Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

scourger · Seasoned Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 431

My players have characters they loved from Tour of Darkness that did not translate well to Necropolis. But, we love Savage Worlds. Our Realms of Cthulhu game is taking a break after next week. Weird War Rome is one I would like to do for Savage Worlds. I read somewhere (WW2?) an idea for the Germanic tribes awakening monsters of myth & legend to take on the imperial legions. I ordered the minis from Ludus Gladiatorius and will let the heroes transport (mysteriously) from Necropolis to be gladiators turned into a special forces unit fighting (weirdness eventually) on the Roman frontier for the promise of freedom & citizenship. I even watched the fight scenes in Gladiator again last night to prepare.

Any other ideas?

VonDan · Legendary Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 3249

At the time this was a rare item from England and I had to spend eight hours finding and downloading it for work purposes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofICNgc8lqU&playnext=1&list=PLF32778D464A57448

And then read Spartacus and all Osprey books having to do with Rome and the foes of Rome

newForumNewName · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:41 pm Post subject:

There was a Home-brewed Savage Rome setting that you might look into. As I recall, it was good enough for me to download and keep on my computer instead of just reading and deleting.
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Blogotron · Veteran Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 712

There is also Invictus Cthulhu for BRP concerning the Mythos during the Pax Romana
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amerigoV · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 5:51 am Post subject:

Good news for you (or not, since timing is not good): At Origins Weird War Rome was mentioned as a potential product by Shane at the Origins panel. I am not sure it is in actual development or "we would like to expand the 'franchise'" to include it.

I do know everyone in the room was interested in it.
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VonDan · Legendary Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 3249

On this forum Aug 26 of 2009

scourger · Seasoned Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 431

Yeah, I can't wait for the official Weird War Rome, but I will get it when it comes out. Meanwhile, I did find Savage Rome:

http://everyworldnews.com/stuff/Savage_Rome.pdf

that I won't use whole cloth but parts of it will work for what I envision.

scourger · Seasoned Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 431

Well, I started Weir War Rome (WWR) last night. I hope to have a synopsis to post later, but here's the short version. The heroes recruited gladiator allies, survived the lions in the coliseum, and were caught in political intrigue as Caesar embroiled them in the events of the coming war on the frontier.

decalod85 · Seasoned Joined: 02 Aug 2011 Posts: 121

Quick Ideas

Roman engineers (weird science with steam trappings)
Druid Shaman types turning nature against the Romans
Eruption of Vesuvius is some sort of climactic event
Work in the "Lost Legion" - Then you can fight the mythic beasts and wuxia warriors of China - http://www.fighttimes.com/magazine/magazine.asp?article=719

And everyone has to throw dice when the PC's finally cross the Rubicon...

kronovan · Veteran Joined: 01 Mar 2011 Posts: 678

While everyone waits for Weird Wars Rome, there always Hinterwelt's Roma Imperious for the True20 system which could be savaged. They also have a D20 version, but I personally prefer a True20 source.

ogbendog · Heroic Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 1910

David Drake wrote a book called Vettius and Friends. A series of short stories, most with supernatural elements.

http://www.amazon.com/Vettius-His-Friends-Drake/dp/0671698028/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317057572&sr=1-1

out of print, but you might be able to find a copy

scourger · Seasoned Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 431

Well, now that I've set the plot for intrigue, I'm thinking of the action story being the campaign to liberate New Budapest as published in Necropolis just changed to Aquincum, the ancient site of Budpaest in Roman times. I'm considering a campaign to reclaim it from a lost legion that has turned traitor and allied with barbarians and their weird creatures. I've got a bunch of Warhammer Empire minis that look sort of like Roman troops. Since the heroes are gladiators, they will look distinct. I think the flowchart plot point from Necropolis is great and can be reskinned to ancient times.

steelbrok · Veteran Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 791 Location: UK

It is easy to reskin, I'm using it on and off for a pulpish/WWII era game

scourger · Seasoned Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 431

Last night the heroes learned a little more about their situation, were honored by Caesar with custom-made lion-skin robes, got caught in more political intrigue, and prevented the "securing" of their supplies by an opportunistic centurion--without violence. A good session and looking forward to more.

scourger · Seasoned Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 431

Two sessions ago saw more world development as the heroes traveled to Aquincum. The battle was joined, and they secured an area held by 2 dozen archers from a traitor legion. They were invited to join in the struggle for freedom and join the other side, but they declined.

Last time, they enjoyed a respite from the war by going hunting. The large boar they drove out for the general to spear was not much of a challenge. But the ensuing quartet of werebears drove them from the forest in a hurry. They may have gained a powerful ally, but they also left formidable enemies unconquered.

scourger · Seasoned Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 431

Last session, the heroes successfully captured a senior night from the other side. They also captured two lesser knights and one experienced soldier who was paroled into their service. A successful ambush mission overall.

scourger · Seasoned Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 431

Wow, it has been a while since I updated this story. Here is what has happened in each additional session so far:

6 - The heroes assault the last location in force. They are supported by their Russian allies, including 2 squads of archers. Unfortunately, the archers were armed with captured bows, and they go beserk and turn on the heroes. Ultimately, they prevail and capture most of the opposing traitor legionnaires.

7 - The heroes reconnoiter the area. Back at camp, the heroes' patron dies under mysterious circumstances in which a quantity of vampire dust was found about his body.

8 - The patron's heir is escorted out of the camp by one of the heroes' allies. The heroes continue on to reconnoiter a bridge they plan to assault.

9 - The general orders the heroes to take the bridge. They survive the catapults on the approach and prepare for an advance.

10 - The heroes overrun the barbarian troops on the bridge. They lose two extras and an ally is incapacitated.

11 - The heroes repatriate the catapult troops to the imperial legion and are relieved by a centurion. Returning to camp, they find half their unguarded supplies have been "redistributed" by and to other units.

12 - One hero observes a mass battle. The other participates in it and covers himself in glory. The general dispatches them to secure the arena as contact was lost with the soldiers sent there. They move through a strange mist into the stands, where they estimate thousands of zombie spectators are seated. The spectators inexorably push them into the arena. As the mists clear, they are faced by eight ape-men with armor, shields & axes; plus a leader with a wicked double weapon in one paw and a legionnaire's torso in the other. The heroes are legendary soldiers, and their 2 allies are experienced gladiators, however. After a pitched battle, the ape-men managed to defeat all but one hero. Overconfident, he continues to attack the leader and grievously wounds him in one-on-one combat. Eventually victorious, the surviving ape-men bow to him. As he takes his fallen friend, the ape-men carry the fallen allies to the stands to join the other zombie spectators. The hero manages to make a contest out of lifting the exit portcullis and effects his escape with his friend carried.

Count Zero · Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:19 pm Post subject:

There is a teaser pic for Weird Wars Rome on the PEG Facebook page. Well, it's a pic of two Roman soldiers getting attacked by a tree, so I assume...
Wink

[/img]
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scourger · Seasoned Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 431

Thanks for pointing me to that picture. I think WWR will be a hit once it gets published.

otherdoc · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:53 am Post subject:

Hi! I just found this topic. I'm the guy that put together that home-brewed "Savage Rome" document for my home game (the one that's linked to earlier in the thread). I was very pleased to hear someone might have gotten some use out of it! I'd be curious to know if it ended up being helpful to your campaign at all? I've been working on expanding it into more of a full setting that would include multiple empires and would welcome any feedback you might have.
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