2 fanatic (Countess Firmenough) and a zombie. He had master of disguise and intrepid amongst his abilities. He started away from the alter , if he reached it he could attempt to transform into a demon (terror)
The Leagues could enter with up to 8 pts. They had to capture the satanic book of rituals that was on the alter (APPLE) or destroy it (WHO), that would bring down Feltwell in whatever form he was in. The Fencibles had to free Slackbottom’s finance.
True to form despite seven checks by WHO and the Fencibles only Captain Digby could see Feltwell. He snatched off a shot only for Feltwell to dodge nearer to the alter (he’d already moved 6").
Countess Firmenough hit the Fencibles with a blast but all survived and Captain Tancock shot her through her cold black heart.
Initial actions under Fanny Hill
On activating Sergeant Bibby attacked and slew the Zombie only to have the Who launch Trixie at him. The two fought out a draw but it held up APPLE’s attempt on the major plot point.
A Fencible ally had reached Slackbottom’s fiancé but he’d run so couldn’t attempt the plot point that move.
Things are getting desperate in the bowels of Fanny Hill.
Still holding the initiative the Duc de Condom made his move. He reached the alter just ahead of the evil Father Feltwell and emptied a flammable oil onto the alter firing the alters’ contents including the unholy tome. The flame consumed the alter and Feltwell as he dashed to retrieve the book. With this the WHO were the winners of a close fought game destroying all evidence of priestly evil doings.
The Duc de Condom shows a safety first approach is essential. He’s just about to ignite the oil but checked his armour was in place first. 