From: "Luikart, Todd" Subject: [GM-7thSea] Vicious Brutes & Tormented Jacks I'm glad everybody liked my idea about floating backgrounds for the F.W. Jacks. I've actually been tormenting an Everyday Hero in my Feng Shui game for two years now. I only mention it on this list cause he's recently transformed himself into a Castillian Carpenter. A couple of nights ago he was running down a street in Carleon pursued by three different groups (Musketeers-in disguise, Rose & Crossers, and Inquisitors) desparately fending them off with an Eisen beer stein, a mutton joint, and screams along the lines of: "I didn't kidnap the Duke's daughter! I'm not the Count Du'brase!! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE!?!? Right, I've come up with a possible solution for everybody's Brute problems. Brute Upgrades! Yes, indeed upgrades are just what you all need to put fear in the hearts of your over-talented PCs. I've been working at adapting these to 7th Sea (I've been using them on Nameless baddies in Feng Shui). Generally I would suggest one upgrade for Threat Level 3, 2 for 4, etc. I'm certain so many devious GM types can come up with their own additions: Vicious: These bastards like to twist the knife. Any successful attacks make against a Hero cause a loss of 2 unkept die on the Hero's next action. Cagey: Good thugs are hard to find, sneaky ones are a guilder a dozen. They get one free action/attack before initiative. If you want them to be really nasty, don't even let the players figure out they've been jumped till they're bleeding. No Sense of Humour (Eisen Brute Squad): Completely immune to Wit, Intimidation, etc. Tough like Bear (Ussuran Brute Squad): Each one takes a raise to take out. Wall 'o Steel: These guys hurl knives and swing swords wildly in a ferocious charge. Their attacks cannot be parry'ed with passive defense. (Now you know why you took Footwork.) Wall 'o Guns: These lads carry so many pistols that they never have to reload [at least, not while your PC's are watching 'em.} I Am Brute: Figure out how many brutes you were going to chuck at the party, and what they were wielding. Then turn them into one BIG brute. S/he can take as much abuse as a whole party. Trust me, this gal/guy is pound for pound, more effective than a Henchman. Your party will keep beating the toughness to kill a brute, and he just won't go down, describe each "dead brute" as one more dramatic wound. Also real nasty if surrounded by a "second" group of brutes for backup. {for those that would care, yep, Nameless Big Bruiser} Hydra: This is an upgrade for a swarm of brutes, say at the docks. The PCs take out one guy and two of his buddies show up. Down they go. Four more show up, etc. eventually, a whole ship's crew will be diving onto your PCs. If that's not enough, the Watch shows up. . . with an Inquistor. Diseased: Sure, these guys have seen better days and your PC's can cut 'em down with no problem... whoops, you got some blood on you, didn't you? Sterner Stuff: Brutes of Legendary Status [for Brutes anyway] get this upgrade. They are immune to the whack a brute rule and once per combat they can negate(!) the use of a Drama die against them. This should obviously be a rare upgrade, and it only applies to brutes belonging to in/famous groups, ie: "You fool! We are Cardinal Richleu's Hand Picked Bodyguard!" May the winds favor you, Laughing Thunder -- Contents Copyright (C) 1997,98,99 by ALDERAC ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.