Phenomenon 2003

A roleplaying convention

Team games

These are the roleplays that your mother would know: five players versus one GM. Some are system-based games, others systemless. But they’re all good.

The games

• And Now Presenting… Murder! — Robbie Matthews (1 session systemless)
• An Interlude at Bard Cottage — Barbara Kearins (1 session GURPS)
• Battle of the Bands — Sandra d'Argeavel (1 session systemless)
• Draca, Draca! — Sharon Dowling (1 session D&D 3rd ed)
• From the End of a Sword — Paul May (1 session GURPS Fantasy)
• Great White Light — Andrew Smith (2 session Cthulhu, D20 Cthulhu or systemless)
• The King under the Forest — Mark Bruckard (1 session Dragon Warriors [!])
• Mausoleum — Derrick Gibb & Don Patterson (1 session D20 AD&D)
• Pinky and the Brain — Colin Roy (1 session systemless)
• Space Pirates — Rob Cox (1 session Starship Bridge Crew)
• Terms & Conditions — Antti Roppola (1 session Cyberpunk)

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And Now Presenting… Murder!

By Robbie Matthews

It’s 1939, and WBC is the number three radio station in Boston, but you are on the way up. The owner has just spent a fortune upgrading the station facilities, and tonight WBC starts broadcasting live to the entire East Coast. Tonight’s program will consist of the popular ongoing adventure series, "The Scarlet Wing", dance music from the WBC band, news, and an appearance from George and Gracie White – America’s top comedy team.

What could go wrong?

Well, apart from equipment failures, a temperamental sponsor, your newsreader falling ill, spot fires, your boss panicking, mysterious smells coming from the plumbing, the guest stars running late and a restive studio audience, all is going well until the first body is discovered.

Never-the-less, the show must go on…

A Systemless Pulp Action adventure for 4-6 players ready to make broadcasting history.

A Blue Room Gamers Production.

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An Interlude at Bard Cottage
Murder at Farwater

By Barbara Kearins

• Who is trying to take over the local thieves' guild?
• What was behind the attack on Lady Oakwood?
• Have the local border guards been bribed by drug smugglers?
• Why has the Emperor's new sherrif not reported to him?

The Emperor has called for his five most trusted advisors. He has strongly suggested they make a visit to Farwater. He has arranged with the finest inn in Farwater that their luxury accommodation Bard Cottage be available to some friends of his all expenses paid.

So enters... Lord Giovanni Truthsayer, Sir Wilhelm of Murfseborough, Countess Elingtton Magus, Lady Ishwani and Master Francis Lightfinger.  

A GURPS System single session game for five players. No knowledge of GURPS required.

A Blue Room Gamers Production.

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Battle of the Bands

By Sandra d'Argeavel

"It was 1985 and we were out of control... the women, the money, the drugs... good times, man!" Max, Drummer

"The women? The money? The drugs? What band were you in?" Zac, Lead Guitar

A systemless game for 5 wannabe Rock stars set in the 80s.

All they needed was a Gig, a Contract... and a Name.

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Draca, Draca!

By Sharon Dowling

They call it The Labyrinth — but only in hushed tones...

Each year, a few eager hatchlings attempt to make a name for themselves by surviving the most gruelling series of tests the Council can devise.

For those who succeed — fame, fortune and a glorious future. For those who don't...

Do YOU dare?

An ongoing 3rd Ed D&D Council of Wyrms campaign for 4-6 avaricious hatchlings.

Please email Draca@webone.com.au for character design information and background.

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From the End of a Sword

By Paul May

—We've got another mission. There's a village…
—Being attacked by fell beasts?
—No. The village...
—Is being ravaged by a pack of demon bandits?
—No! Now quiet. The village of Tecton is...
—Having a problem wi...
—Shut up! They're having an election.
—Oh.
—And there's something funny going on.
—Oh, good. I don't like politics.

A GURPS Fantasy adventure for 4-6 young agents of the King. Knowledge of
the previous adventures in this series is not necessary, but makes for more
fun.

A Guerilla Ontologists production.

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By Andrew Smith

The ground was cleft, and mad auroras rolled
Down on the quaking citadels of man.
Then, crushing what he chanced to mould in play,
The idiot Chaos blew Earth's dust away.

The Housekeeping Committee is a small unofficial group within the Australian intelligence community that combats supernatural threats to the nation. It works in utter secrecy. And it works alone.

This threat starts with a photograph of an ageing British nuclear missile. A missing one. Naturally, the current Housekeeping Committee wants to find it. But ancient forces would prefer otherwise.

A two-session modern horror for five Australian intelligence agents. System: Call of Cthulhu, D20 Cthulhu or systemless. Probably not a happy ending — this isn’t the bloody X-Files.

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The King under the Forest

By Mark Bruckard

First adventure from the classic Dragon Warriors system.

Dragon warriors is a magical world. A land of cobwebbed forests and haunted castles. A land where dire monsters lurk in the shadows of night, where hobgoblins shriek across the bleak and misty moors, where wizards and armoured warriors roam dank dungeons in their quest for gold and glory.

...The characters meet in a small village called Axbridge. The local priest, Bertwald, enlists their company in an adventure. He claims to know the location of the tomb of Vallandar, once king of this land. The characters must venture into Fenring forest to reach the tomb where Vallandar and his treasures lie.

The first RPG I ever played. Will be run close enough to the published adventure and system to be nostalgic but with enough variety to surprise those familiar with it.

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Mausoleum

Rewritten by Derrick Gibb & Don Patterson

Another game.

A troupe of adventurers (presumably yourselves) has been called forth to save the world (or in your case muddy homeland), at the bequest of greater powers.

All that glitters may not be gold. Nor all those who wander bring back tales to be told.
The Year is 4987, The end of the Era of City-States.

There is no need to have played the previous games to enter!

A 1 session D20 AD&D adventure set on Quelland in Gaea, for 4-6 puzzle solving adventurers of 11th level who don't mind a good fight. No rules knowledge required. Role-playing: Heaps. Multi Forming: It will be there. Puzzle/Plot solving: Plenty of opportunity. Combat: How else can you kill the bad guys?

If you are interested in building your own character of 12th level for this adventure, contact Derrick Gibb on (02) 9833 2533 weekend only, or Don Patterson, on (02) 9670 1679 before 9.30 p.m.

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"What are we going to do tonight Brain?"

"Same thing we do every night Pinky, try to TAKE OVER THE WORLD."

Pinky and the Brain

By Colin Roy

A systemless game for five cartoon mice with big ambitions.

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Space Pirates

By Rob Cox

The Good Guys

Escort Captain (your name here) and his/her crew. In escort of a valuable convoy of ‘Quantanium’. You mission: to catch the pirate dead or alive.

The Pirates (Bad Guys)

Pirate Captain (your name here) and his/her crew of low life space scum. Your mission: gain wealth — there is a valuable convoy of ‘Quantanium’ coming soon. Can you allow such a valuable cargo to get by? Perhaps if you discuss it with another pirate clan and do a joint raid...

Starship Bridge Crew (previously just Bridge Crew) is a computer assisted role-playing game. The game is played on Personal Computers, one for each player and one for the Game Master.

The players roleplay the officers on the Bridge of a Starship. Your team is made up of a captain plus four officers, performing the functions of Helm, Missile Weapons, Beam Weapons Communications, Damage Control and others.

Jolly Roger says... You can play pirates or pirate hunters or even play twice (schedule permitting)!

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Terms & Conditions

By Antti Roppola

"We just need to return the money, the suitcase full of drugs and all those big guns. It'll all be OK."
— Izzy Curtis, nightclub owner & promoter

"You need how much???"
— Oko Stang, information security consultant

"What? Why would they think I'm involved in this fuster!"
— Azul Hayad, Protective chauffeur

"Izzy, I'm gonna @*#kin' kill you!"
— Sgt Tony Spinotti (retired)

"Hey Oko, you got any more of those blue ones?"
— Razz Duplo, musician and performance artist

A single session cyberpunk scenario for five.

If at first you don't succeed, redefine success.

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