Supplement Four
Mongoose
Since I've about got the plan for my first game session wrapped up (we play our first session next Wednesday), I'm starting to develop session two.
The first couple sessions of the campaign are critical. As establishing the universe at the beginning of a film, I'm attempting to draw in my players and intrigue them with the Hyborian Age.
Once we get a few "starter" sessions like this under our belts, I'll open up a bit and turn the game into more of a sandbox, watching what interests the players, and developing adventures and storylines to fit.
During game session two, though, I'm thinking of having the PCs create their own clubs (as new warriors-in-training for the tribe).
But, that makes me wonder: How the hell is a club created in real life?
I understand the game will show me the dicing mechanics using the Craft skill. But, I don't want to gloss over the process. I want to use the detail as part of the "zest" of the game, bringing the players even more "into" the world of being a barbarian.
So...how does a person create a good club from scratch?
Here's what I'm thinking:
1 - Finding the right tree--the right type of wood. You'd want a hard wood. Cutting off a thick branch, then skinning the bark and limb nubs. Maybe trimming the wood to a particular shape.
2 - No metal will be used as it is precious in the Cimmerian community. Any warrior with metal bands or spikes on his club is a sign that the warrior has some wealth. These 13 year-olds don't have have any wealth, so their clubs will be fully and only wood.
3 - Then, I was thinking of having the boys in front of the smith as he dips the clubs into a bath of hot, thick, syrupy stuff--a concoction that's been in the Duncohr family for lifetimes. This is an agent that sinks into the wood, both hardening it and sealing it at the same time. It's kind of an Hyborian Age lacquer.
4 - Last, the club is flamed--put into the smith's oven, where the club drys and hardens.
Now...I've totally made this up. And, it wouldn't surprise me if I was found out talking out my backside on how to make a club.
If you know anything about making clubs in real life, then don't hesitate to set me straight.
The first couple sessions of the campaign are critical. As establishing the universe at the beginning of a film, I'm attempting to draw in my players and intrigue them with the Hyborian Age.
Once we get a few "starter" sessions like this under our belts, I'll open up a bit and turn the game into more of a sandbox, watching what interests the players, and developing adventures and storylines to fit.
During game session two, though, I'm thinking of having the PCs create their own clubs (as new warriors-in-training for the tribe).
But, that makes me wonder: How the hell is a club created in real life?
I understand the game will show me the dicing mechanics using the Craft skill. But, I don't want to gloss over the process. I want to use the detail as part of the "zest" of the game, bringing the players even more "into" the world of being a barbarian.
So...how does a person create a good club from scratch?
Here's what I'm thinking:
1 - Finding the right tree--the right type of wood. You'd want a hard wood. Cutting off a thick branch, then skinning the bark and limb nubs. Maybe trimming the wood to a particular shape.
2 - No metal will be used as it is precious in the Cimmerian community. Any warrior with metal bands or spikes on his club is a sign that the warrior has some wealth. These 13 year-olds don't have have any wealth, so their clubs will be fully and only wood.
3 - Then, I was thinking of having the boys in front of the smith as he dips the clubs into a bath of hot, thick, syrupy stuff--a concoction that's been in the Duncohr family for lifetimes. This is an agent that sinks into the wood, both hardening it and sealing it at the same time. It's kind of an Hyborian Age lacquer.
4 - Last, the club is flamed--put into the smith's oven, where the club drys and hardens.
Now...I've totally made this up. And, it wouldn't surprise me if I was found out talking out my backside on how to make a club.
If you know anything about making clubs in real life, then don't hesitate to set me straight.
