Another old Campain

This is from my early 90s RQ3 campaign. Each nation was menaced by a different evil god. The evil gods of four pantheons had united into a new pantheon and promoted a daemon to lead them as a new greater god. Each god had a favorite monster it used to weaken a nation. Heroes spent years traveling around circles of continent trying to warn everybody and even get the non evil gods to wake up and enter time again instead of living outside it in ignorance. It was pretty grim and at time I only used rune magic requiring POW sacrifices.

End of Babylonian game the Pix

 Kull and Ariana on dragon supporting troops

 Babylonian Chariot corp (Im using Assyrians for Army with Auxiliaries and Sumerians for armies  called from the city states of the south) - no horses as this in 1700 BC



Both sides represent - every civilization on the Mediterranean is Cockblocking Babylon!

 Good guys ready to kill all the foreigners in one swoop
Managed to bribe local Canaanites and Arab nomads to help them

 The crew waiting as each few inches moved and long range missiles fire turn by turn before anything exiting happens



Evil cultists are working behind lines! These serve Cthulhu but Ariana has had seashore cultists killed.(actually druids from HAT brand celtic command plus ladies from HAT's Warrior Queen Chariot set - presumably they are Boadicea and her daughters). These will be cultists in all my games.



Dragon destroyed lots of chariots and broke the enemy elite



You can see enemy elites up to something



Here is Hittite Wizard and his demons. Dragon flame and arrows and Javelins from flying heroes stopped him but pets managed a message to a weaker form of He who must not be named!



Oops Hastur is here and he is eating the faction that called him. I dare not let you see him with his face turned.

Nyarlathotep grew from someone among Egyptian standard bearers and observers

 A phantom mind sending from the house he lies dreaming in - heroes stopped the real thing coming



Ninurta in distance after Nyarlathotep and the dragon vs Hastur. 3xd100/d10 SAN checks

 So yes I have Cthulhu Wars which I could have gotten 70 bux cheaper but Ive been dreaming of this for ages. At least many amies good in my Rome game. Statue supposed wise man from nativity set I nicked. More like Sennacherib or some other Bastard king.  Big fun and awesome apocalyptic end for party. So my 1/72 mania got to flex its muscles and i got some pix.

A few more here

Babylon Apocalypse War

Crikey I posted this a bit early withot any text so I better get going here

Party had a year or prep. Ariana went to spend time with Griffons. Kull spent time in Dragon Pits of Marduk, Pek persued the secrets of his god Ninurta and gained a spirit, Sobek had become a shaman, not by raw power than with expert ability in rituals and a bit of luck, Toth spent time speaking to the dead and Iltani had learned more sorcery.

So time to face the coalition. Egypt (With Lybian mercenaries). Tyre-Sidon (with a horde of Phoenicians, philistines and sea people). Hittite led group with Mycenaean pirates and Mitani Charots. The Heroes came with King of Babylon and the armies camped and awaited the right moment. Saw the enemy try to hire local Canaanites and some Arab nomads to fight so Ariana and Sobek managed to get then on side. Iltani turned a boy into a giant dove and linked him to king so he could observe the battle fro on high. She cast spell on the elite troops to be more deadly and formed several smoke clouds she formed into horrors. Pek turned into a eagle and spied on area and saw cultists on the sea shore summoning something. Ariana sent her loyal Mycenaean  pirates to kill the cultists. Toth snuck into camps of enemies leaving a Phoenician knife in a Egyptian general and poisoning the Phoenicians water. Pek as a bird would waylay baggage carts and one crashed once revealing a black faceless sphinx he thought familiar.

Finally the battle was afoot and hoards of enemy irregulars, Pek led a huge force of archers in the trees on edge of battlefield which did a lot of damage. Canaanites suffered the most. Sobek riding her terrorbird led lions she had trapped in pits and now controlled. Kull rode a dragon which swept towards a enemy position shielded by trees. Toth and Iltani rode chariots in close. Iltani drove her smokey horror phantoms but enemy leaders had prepared them for this trick. Each main enemy faction had a group of chanting magicians. As heroes army of Babylon marched forward  both sides ran low on irregular auxiliaries and the enemy lost chariots to the dragon. When the great factions clashed and Pek and Ariana flew with spells over the battlefield they saw they were going to win.

In the distance a horrid sound was heard from the sea.

The Hittite wizard had been killed but his familiars carried on the summoning, a weaker form of the unnameable one than desired had been called.

The Sea peoples wizards sacrificed their wild dancing girls and began screaming and their eyes bled. Their spell was diminished when Arianas prate crew killed the cultists on the sea shore a few miles away. A mere dream of a god was called.

Elder gods began to appear. Foul tentacled face god surrounded by yellow mist swept on his callers, devouring them. The dead wizards familiars were worshiping it the unnameable one. Nyarlathotep appeared from among the Egyptians growing from among the Egyptian heralds. The lord of chaos screeched and waved his face tendril at the sky. Cthulhu's cult had been stopped but a phantom dream sending came, increasing the pressure on the minds of men.

The soldiers snapped, screaming in all directions, tho battle was now a panicked mob screaming madly. Sobek snapped, she remembered long ago Nyarlathotep promised her power and now she was here to wait on him in person. As she rode her bird towards the crawling chaos, Toth snatched her from his chariot and fled the battlefield. Pek called on Ninurta and the god gave him a gigantic form like the god. Pek-Ninurta strode towards the crawling chaos with his holy mace. Kull never to be outdone called Marduk who merged him with his dragon. Ariana blasted Hastur with lightning and flew into the highest branches of trees. Iltani called Ishtar and was granted more energy to user her powers of sorcery to bear. She blasted Hastur with bolts of smoke from her smoke phantoms. Dragon breath singed Hasturs screaming face.

Cthulhus dream form faded and Nyalotep had shifted form and fired himself into interstellar space.

Hastur was blasted by spells and dragons before exploding into a foul yellow fog.

Only a few heroes walked from battle and that cursed place.

Pek was gone with his god.
Kull the dragon went to live in Marduk's dragon spawning pits as a stud.
Ariana, Toth and Iltani lived for decades un-aged before departing the world of mortals.
Thats right the noble richborn kids hogged the elixir of life they stole.
Ariana went to live in mountains with centaurs, satyrs and griffins.
Toth and his snake goddess wife went to live in a great cavern near the land of the dead
Iltani became a sorceress advising the Empire
Sobek was kept in a tower but some say she escaped and is now a witch
Fluffy the terrorbird has no known location

Running Vikings 2 next week - set 16 years after last party including their children

Viking Generation
STR SIZ INT 2d6+6
DEX POW APP 3d6 minimum of 9
EDU 2d6
16+2d6 years old

One Magic System - Spirit or Divine (some others available - one player a were-wolf)
INT x10 in personal interest skills
EDU x20 formal education skills
(AGE-16) x30 career skills

Set Novgarod Russia in 1020's

If I run Babylon again will include more crazy magic and non humans and more fantasy
Will post photos tomorrow

Babylon BRP: How To Burn a City

Very behind on my blog posts on this game sorry. This is about 4 games summary.

Party have moved into mode of being Nobles and directly helping the Empire. Game moving to climax of war and heroes learning arts of summoning and enchantment. Climax coming soon.

So the band of heroes granted 4 chariots and 60 medium armoured veteran auxiliaries (with spears, wicker shields, archers, javelins). They departed Babylon to bring Sumeria properly under control and prepare for war on Elam.

Party nominated to punish the city of Kartullu and the heretical Dagon cult in that degenerate town. Faced large but backward army of Kartullu but hero led force smashed them with leaders jumping in canals to escape. Began siege around city and could hear them chanting. So heroes sneaked up to a poorly manned wall by boat and entered the city by stealth. Wathched the great ceremony on crumbling ziggarut where king and priests were trying to use peoples faith to call Liogor to their cause. Kull the Champion of Marduk used hid command dragon spell to make Liogor unwilling to manifest physically. Ariana called on the power of  Adad and struck the holy leaders and king with a thunderbolt from heaven. Other fired arrows and helped finish city leaders. They fled getting a chance to damage the gate house of city. Mob panicked and heroes fled and escaped by boat through the deep one filled canals.

Army poured into the panicked town battering down the weakened gate and torching the city. Well into the night they continued killing any tainted by evil fish men and cultists. Stacked up pyramids of severed heads and Toth was busy decapitating the unclean until dawn. Some of the lesser tainted were castrated and sent to be slaves in worst jobs possible. Others were sold into slavery and distributed as war booty.

The next recalcitrant non-tax paying city was more cooperative and managed to negociate peace and payment. Spent some time in court of king working him, killing cultists in court and singling out those against empire. Toth invented a new punishment where witches were thrown from a high building into a burning pit. King was displeased by arrival of a Babylonian army expecting to be barracked but he accepted his lot. Being on border of Babylon and Elam was always bound to be trouble.

Party had time to rest and atend families. Arian had given birth to hideous centaur baby and kept it in a tower in her mansion courtyard hidden from everyone including her husband. His family were increasingly displeased by her. Most of party are priests and champions or apprentice sorrcerers now.

Got to spend more time in court and Ariana began affair with a prince who arranged to have her husband sent to front lines and killed. They were married and her ex Assyrian kin were outraged. Toth was made governor of a small city and appointed his friends in various positions. Weeded out cultists and helped raided armed force for attack on Elam. Party helped plan campaign with Princes of Babylon after squeezing as many troops as they could from city including militia, cult troops and offering Kassite barbarians and Gutians land to get lots of irregular troops.

A large Gutian force led by Kull and their king harassed the Elamite holy sanctuary city drawing away troops. From South army drew out Main Elamite army by appearing weaker than they really were. Meanwhile the heroes led their force to attack Susa the capitol. Managed to drive defenders into the city then Ariana used her prayes to Adad the weather god to destroy the gates. MAnaged to look the city quickly and take many Sumerian relics long held by Elam then fled before Elamites could rally their forces. While not able to hold the Elamite cities they had done a lot of damage. Party given talents of silver and some magic relics recovered and many cities of Sumeria grateful to have their statues of gods returned after decades in the dungeons of enemy gods.

Toth was made a king of his city as a reward and had a coronation celebration. Gutians took heavy losses and a band came to complain to Kull about this and he gave them gold to be his guard which they accepted. Their much diminished tribal king hated Kull even more.

After more rest time the Emperor asked them to travel on a diplomatic envoy to Haddadbad a city dedicated to Addad near the coast. The emperor wanted to get troops to the Mediterranean so they were to get support of Haddadbad or spy on their weaknesses. Got on well with the king and convinced him to support Babylon but he wanted no Babylonian garrisons in city and a fortune to bribe local Amorite kings to support invasion of the Mediteranean coast including territory of Tyre and Sidon. Were many cultists about also - Tiamat cult following the Leviathan form were thriving in Phonecean  lands. Killed some Asag cultists and went into mountains to harrass cult to find the mythical gaint Humbaba was guarding the forests, cutting off the supply of cedar to the civilized cults of the world.

Shamash the sun god sent the party seven magic rocks, each would diminish one of the giants defensive auras. Managed to destroy his auras from afar with sling stones and down him by cutting his legs. Once down they killed the intestine faced giant who broke down into maggots and rotten muck that began to sprout trees. Pleased the heroes went to the village of his cult to finish them off...

Babylon BRP: The mountains of Zagros

So the heroes again explored the fringes of the mountains looking for Gutian or Elamite trouble makers. Also hoping to find some of the rarely seen valleys of mythic monsters and secret things. Came across some Gurtia raiders and as Party had several former Gutians they befriended and recruited four scouts. Of course they went ways the scouts said were forbidden to man by mountain spirits. After several climbs came to high valley chain. Met a Satyr who said he was waiting for them Told them of the Gutian holy site where they had been receiving aid from Elam had a secret ziggarut where the diorate man was worshipped - a aspect of Asag the sone giant who led a rebellion of mountain stones against the lowland citiy folk. Ninurta destroyed him last time and cursed the stones with specific weaknesses. 

The well behaved Satyr took the through mountain secret passes to where humans had never been. Finally ahead there was a greta storm that struck the mountain pass ahead with lightening. The rubble pile in between was blocked by a huge beast - the behemoth berried under a mountain by Ninurta when he battled the rebellious mountains. While storm raged Sobek went to speak to the beast and he explained he was busy here to stop mighty heroes from passing. As it chatted to Sobek the others climbed above and around with a few slips and a Gutian scout killed. Sobek was permitted to pass as he did not think the lone barbarian girl riding a terrorbird was a big deal.

Finally they met a centaur tribe who were willing to attack with them the holy sanctuary of the party enemies who served Asag. They spent time with Centaurs and Ariana was fliring with centaur king. The queen wasn't happy but Ariana used herbalism to abort her current child the son of her husband so she could become pregnant to the Centaur. She was also dabbling in the witchcraft of Nyarlathotep. Her god Addad would be displeased.

After a week resting, studying and frolicking with the centaurs the party planned to go forwards but were told of a griffon lair and a tribe of cyclopses who battled nearby. Party had met a cyclops son of Poseidon once but they were interested in robbing them. Found the majority of the cyclops men out trying to get griffins so burst in to kill a group of smiths at work and warrior guards. Took backpack loads of armour and weapons and carried back to centaur camp. Also took lightning bolts stolen from the goods.

Made some attempted prophesies. Sobek got drunk. Kull cast his dragon teeth. Toth huffed the incense of the death god. Sobek got drunk on palm wine. Ariana studied the winds and ripples on the surface of her divining bowl full of water. Warned of battle, loss and betrayal

Heroes rested some more and went to the Griffon's peak. They climbed up to peak with a few near deaths. Griffins circled them and Sobek spoke to them. Others offered them the gods bolts so the griffons landed and took the bolts. They gave humans golden leaves from who knows where. Griffins proved to be guards of the gods and offered to aid heroes in future. Also gave the humans one bolt but heroes thought it would be better to sell in Babylon.

Centaurs carried them off to the secret pass to the Guti holy place and looked down on valley. One end had hundreds of warriors camped. Other had a temple and a crude mud brick ziggerat. Party started moving towards temple when centaurs blew horns and began casting spells. The wild beastmen had turned to the side of evil and threw party from their backs and surrounded them. Kull resisted and was hit by a severe arrow strike. He called on Marduk to shake the Ziggarutt, damaging it and the temple and enraging the evil ones. Sobek riding her bird rescued her hand maid Hani from a centaurs back that the maid somhow held onto. The centaur Queen tried to run down Arianna. Toth called party to surrender. All carried to temple and disarmed into a cell. Weapons taken away and preparations were made to sacrifice the party.

All were gloomy at this and began new divinations. Sobek sent a dove to Babylon with Ariana wedding bracelet as a sign with a note on vellum. Sobek even offered to have sex with guards for grog as she was now a terrible alcoholic. She used the grog they gave her to induce her prophetic trance. All saw battles and doom ahead but Ariana saw visions of her god sending griffons.

Later Ariana tried to seduce guards offering them Sobek and her maid Hani. Guards began to debate this when Ariana put on a lewd show and the guards all set about releasing her with spears pointed at rest through bars. Kull grabbed a spear and guard fled. Others used bare hands and their advantage with armour to attack. Battle seemed like eternity but after ten seconds of struggle and guards screaming alarm, Toth ran free and into the room where temple loot was kept. Ariana and Sobek both fell from leg wounds but Kull's spirit healed them while he furiously tried to grab more spears without success. Sobek grabbed a spear from a wounded foe and gave it to her maid Hani then she crawled to back wall and tried magic. Others tried similar disrupt charms and delivered some wounds till finally party with weapons they were mostly unskilled with got some luck hits and finished of guards. Toth managed to dodge past guards grab his meteoric steel sickle sword then killed the guards easily. Several guards fumbled badly which helped to. Worse battle ever thought some. Sacked the store room of their own weapons and some gold and other weapons. Including a light flint mace and a flint spear, both ancient relics. Rearmed and ran out temple for ziggurat killing robed chanting holy folk as they ran up to peak where the local Guti king was consorting with a priestess of the earth goddess to call the god Asag.

Heroes volley of arrows and javelins took down most of the heavy armoured guards and the heroes burt in as hordes of Guti troops ran for ziggaratt as alarm horns sounded. Beheaded the king and hacked limbs off priestess before they could act. As they looted a ancient Sumerian harp and goat statue worth thousands. As they looked at approaching horde they saw flight of griffins come to save them.

Griffins carried them to the griffon peak and saw the escaped terrorbird of Sobek in a valley and took him too. He fluttered his puny non functioning wings as he was carried into the sky. In the griffin mount, they saw gods stash of treasure, griffon claw marks that spelled prayers to the gods in Sumerian. Was a shrine to Adad the weather and war god also. Griffins brought them fresh meat and party rested a week.

At end of week as they prepared to attack centaurs, a groat cloud and lightning storm came and all the griffins faced it. Party watched as the God Adadd came riding a skybull wearing a gold crown. The god was in his divine glistening gold and lapis military uniform holding a lightening bolt. All bowed and the god said he was pleased with them for killing the Gutian Asag cult. Ariana as a acolyte of the god bid he speak to her alone, She asked him to remove the centaur kings child from her and the god seemed unimpressed. He said killing unborn a base thing beneath him and told her she was callous. She was to bar the centaur and pay for her needles killing of her unborn child to her husband. He also told her to speak to Nyarlathotep the enemy of the gods and forsake him and the witchcraft she had learnt. She agreed as she had always hoped to have sex with her god. He told her she was impure and required ritual atonement. She took that as maybe later and admired the storm bull. Apparently her cult had secret rites to summon these beasts even bigger than griffins.

Adad told them the griffins would help but if one ever of the pride ever died helping the heroes they would never get help from the noble beasts again. The god departed leaving them with refreshing light sweet smelling rain. The would prepare for the attack on the centaurs. Kull went to use his divination to see if the dog he left with centaurs alright and discovered it had been dismembered and eaten. He was furious and determined to kill the centaurs. Sobek wanted to kill the satyr that brought party to centaurs for what was apparently a trap. Toth always wanted to kill the centaurs from day one before the betrayal. Monsters should just die.

Babylon BRP: Into the Mountains

So the heroes returned from the desert cult and met king briefly. Spent some time with own cults and Sobek had to spend time with her shaman lover to heal her mental scars. As they are now big deal in their cults many began to hear more interesting cult secrets and magical practices that were previously secrets. A few dabbled in dark magic as well. Warned next year would probably be war down south especially in Elamite borderlands and some of the less famous cities.

After a few months the party gathered and decided to hunt culists at the kings bidding so they traveled to the Zagros mountains, sure that th minions of the stone giant Asag were there plotting to wipe out humanity.

So first few days under Impirial Chariot Corp escorts uneventful and visited some minoe cities. Then ino the eastern wastes on foot. Ignored wolves and animals till they got to edges of the mountains. Rough hilly country mostly good for wood, stone and barbarian scum. They saw a plum of smoke on a hillock and obek sent a dove to investigate. On hill was a ritual site with three witch women acompanying a hag with three heavily armoured bronze suits, the kind royal bodyguards might wear.

Got close and yelled out to announced themselves. Witches yelled back to leave. Iltani now a Ishtarian sorceress was geased to offer everyone her delicious beer. S young witch came down to tell them to leave and collect some beer in a beautiful ritual bucket. They hoped for some sign the women were evil. They were cultists of Ninhursag the great Earth goddess. Toth mumbled the prayer to call Asag to see if they responded with no reaction. Iltani having learned to be a great cult singer tried and got a stronger result but none of the heroes confident womens ritual was up to no good.

So they departed and went to camp. Late at nigh Sobek was awake and heard odd noise as did her pet terror bird. The fire was swallowed into a sandy pit and it expanded threatening to eat all. The heroes leaped to their feet and began striking it with magic weapons. The earth elemental was huge, over 12 cubits of dirt and stone threatening to engulf them. The heroes still had trouble harming the brute and armour piercing spells did nothing. Iltani knew it was shielded by sorcery. After the thing died everyone was sure cult women were up to no good and set off to kill the witches.

They charged up the hill, Sobek riding her cruel beaked bird ahead of all the rest. Some like pek split between runing and shooting arrows. Ariana took a side route hoping to get to cultists a bit more unaware. When both sides got to javelin range each hurled might darts. The three men in bronze plate wre wounded by Pek's arrows but the witches healed them several times over. The high priestess pulled back and lay flat to avoid missiles. Sobek on her bird got close first and took on a warrior finishing one who had been healed several times. A witch cast demoralize on her bird who fled so she jumped off. Pek called on Ninurta to carry him into the sky so he could shoot the hilltop cultists better. Finally Ariana with her slower path shot at a witch. The witches very depleted of power with defensive magic and enhancing the bodyguards gave last of their power to the crone. She used her power to turn Ariana's bow limp then did same to Pek while he was carried by his god's wind. 

Finally the heroes were close enough and the last javelins and missiles cast. They overran the hill finishing off the armoured guards and killing all the witches. On the crone they found several magic stones on the priestess. They killed the cultists and Ariana beheaded them and stuck their heads on Javelins. They toppled the sacred stones and smashed and burned their magic paraphernalia.

For a fight that lasted about 12 seconds of mostly running, they were depleted magically and many wounded. Sobek's sheild maidedn had grabbed the terror bird. Ariana and Pek were distraught over the magic that rendered their bows ineffective. Iltani managed to repair Ariana's as it was magic but Pek's was ruined utterly. Pek scouted with his fly spell and saw a log fortress in distance with a Guti army in camp.

They returned to Babylon with the stones which they took to the Temple of Ereshkigal a only their cult could use the stones. The armour got high prices and the cult bought most of the stones bar one that had the power of resurrection once. The cult offered to hold it for party in future as needed. The stones and cult trinkets and armour made good money and the heroes took their tithes to their cults. Told the army about the Gutian camp and a thousand men marched off to destroy them.

Pek through his cult bow masters got a composite bow and a smaller bow he could carry on his belt and quiver.

After a month just before torrential rains due they prepared one more trip to the mountains.

BABYLON BRP: Temple in the Stars

Pek son off Targ came running across the desert to join them. He had hunted them for months and tracked them from last known location. Under the Arab nomad temple was a dark stairwell. After a short distance there was a grey wall that seemed to be not solid. Sobek sent a dove through and it came back saying it was quiet and unwilling to go again as it felt tired. Heroes marched in but Sobek and her bird passed out and did not go through the grey veil. The rest came to a copper lined complex with triangle shaped corridors into a room where they could see a ledge and a strange door. The door had a triangular jeweled grid next to it and a elongated hexagonal door. The upper part of the door had a series of circles and the lower one a point with varied lengths of lines radiating from it. Pek messed with door control and saw a corridor with two doorways. In the room was a pile off foodstuff, water and bedrolls. Everything was lit perfectly with no shadows. They all felt magically drained and decided to wait and recover in hopes Sobek could catch up.

While resting heard something slithering sounds on upper seldge. Ariana climbed Toth and Pek to see what was on 20 foot ledge and saw a door with stairs going down. Continued resting but wary.

After 24 hours Sobek came though portal unconscious. Took 2 hours to wake up feeling weary. Now united  and most happy they could escape so they went onwards to inspect the complex. Pek was deemed very clever so was assigned the role of door opener. Really it was mostly luck but nobody really knew.

So down the copper hall though the door to a great hall with a doorway opposite. Above the door was a row of semi opaque crystal panels. Sobek went to look at up close using her friends as ladders and tried to see what was on the other side. Something creepy, perhaps mummies. The room had a stone altar and a chest of priest robes, silver coins a sacrificial dagger and a medallion. Pek saw a man hiding behind altar. He stood up holding a grey metalic lump from which a chilling cloud of gas came forth. The others all fled the gas but Ariana was injured by frost bite but killed the man. Took the metal lump but could not tell how to use or which way was up.

Passed through next door into a t-junction. They chose left and saw three doors and a distant open area with strange lights. Opened first door and saw a faceless sphynx in a black octagonal chamber. Some recognised it as a temple of Nyarlenthotep. Sobek was an initiate already and had been to his celestial throne. Toth had the spell to become a initiate but never had cast it. Ariana went in and looked at the sphynx and fell feint. She had unwittingly had a spell placed in her mind and and her spirit met the dark god and accepted his offer of power. Others rushed to Ariana's side to help her up from her dizzy spell.

All left the shrine and entered the next room. This was a horror show the likes none had seen. Manticores were behind crystal bars, growling and swearing in Arabic. Three benches in the middle of the room had worse horrors. One had glass vessels and tubes of bubbling fluids, some contained manticore fetuses in various stages of growth. The centre table had a frozen in mid air, a exploded manticore, its pulsing gurgling organs suspended in some manner. They watched the revolting scene before gazing at the final bench where a manticore was being modified to have reptilian leathery wings and a scorpion tail. As they smashed the lab and killed everything they found the last manticore had freshly implanted organs and rows or spines inside it's tail for some reason. After hacking and smashing all they went to the next room.

One wall was black biological pulsing mass with three large biological engines attatched, each with a gaping orifice. Pek poked to with his axe and the oriface closed. The machine began to swell and the wall gurgled and throbbed. A fleshy balloon as big as two men began to be birthed from the hurt machine. Ariana stabbed it to see if it would burst. All were covered in slime with the blast and a huge spider monster remained. Sobek turned away before she saw anything. Her sanity was dwindling. She had become a drunk of late but now she had developed blindness as supernatural danger came near and always grasping her weapons, even with her lovers.

The others battled the horror spider, hacking off it's legs and eventually slitting open it's egg filled abdomen. It had massive venom dripping claws, web shooting spinnerets and spells but of course was killed.  All backed off and shut the door. The weirdly lit open area had four shallow hexagonal pits with cylinders of light from floor to ceiling. each had different glowing symbols in the light. Toth found they could manipulate the signs. Pek discovered maps of the heavenly globes including Earth. Sobek found anatomical diagrams of the manticore surgery explaining new manticores could fly and fire  envenomed bolts. Others found other incomprehensible symbols and strange images none could understand. But some saw hints of biology and navigation and astrology lore.

Someone heard shuffling around the corner and all leaped out to see a priest. As the men hacked the stunned priest into hunks they saw strange coloured blood and organs under his loose sloppy skin. Insides looked more fungal with strange wings and lobster claws on multiptle limbs inside the skin sack. Definatley not human. Pek opened a door into a new room with humanoids behind the crystal walls and the princess of Ur they came to rescue in the first Place. She was in shock. Others worked on de frosting human captives from frozen cells including men from other lands and times in the past. Toth befriended a man from the time of the pyramids. Several Gutians grunted savagley. Ariana met a man from old Knossos. Several were more savage than gutians, wearing only furs with elongated jaws and stooped appearances that none could speak to. The princess revived and told them she had seen a duplicate of herself leave with priests days ago.

Toth waited by the door and watched the hall and saw several shifty priests hiding. One saw him and fired a lightning bolt. Pek and some others ran past hall dodging lightning. Pek used time to go round the complex and sneak up on them. He splattered ones head and the others charged. The remaining one got Pek trapped with a web gun and the others ran up and killed the last one. Horrible non human creatures in human skins again.

The last room was a long hall with pallets holding more of strange weapons the alien men used. Took the weapons and someone accidentally activated a holographic display of a ape man at the end of the hall. Got idea it was a target range. All moved to the entry chamber to return to Earth. Saw a last creature without skin, a horrid exposed brain, fungus lobster insect thing they killed before.

Finally rested for a day then returned through the gate. Sobek passed out and her pet terrorbird jumped to her side. Kull had been looking after the chariot donkeys and captured camels while others away (on Yuggoth?). They crossed the desert directly to Ur losing the strange savages and Gutians on the way. Ur gate keepers surprised as they had already celebrated return of the princess and rewarded the nomads who rescued her with several talents of silver. They were taken to the court where the fake princess outstanded everyone by shedding her skin and flying out the window in her true form as one og\f the other worldly horrors.

The king had charioteers hunt and kill the escaping nomad cultists and the heroes were given the fortune in silver and offered the eternal friendship of Ur. They were escorted back to Babylon and spent several months at rest. Sobek spent her spare time with her shaman having her troubled mind healed. the others forfilled their cult obligations and and trained.  

Babylon BRP: Into the Wasteland

So the heroes arrived in Ur with the prince who summoned them and arrived in the court of the King. The awaiting the was their sister Iltani. They had left her in Knossos several years ago. She demanded her share of treasures and her magic tiara back. After calming her down and explaining how they fled palace in the night after killing minotaur was no time to find her. Iltani explained how she was forced to serve Poseidon to atone for her sins against the god and that the god expected them all to surrender to his temple. She spent years questing around Mediterranean.  Party agreed they would wait till Empire got to the northern sea by conquest and they had a need to cross waters. Ariana was most saddened her family would probably not see her for a long time. Still after the squabbling they were glad to be united.

The king of Ur had a daughter kidnapped by arabs from the gardens of Ishtar. They were abhorrent cultists of some sort of daemon sultan. He begged them to find the girl and avenge the Ishtarian priestesshood. There was a great oasis they were to find where they worshiped the moon god Sin as did the men of Ur. They would help the party find the heathens.

Divination revealed struggles and hardship. Packed chariots with water and food and set off. Through the western wastelands they saw gazelle and ostriches and was mostly peaceful by day. By night heard some animal growling in darkness creeping near. Dawn saw huge footprints of a unrecognisable beast. It was like a lion or a hyena they saw in Africa but neither. In the distance later that day saw four lions. Big ones with manes like ones they saw in Africa. As got closer saw they had huge spiky tails and flesh faces of me. The sun glinted from their rows of shark like teeth. Manticores!

They charged at high speed and circled them shooting them with arrows and javelins. The beasts swore at them but they were too slow and dumb so died easily. Sobek skinned them now everyone could have a manticore cloak. That night the mystery beast of darkness came snuffling around them. Sobek who could cast a shaman spell to speak with beasts called to it. It complimented her how delicious and sweet she sounded. In morning she suggested they try and pretend to sleep next time and lure it in close. All agreed this was wise.

Next day saw a hermit wandering alone. As got closer saw was a arab with a turban who had a mad gleam in his eye. That was enough for Kull who charged his chariot and ran the man down as he chanted something. His impossibly broken shattered body twitched and kept chanting for a time then shuddered to a stop. In distance a beast was spotted from a great height. Some kind of hideous dragon but Kull saw it was not a true dragon his cult could command. As it swept in they were struck by horror. It tor head off a donkey on Kull's chariot and he jumped off. Sobek rode along side to calm the screaming donkeys fleeing out of control. She hit its wing with a javelin too. Ariana got two good shots in belly and as flew at Toth he leaped up and cut it's belly open killing the beast. It's stinking black blood left stains on Toth and the donkeys, but fair Ariana dodged the dragging entrails of the beast as it crashed. As usual they went to claim trophies but the beast was putrefying in the sun and smoking.

They saw a oasis in distance that was fair with topless maidens, date palms and inviting tents. Sobek sent a dove who said everything looked great with tast grain scattered everywhere. Iltani and Ariana agreed was in wrong direction and not to be trusted.

That night the black beast of darkness came closer. All hid in ambush. As it pounced they leaped to they're feet and struck at it. Seeing the demon of darkness properly for first time they wailed in fear. Sobek could merely copy her friends, her own will shrunk in despair. It was a black lightlss sillouette with a lion like body but huge crocodilian jaws. It's eyes were white slits and it's breath was fowl. Mortal weapons could not harm it but the heroes armed with magic treasure weapons from across the world slew it. Thoth knew it was a avatar of Nyalathotep. Sobek grabbed a juar of palm wine and began a lifetime habit of drinking to forget. he had spoken with the god and seen his otherworldly palace and been offered power.

Next morning arrived at true oasis. Welcomed by curious locals who offered to buy their goods and women. Ariana managed to offend local men and Sobek joined in til Sheiks man calmed situation. Tensions grew at suggestion women be put in stable, with Iltani outraged at ignobility of locals. Ariana bought a local dress and covered herself which satisfied the locals a bit. Met the Sheik who was more open minded and had a large harem from many lands. He served the moon god and was willing to aid in killing the outcast cult and to aid the men of mighty Ur. Ariana got a bit drunk and while in bathroom, Sobek accepted offer of Sheik to spend night with him. She told Sheik Ariana was married and he thought Sobek the warrior woman charioteer was a exotic delight. Ariana was grumpy that Sobek told everyone she was married. Some discussion about her virtue and how many she had slept with out of wedlock.

In morning Sheik gave them rations and a shepherd boy who had escaped cult. Boy had parents killed and would help them find the cult lair. So a few days into the worst wastelands till they came to rocky plain that Toth had dreamed of huffing temple incense in Ur. Chariots had to go slow but Illtani assured them her sorcery could mend broken wheels if they needed to risk moving faster.

Saw cut stone rubble and a ruined temple with square pillars. Kull saw boy in chariot whisper into his hands and release a moth. Kull kicked him from the car and set his huge fierce warhound on the screaming boy. The savage brute tore off his arm and tore out the boys throat. Others wondered about the justice of this when they saw turbaned heads pop up in ruins. More men were seen running for cover so heroes began shooting and hurling javelins back.

Dozen began casting missiled at the heroes and the chariots were very effective defenses. Kull pulled up and jumped over a wall hacking into them with his huge holy axe. Thoth and Illtany went for a flank using wall as cover to attack several men. Ariana with her bow was picking off many but she was caught in rain of arrows from topmost part of ruin. Sobek jumbed on her terrorbird and they charged into the centre to break up the kopesh wielding warriors charging from the temple gates. The bird was hardy and deflected many attacks and dodged others, easliy killing men with kicks and nips from its axe beak.

More warriors poured from behind front of temple ruins and two camels each with two archers riding came from other side. Iltani injured the camels panicking them and Sobek told camels who had knocked off some riders that the cultists were planning in eating them. Illtani with her mace and dagger killed many while Toth cleaned his way to rear of the temple which was really just a facade of the front and rubble. He saw ladders going to upper tiers where javelin casters and archers were so he began to climb up.

Kull with his armour and protective spells felt invulnerable and took on five men. Ariana shot a few in rear and was missed by dozens of missiles from her covered position. Sobek and her bird took a few scratches and went through the doors. Commanded her bird to kill men trying to remount camels and she tried to climb other side of temple. Iltani ran about behind temple killing more stary men. Camels were doing best to get away. Toth ran along battlements knocking men to the ground. He hen went up to the top tower to get archers on top. They stood on the trapdoor but he was so strong he lifted them off, one falling to death. Sobek tried to jump off wall onto her bird and missed but she landed unharmed on her feet. Last archers jumped to deaths to avoid Toth while Kull killed the wounded and dying. Terrorbird managed to get a few bloody gobbets of flesh to eat.

Found a trapdoor into underground lair their prophecies predicted and made camp to rest. All pleased with battle, over 42 dead men and two camels captured.

Next: Into the darkness



This was the battle, heroes on chariots and cultists in their ruined temple. The yellow dino is actually Sobek's terror bird. Was a very exiting battle with lots of Peter Jackson-esque comedic fumbles and falls to the death. Thats Ariana behind chariot parasol. Kull with big axe by curved wall.

Babylon BRP: Into the Underworld

So have my mini collection growing - have Hittite, Sumerian, Sea People. Assyrian, Arabs, Assyrian allies (i will use for Babylonians). Getting Indian and archean greek and egyptian next. Fantasy sets by Caesar are awesome and getting 6 boxes or orcs, elves, skeletons, dwarves. Have at some other gamers interested in 1/72 ancients and am getting 1/72 fantasy box sets next at a good price (less post than from USA). No clubs in NSW doing this scale so im going to have to make my own scene much like i do with oldschool rpg's. Will be getting 1920s and modern special forces and insurgents too. No good sf this scale i can find.

Anyway....

The party arrived in Lagash as King has sent them to work in south where Babylonian control isn't what it could be. The heroes got in their chariots and donkey battlewagon and set off.

Toth the half egyptian hero of Nergal with his snake goddess wife
Ariana the half minoan beauty, former pirate and hero of Adad the storm god
Kull the Gutuian now a hero of Marduk serving Babylon by taming barbarians
Sobek the barbarian charioteer with her pet terror bird, a apprentice shaman of lion cult

Admired the acres of fruit trees and vines surrounding city but could tell was not as lush as it ought to be. Presented passports at Lagash and overjoyed guards sent for priests. All seemed very happy and invited party to the Temple of Ningizzida. Heroes wary but taken to meet priests and the king. Apparently they had forfilled a prophecy by arival and priests asked them to enter the entrance to the underworld and restore the flow of life from the depths of the earth. Heroes accepted. Toth knew locals had different idea of underworld to his own adopted people in the city of Cutha, sacred of Nergal. His wife urged him to go. She was kin of many of the snake divinities on display in the temples. Cadeceus intertwining snake motifs, snake headed women, horned adders in fruit trees, jeweled beaded men with snake bodies and many more.

Night before Ariana got horribly drunk flirting with snake priests and the others practiced divination to learn of perils ahead.

Under the temple a crowd of city notables gathered to see them off. In a great chamber they saw gates, covered in copper with designs of the underworld powers: Ningizzida, Tammuz and Geshtianna. The great bolt was opened and music priests rattled cistrums, blew horns and plucked harps. Holy singers chanted as doors opened. Eerie mist wafted out and heroes entered the depths.

In a great fog shrouded chamber they marched across dusty floor into the unknown. Found a stream with a old man with a jeweled beard fishing. He smiled at them. They spoke in Sumerian and he was a minor divinity of fishing and wisdom allied to the serpentine powers. He told them the stream source was blocked by a evil hydra and if they killed it he would give them a magic cave fish each.

Marched on and saw a village of snake headed folk. Tried to speak to them but they were hostile and kin of the hydra. A fight broke out and many snake men injured before they fell back. Toth was poisoned and could not go on but Kull called on Marduk at some personal cost  to heal him which impressed all. Wounded party fell back to the old man and rested. Returned to the path next day and avoided snake village. Saw a great golden goat grazing on sleeping vines. Sobek who loved all animals spoke to it and it offered some fleece if vital forces released. Later saw a bejewelled maned giant lion which Sobek spoke to learning secrets of her own lion cult.

Finally they arrived at a great Zigguratt with dry creek beds heading in the four sacred directions. Climbed to top and entered shrine cautiously to see a great well inside. They called out and the hydra arose with six heads dripping venom. It would not move or be taunted from its position no matter the insults hurled at them so they attacked. It was a long battle as they well healed the Hydra. Eventualy they hacked off its heads and dragged it out, hurling it down the stairs. Collected it's teeth, skulls and hide and witnessed the sweet holy waters begin to flow.

Sobek met the goat and received some gold fleece. Each got a magic fish from the old man which made them healthier and spent night with him. Ariana seduced the man as rest slept. Morning they returned to the geat where the crowd had awaited them for three days. Already the orchards were bearing fruit.

The grateful lords of Lagash gave them silver and promised to send priests to bless their crops and beasts. They knew secrets to grow fruit trees overnight and would plant a orchard on Toth's Estate. A great feast was called and heroes got to be paraded through city. Became evident this happened every thirty years for thousands of years.

As party subsided a prince of Ur came, calling them to help the king on a urgent manner.

Babylon BRP: To Serve The King

So having fled the City or Kartulu, half sunken and degenerate worshipers of forbidden sea gods and dragons, the heroes returned to the city of Umma.

They told their friend the king how the residents of Kartulu were evil cultists who were best destroyed and scattered to the winds. The kindest of the party, the Amorite Charioteer Sobek suggested they be rounded up and sold into slavery for their own good with the active cultists beheaded and burned.

Toth warned of their black magic and witchcraft.

The king considered their words and considered casting out the street of merchants and fishermen of Kartulu in his own city. He would speak in secret with other kings and asked them to tell the king Samsu-iluna of Babylon about the matter.

So back to Babylon where the heroes returned to their homes and loved ones. Many now had church obligations. The noble born half siblings were put to work with managing family affairs for months.

Ariana the half Minoan pirate maid worked with her church and fathers trade houses and learned many new languages. Spent time with her Assyrian husband. She was pregnant again.

Toth the half Egyptian was not ordained and was happy to be an initiate of Nergal. When not working with father he spent time social climbing in Nergal's holy city of Cutha. He was well reguarded by the church and finally got to befriend the king of that city.  Performed various rituals with priestesses of Erishkigal and spent time with his new serpent spirit wife and managing his estates. He became familiar with noble funeral rights his city was famed for. His bride bore him a healthy child.

Kull worked mostly with the temple of Marduk, leading and converting barbarians like the Gutians into the service of the empire. He set up a war dog breeding farm in his former shack on his property. He was very assimilated now and Gutians no longer recognised him. His brother was in Umma with his beautiful young wife serving the king there.

Sobek spent time with her pets, children and shaman-lover. She was very pregnant. Her pets got into a fight. Her terror bird and lion cub ate her monkey. She had warned it a few times. With her husband she re-learned all her magic to perform better in combat. Her sister and house maid learned a spell to create temporary perfume. Her follower was sent to fighting school to learn to be a better bodyguard and shield bearer. She had been training the bird to be a mount and ride on her chariot.

All become more familiar with chariot to in hope each could have a chariot for themselves and servants.

After four months during the wet season when the city streets were flooded, they were presented to the king of Babylon by their father/patron. The king was fearsome and silent but he warmed during a feast they were invited to. The king spoke to each hero and was obviously well informed of their actions. Notably the party had been to the four corners of the earth and had killed many witches and monsters. Most had brought their wives and were wearing best clothes and heaped with exotic jewellery from the heroes travels. Ariana especially had a fortune in gold jewellery and made a point of showing her boobs. She hoped the king wouldn't fall in love with her.

Kull was asked to recount his encounters with Dragons in Kartulu and the Mediteranean. Sobek was talked to about lion hunting and Chariots and the king was interested in going on a hunt some time. Toth spoke of the ancient funeral rites of his city and mothers homeland of Egypt. Also of his encounters with the underworld. Ariana spoke of her youth as a pirate and the king was especially interested in what Mediterranean cities he should conquer or trade with.

In the morning after a late night as the kings guests, they were summoned to a garden courtyard where the king spoke to them. He explained their father/patron had given them to him to be his agents. He wished them to eliminate cultists and witches who served wicked gods. Pretty much what they were already doing but now with status. Kull was made seal bearer of the party with documents from the king insisting all assist and aid the party which should intimidate most city state kings.

They were instructed to head south as the north was frozen and windy right now and boat should get them speedily to the south to the city of Lagash. Toth was pleased as his wife had mentioned going to the city. In the meantime they were to enjoy the extra holy holiday month that adjusted the lunar and solar calenders every so many years and participate in the Yearly ceremony on the great Ziggarutt of Babylon. There they would view the high champion of Marduk in his dragon armour  execute and dismember a captured Elamite prince representing Tiamat. They were also introduced to court officials that might aid their quest against Asag the stone giant, the Anzu bird, Tiamat the chaos dragon and Humbaba the wind demon.

As they had a week before the ritual they joined the biggest party they had ever seen, all across the city was dancing, singing, drinking, processions and holy folk in ritual dress.

On the fourth day the head of the secret police called them in. He was wary of them but he had a problem in that the sacrifice had escaped using his Elamite witchcraft. The guards who failed were tortured and executed just before heroes arrival and they were called on the find and capture him withing hours. Every city gate would be watching for the man so he would be looking for something different. Kull brought in his trusty war mastiff. A slobbering brute of a dog worthy of a Marduk champion.

Sobek used her shamanic magic to speak to the dog and also sent some doves to look for the man. Arian consulted her weather divination, sensing the villain would escape by the wall where there were few witnesses on the outside. Toth called on the vapours of the underworld huffing on incense determining that the man had much magic and his body was covered in tatoos. Kull cast dragon and manticore teeth determining that the man would seek countrymen for aid. All followed the fresh trail through the rope makers district as it was fresh and the dog tracked it easily. Found a tavern full of Gutians with two suspicious Elamites. They saw the men react to them and try to leave. Sobek told the dog to guard the rear exit of the tavern as the heroes all entered the courtyard. The Elamites spoke in Gutian that the newcomers were enemies of all Gutians and had spoken of them as cowardly wet nurses. The Guti arose angily but Toth in his original Guti dialect barked out that the Elamites were liars and cowards using them. The men fled out the back and were bailed up by the dog.

The men were thretened and confessed the escaped Elamite prince was afraid of water and planned to cross a wall. Kull and Toth set off with te dog. Sobek ran to the wall section to cut off the sacrifice and Arian grabbed some troopers to help and watch the men and headed to the wall.

Sobek waited among the reveling crowd and missed the robed man climbing the guards stairs on the wall, large enough for chariots to drive around. Toth shouted to her and Kull set his dog and cast a disrupt hex on the man. The public would normally be outraged by public magic but when they saw the dragon warrior of Marduk the crowd parted. Sobek still very pregnant ran behind the Elamite prince and punched him in the head. Meanwhile Ariana seeing this shot the man in the leg. The prisoners from the pub became unruly and began fighting the troopers but Ariana ignored them. The prince overwhelmed by damage fell down the stairs unconcious. Sobek first aided him and Toth ran up and bound him completely, blindfolded and gagged. Kull ran to help Ariana and the guards killing one prisoner and the llast one surrended. He earned a less horrible death for his surrender.

They returned the prince to his scell and the Kings spymaster was pleased, eve impressed.

The ceremony was a success and Marduk accepted the Elamite sacrifice. They watched him be dismembered on the ziggarut and his chunks of body raised to the crouds as the creation story was sung by priests. This was how Marduk made the world from the corpse of Tiamat.

One day rest and then a peaceful trip to Lagash by boat.

--------------------------
A little bit on Humarabi the kings father and his awesome code of law
"Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over the black-headed people like Shamash, and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind"

"Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over the black-headed people like Shamash, and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind"

- See more at: http://badassoftheweek.com/index.cgi?id=454889922613#sthash.hyqEZpI6.dpuf

"Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over the black-headed people like Shamash, and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind"

- See more at: http://badassoftheweek.com/index.cgi?id=454889922613#sthash.hyqEZpI6.dpuf

"Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over the black-headed people like Shamash, and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind"

- See more at: http://badassoftheweek.com/index.cgi?id=454889922613#sthash.z4BytV4F.dpuf

"Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over the black-headed people like Shamash, and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind"

- See more at: http://badassoftheweek.com/index.cgi?id=454889922613#sthash.hyqEZpI6.dpuf

Acrobatics & Tumbling for my rpg's

Just a clarification on these gymnastic skills I use in DnD, BRP and Marvel.

Its seems like olympic gymnastics are a art with codes and stuff id have to read whole books on to get.

Lots of gross motor gymnastic skills could exist
Dance, climb, jump, leap, flip, fall, etc and could all be used at same time

But a few i use players sometimes ask what is different?
Both related and complimentary. The dumbest definition is tumbling about springing off the ground and landing well, uses whole body but legs most. Acrobatics is aerial maneuvers and falling well, uses whole body but arms more. Skills should stack and compliment.

Tumbling helps to
-reduce fall damage by 20 feet or two stories or 6m
-spectacular cartwheels, flips, hand springs, hand stands 2/3 movement
-instantly stand with roll taking no time to get up
-while tumbling is harder to hit and can improve dodge attempts

Cool stuff to try
-mix with balance to tumble on a high wire
-jump out of car, off a building like a stuntman
-dive between someones legs, stab them in the back
-a tumbling charge makes you hard to hit
-if knocked over or fall or make dive for cover, then leap to feet all in an instant
-mix with martial arts to be more confusing target and fall well
-pretend to fall but dive and roll instead
-kick someone in the face while doing a handstand

Acrobatics helps to
-move through air with fineness when falling, diving, leaping and change to any facing instantly
-work with other acrobats, grabbing each others for flips, throws, form ladders
-swing on ropes, poles, candelabra, other persons to vault over them with ease and land on feet
-while performing acrobatics is harder to hit and can improve dodge attempts

Cool stuff to try
-jump from great height and and reorientated yourself to shoot multiple targets diferent directions
-vault over someone to attack from rear
-swing on chandeliers or curtain or vine to attack or just move about a scene
-make crazy leaps, vaults and swings by improvising terrain as gymnasium
-move in between people or over many difficult terrain hazards easily
-leap from tumbling burning vehicle and land on your feet
-maneuver in zero g better than everybody else
-fall but can maneuver to land on least worse things, like a enemy or tree
-fall but can maneuver closer to something for a chance to grab
-land on your feet if knocked back with punch or blast or can dive but land on your feet like a cat

My DnD

Tumbling helps to
-while tumbling is harder to hit +1AC and can improve dodge or DEX saves by +1

Acrobatics helps to
-while performing acrobatics +1AC and can improve dodge or DEX saves by +1

My BRP

Tumbling helps to
-while tumbling is harder to hit -1% per 5% skill  and can improve dodge by +1% per 5% skill

Acrobatics helps to
-while performing acrobatics harder to hit -1% per 5% skill  and can improve dodge by +1% per 5% skill

My Marvel

Tumbling helps to
-while tumbling is harder to hit +1cs dodge or evasion and -1cs extra on dodge penalty to be hit

Acrobatics helps to
-while performing acrobatics is harder to hit +1cs dodge or evasion and -1cs extra on dodge penalty to be hit

I let these stack for agility or talent feats

A few other notes

Climb can be used to grab or catch a falling person or to catch own fall or hang on to a bull
Throw skill is for unbalanced non weapon found objects
Throw can be used to catch items thrown at you
Wide range of athletic skills and dance could all be combined
Specific thrown weapons may require other skills

Circus Performer Career Skills
Acrobatics
Tumbling
Dodge
Balance
Climb
Throw
Jump
Dance

I want to design a ballet dancing hit-man narcissist hero now

Konsumterra's Top 10 RPG Designs

Inspired by Zac S current discussion on terrible design, rather than let my inflamatory joints speak about things I hate I will discuss the best overall RPG products and lines I have seen in exactly 30 years of game book buying. I have some visual impairments and aversion to some paper stock which are my problem but shape my taste.

Things I rate on:
Good layouts - i like side bars and boxed clarifications
Good rules but enough to steal if i dont want system
Art - I like pretty books but lotsa tiny spot illos help alot
Value for money and completeness
Enough stuff to do a campagn or at leas one really good starting supplement
I am totally biased to games I focus on here lots
Dislike new editions for sake of cashflow - If it aint broke dont fix it
Wish I could buy maps and legit PDF's of some of these

1 Gammaworld 2nd Ed
Golden age of TSR box sets. Great art on cover and books. Great elmore spot illustrations that set mood. Good layout. Enough campaign detail for a few months play and room to do your own thing somewhere on bigger map. Pitzbourke and surrounding area well detailed with maps in several scales. Actually I think this was best game ever in terms of did not ever need changing. While I dont play the rules straight 3rd ed had a choose your own adventure instead of campagn info and was a organisational mess. Some interesting ideas but jumping on a Marvel style table was a mess too. Actually 2nd ed was best box set ever in terms of everything you needed and better value than DnD sets. I recommend the original Legion of Gold and Famine in Fargo which are a great expansions. I will buy a copy if anyone can hekp me as product I most regret selling ever.

2 Traveller 2300
I like Traveller and Megatraveller too which did some good things for layout but I never liked rules. GDW did good design and great settings but overly wargamer and militaristic settings. They did mostly bad adventures. The first box set of this was a beuty. The revised one even better. Some of the best technology ever presented as far as vehichles, weapons go. Insignia and cloth patches were also awesome. Cant say system was for me and I never used It. The vehicle and equipment guides are awesome. The Kafer source book great too. The universe is loaded with well thought out tech, some of best SF race ever in any setting (go Pentapods!). Actually this setting + Cthulhu would work or Aliens. Later cyberpunk setting ad ons felt like bandwagon after though but interesting. Kafer Sourcebook is a really good ad on. I still have this.

3 GURPS 1st-3rd Edition
I followed GURPS from first box set. I liked many ideas and stole add ons for my other games. The setting books came regulary from 1st to 3rd and was like a monthly release. Some of the best genre and historical setting books ever. Dont like horseclans? Dont get it. As system grownt to huge full colour books have lost interest. No longer interesting world books coming out. I regret selling many of these but PDF's readily available. Books are dense, well laid out and the sidebars really ad to the overall effect better than the box full colour modern version. Modern ones just feel cold and no longer interested in lots of new settings. Steve Jackson illustrations basic but set a tone, many recycled from decades of game products. They just add to mood and break up space nicely. Autoduel is a great example because first printing of guy in armour is one of my favorite bits of art and I prefer layout to later version. One of my favorite RPG books - a awesome cyberpunk setting.

4 Top Secret/SI
This was a really under rated system with a very good layout. The rules are quite good and I stole lots of Ideas. The emporary damage system (also in gangbusters) works well in Cthulhu so you can have fist fights without murder (but a woman accidentally murdering a cop is part of Cthulhus charm). Great Chase Rules. Good advantage/disadvantage system. Several of the sourcebooks were very good. Agent13 one of best Pulp sourcebooks - actually better than novels and comics based on. F.R.E.E.lancers setting was a great proto cyberpunk-superhero setting. Mercenaries/special ops sourcebook full of good military trivium if that floats your boat but still influences me. Guns, Gadgets and Getaway great book was very good with hundreds of cars and guns with distinctive differences. Highstakes Gamble box set is pretty but but just an overblown module with lots of props but some would enjoy. A far cry from the spy dungeon game of first version.

4 RQ3
It is no secret I love old Chaosium. Superworld was broken but a fun amalgam of Champions and BRP. Stormbringer 1st ed I liked. RQ 1&2 were nice but setting put many off. I love Glorantha and Greg's anthropology and mythology take on fantasy which DnD has never done. RQ3 is slick, detailed, lets you run a wide range of fantasy and a great System. Lots of core remains in BRP. I never liked strike ranks and fatigue a bit much to record and found skill category bonuses a bit painful but loved system that i played late 80s through to the 90s. More recent versions have things i steal from but did lots of stuff i dont like. Layouts were great. Most of the classic box sets are amazing and gloranthan bestiary, apple lane, snakepipe hollow are awesome. Elder Secrets and Troll Gods have some of most disappointing art ever but text good for hardcore fans. Even layouts seem hasty. Single volume book version with errata is great too i might have to get one. I have complte box st of rules, dm version and two players ones. Got a version bound by friend too. Kinda need lotsa books because rolling up stats on everything is hard work which is most painful element. At least foes are individuals. The first few years as a GM only got divine magic. Playing in another campagn i got how to abuse spirit and shamanism. A scientist among us got sorcery and i suits scientists well - later 90s supplements gave better examples of pre gen sorcerers. Dorastor book is one of best campagn settings ever. This continues to be core of my historical gaming. Luckily by calling games cthulhu gets peeps in but viking game has been doing very well and everybody loves vikings.  Will run Babylon and Rome in future. The generic Dark ages setting underrated and very good for Dark Ages Cthulhu.

5 Call of Cthulhu 1st-5th ed
I have most consistently played this game. A simple lethal version of BRP. I dont get why rules needed changing from 1st edition. I like they added extra ststs and book descriptions in new editions. No need to include HPL actual fiction. New edition 7 terrorfies me as seems designed for kids who cant divide or multiply by 5 but possibly more deadly. I have detailed in past how more skill points and less skills in clue finding and languages means more skills for combat. In older editions many characyers had no fighting skills. In 6th ed everyone has so many more skill points most have weapon skill. Has become more pulpy.

I liked everything in this system till orient express - too much real world mythology (not HPL in my book) and too many monsters (common problem in many new books) and too clive barker gore based 80s horror. I actually threw out the adventure part of the terrible barely a box set it came in. I got 6th ed and over design is rampant. Too many bug chewed holes and other useless decor that makes hard to read. Old Chaosium was textbook like and easy to use, best design in the hobby. I got 6th ed hardcover only to find it very hard to use and heard of new edition making it irrelevant when i got home from game con. I really liked games workshop edition but they just slapped content together with no editing but was good. Are some promising aspects to new edition rules wise but basically my 30 year love affair with with Chaosium is over. It's not me It's you.

Several really dud adventure out last year Im glad I only got PDFs. The 50s one I will go elsewhere for a good 50s sourcebook on atomic age horror. Cubicle7 Stuff is mostly superior and I look forward to the non Chaosium BRP Cthulhu game coming out. for the record I find Gumshoe depressing and more linear and less GM controlled. Finally saw d20 Cthulhu and I will read. One of my players said he thinks you should get stronger against the mythos with levels and he prefers but not really horror. I miss old Cthulhu adventure books with 6 or 7 short adventures to the mostly convoluted poor ones I cant be bothered digesting that I recently got.

The lovecraft county line was awesome why is "Adventures in Arkham Country" impossible to get at a good price - i have never even seen it or "Dead Reckonings" The CoC version of Dunwich book with stats for d20 and normal cthulhu is a ugly mess - glad i have first print. I have some issues with Australian Aboriginals in products too.

Still my favorite game but something really rotten sinking in.

6 Ringworld
Dense, detailed, beautiful, good art some very nice. Perfect BRP SF game with companion. A great book on known space setting which is great read. Wouldn't play setting as is though. Has some great variations on BRP and best version of stat derived bonus system im using in my vikings game. Really hey should do Spaceworld and release this stripped of setting. Most of you if you have not seen a copy probably never will. I like lots about Nivens work but he is a jerk. With very old characters in this setting you can have huge amounts of skill points so can take a while.

7 Mutant Epoch
This book and supplements really hit it with me. First the books are dense with text and spot illustrations. The monsters are really horrible. The game deals with horrible topics most games will not - like what if monsters capture you. There are some typos but I can forgive them with the volume of effort and detail. Handy for any post apoc setting and raidable for my gammg and psychon games. Has a fun vibe like 2000 AD comics i dont see in many American products. Modules a bit too box text but could run as solo or have own character with players and has even solo use. I like idea you could rerun and have different room contents each time. Would like to see write advenures for veteran gm without box texts though. The cross road region book is so huge and dense. If they do more of these books wil be a super busy world. I look forward to fantasy version.

8 DnD
The red and blue book editions from 1980 do everything very well with limited space. The famous red and blue box sets with Elmore art on front are very beautiful. Not as complete as Gammaworld 2nd ed but very nice. The cyclopedia edition is the best version of DnD to me and id love to get one again as mine stolen. The gazetters for the setting are pretty good too with very good art. I liked the black covers of late 2nd ed ADnD as less new age looking than first one and those monster folders were terrible. Later versions of DnD I cant read same as Pathfinder. Too much trying to look pretty with full colour totally distracting from readability. My favorite thing about ADnD 1st ed (later covers in mis 80s nice) was the older art with wargamer and historical arms and armour. When i see a crystal bauble in a product i usually lose interest. Same for fantasy computer games. I hate big crystals everywhere.

9 Warhammer Fantasy RPG 1st ed
I only lost this recently and regret it. Very complete setting and game lots of fun, great art with lots of resources for campaign and ideas for any fantasy setting with the UK grit I love. Older edition more unbalanced. Good. The 40k games are very pretty and over designed but get it right. Setting a bit too detailed and too much info but awesome.

10 Eclipse Phase
I dare say one of prettiest games ever rich in ideas, horror without supernatural and way beyond most cyberpunk genre stuff. Great art and layouts. Cant say i follow system but feels like most truly modern SF game with so much to steal.

Honorary Mentions

Star Fronteirs Alpha Dawn and Knight Hawks has a built in Universe I played for a while but lack of new stuff made me use own. Now with the free mags is better than ever and free. Space combat is good.

Buck rogers game I think was killed by mediocre art concept but actually a solid settig and early d20 SF game by mike pondsmith.

TORG had so many good ideas and some great art. Didnt care for the universe at war setting but made a good campaign for my Marvel game. The fantasy one had some good spooky stuff but was a bit generic and probably weakest. Kanawa and Cyberpapacy good for cyberpunk. Tharkoldu has that 80s horror i mostly dislike but i like here and the tech good for any sf game. Wished Id got space gods book. Mechanids were a bit pulpy for me but gave me some ideas. I used card deck and then made my own for RQ games I used for years. I rate mos for inspiration over usability.

Paranoia 1st ed and i had games workshop hardcover i ditched regrettably during a purge but great game, great art and settin with ideas for my sf, post apoc and other settings.

DCC i got for art. I wish someone would run it as i dont quite get it yet as I dont metabolize rule sets like i did when younger. Dont think would b a regular game but good for dungeon crawl fun.

Mega Traveller Journal Publications were amazingly better than GDW ones and I recomend the scout and races books as some of the best Traveller products ever. Robot and vehichle book good too. An adventure was probably was one of my favorites. FASA did nice Traveler books too -  a reprint of Skyraiders with great asteroid hab and geomorphs would be a good product to recreate.

TSR MARVEL MSH or FASRIP was of course lucky to have great comic art. But one table does all was a big feature of this game and the built in descriptive elements of stats and ranks was very goo design. Karma xp reward syste very flexible. Has its flaws but core is very good.

Gangbusters box set pretty nice too with good components. Im lucky to have revised modules with very pretty covers.

Cyberpunk was pretty good but the Solo of Fortune book looking like a Merc mag was gold - more supplements like this with items scattered everywhere and fake ads. Teenagers From Outer space and Mekton are awesome too.

Dark Future was a carwars type game from GW i use for all my cyberpunk/carwars games. Jack Yeovil novels are awesome. Great art and setting painted as sidebars and boxed text in a wargames rules.

Cthulhu Tech and Cthonian Stars both beautiful and sexy games, well\designed

Paladium stuff dense with ideas and some pretty art, plenty to plunder for DnD

Iron Crown MERP and historical books very good and dense with info