BYGEOFFLAMB

AllTheKing'sMen

TABLEOFCONTENTSAbout.......................................................................................................................................................................iiIntroduction............................................................................................................................................................iiiCharacter Generation...............................................................................................................................................1

Select Specialty...................................................................................................................................................1Choose Nationality and Role..............................................................................................................................1Record Attributes................................................................................................................................................1Choose Focuses...................................................................................................................................................1Example of Character Generation.......................................................................................................................1

Game Mechanics......................................................................................................................................................2Declaring Actions................................................................................................................................................2Attribute Pools and Focuses................................................................................................................................2Stress...................................................................................................................................................................2Comparing The Roll............................................................................................................................................2Explanation of Results........................................................................................................................................2Bonus Dice and Empty Pools..............................................................................................................................3Death, Madness, and Surrender..........................................................................................................................3

Setting......................................................................................................................................................................4Game Master's Section.............................................................................................................................................5Running The Game..................................................................................................................................................6

Setting Stress Values...........................................................................................................................................6Setting the Mood.................................................................................................................................................6Reacting To Players.............................................................................................................................................6

Heart of Sherwood - Sample adventure...................................................................................................................7Appendix................................................................................................................................................................11

Specialties..........................................................................................................................................................11Nationalities.......................................................................................................................................................11

Roles.......................................................................................................................................................................11Sample Characters.............................................................................................................................................11Character Sheets................................................................................................................................................13

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ABOUTCreatedforthe24HourRPGMovieMashupCompetitionatTheFreeRPGBlog(www.thefreerpgblog.com)and1km1kt(www.1km1kt.net)byGeoffLamb.ThisisamashupofthefilmsApocalypseNowandDouglasFairbanksinRobinHood.

Version1.325Feb2011

EverythinginthisworkislicensedunderaCreativeCommonsAttributionNonCommercialShareAlike3.0UnportedLicense.Thisbasicallymeansyoumaycopyandshareit(butnotsellit)freelywithyourfriends,and

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INTRODUCTIONAllTheKing'sMenputsyouandyourfriendsintotheroleofsoldiersloyaltotheKingofEngland,JohntheUsurper.YouaretaskedwithhuntingdownandstoppingallthosewhofomentrebellionoractagainstyourKing.Chiefamongstoutlawsisthatmosthatedturncoat,theEarlofHuntingdon...RobinHood.WhilethesettingisEnglandinthetimeofRobinHood,RichardLionheart,andJohntheUsurper,thisgametakesasidewaysapproachbycastingtheplayersintherolesnormallyfilledbyFacelessMinions#120.BorrowingfromApocalypseNow,AllTheKing'sMenexploresthethemesofDuty,Loyalty,andtheircostsonthosewhoadheretothem.

Toplaythegame,youwillneed:FriendsAtleastoneother,butmorethanfivepeopleatthetablemaybogthingsdown.SomethingtowritewithPencilsandpensaretheclassics,butfollowyourheartonthisone.PaperYouneedoneforyourcharactersheet.FeelfreetoprinttheoneintheAppendix.Tensideddice(d10s)Youwillneedatleastsixperpersonforyourattributedicepools.

OnepersonbecomestheGameMaster(GMforshort)andhasthetaskofcontrollingeverythinginthegamebuttheactionsoftheremainingplayers.WhiletheGMdoesn'tgetacharacteroftheirown,theydogettoplayeveryonetheotherplayersencounter(knownasnonplayercharactersorNPCs).TheremainingplayerswillbecreatingsoldiersintheKing'sarmy,whichiscoveredinthenextsection.

Youwillbegoingondangerousmissions.Youwillbefacingyourfellowcountrymen.Youmaybekilled,youmaycrackunderthestrain.YoumaydeserttheserviceoftheKing.Youmayevensurvive.Youwillnot,however,comeoutunscathed.

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CHARACTERGENERATION

CharactersinAllTheKing'sMenhavethreeattributepools:Physical,Social,andMorale.

Physical:Howwellyoufight,climb,ride,etc..Social:Interactingwithothers.Morale:Keepingsightofthemissionathand.

Theseattributesstartattwodice,butwillbealteredbyyourselectionsbelow.Recordyourchoicesandfinalpoolvaluesonacharactersheet(acharactersheetcanbefoundintheAppendix).

SelectSpecialtyEachcharacterhassomethingthatsetsthemapartfromtheothers.Specialtiesareunique.Ifonecharacterhaschosenaspecialty,nootherplayerscanchooseit.Ifthereiscontentionoveraspecialty,theGMwillbefinalarbiter.ChooseyourspecialtyfromthelistintheAppendixandrecorditonyoursheet.Ifyoucannotfindaspecialtythatyoulike,workwiththeGMtodefineone.

ChooseNationalityandRoleMostcharactersareAngloSaxonsoldiers.Specialtiescangrantotheroptions.Recordyournationalityandroleonyourcharactersheet.AlistofnationalitiesandrolescanbefoundintheAppendix.

RecordAttributesEachofthepreviouschoicesmayaddorsubtractfromyourattributepools.Totalallofthechangesandrecordthefinalvaluesonyourcharactersheet.

ChooseFocusesYougetonefocusforeachdieabovetwoinyourPhysicalandSocialpools.Focusesrepresentspecificskillsandabilities,likeArcheryorFastTalk.

ExampleofCharacterGenerationMartiniscreatinghisfirstcharacter,namedWillard,forthegame.Sincehewantsacharacterthatwillsucceed,nomatterthecosts,heselectsDrivenashisspecialtyandrecordsitonhissheet.

Driven:Yourefusetogiveup,nomattertheodds.YoureduceallMoraleStressvaluesby1.[1Social;+1Morale]

AsMartindidnotselectaspecialtythatgrantsotheroptions,WillardisanAngloSaxonSoldier.

AngloSaxon:Youareacommoner.[nochange]Soldier:YoufoughtintheCrusades.[+1Physical;+1Morale]

Totalinguptheattributepools,WillardhasfinalvaluesofPhysical3;Social1;Morale4.Willardisquitecapableandstrongofpurpose,butdoesnotrelatewellwithpeople.BecausehisPhysicalpoolis3,WillardgetsaPhysicalFocus.MartinselectsStealthyandwritesitdownunderPhysicalonthecharactersheet.

Martinisdone,andWillardisnowreadytoservehisKing.

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GAMEMECHANICS

AllTheKing'sMenusesdicepoolstorepresentyourcharacter'sgeneralskills.Whenyoudeclareanaction,theGMwillletyouknowwhichpooltorollandassignaStressRating.Occasionally,theGMwillrequireyoutorollapoolinreactiontosomethingthathappensinthestory.Onceyouhaverolled,youwillcompareyourdicewitheithertheStressdiceortheStressvaluetodetermineifyousucceeded.

DeclaringActionsAsaruleofthumb,youshoulddeclareanactionthatcanbecompletedinafewsecondsorcanbereasonableseenasasingularaction.Donotdeclaretheresult,onlytheaction.

Good:Iturnquickly,launchinganarrowatthesourceofthenoise.Callingupontheinformationwegathered,ItrytoconvincethelocalsthatI'mfromNorwich.

Bad:Spinningaround,Ifireanarrowintohiseye.IusemyBluff.

AttributePoolsandFocusesYourattributepoolsdeterminehowmanydiceyourollwhenattemptinganaction.IfyouhavePhysical3,youwillberollingthreetensideddice(3d10)foryouractionandlookingforthehighestandlowestvaluerolled.DONOTTOTALYOURDICE

Example:Willardissneakingpastasentry.SincehehasPhysical3,Willardrolls3d10.Thedicecomeup3,5,and8.

Whenanactionfallswithinanareaofyourfocus,yougettoadd+1toeverydicerolled.

Example:BecausehehasStealthyasafocus,Willardadds+1totheabovediceandgets4,6,and9.

StressBecausenumbersmeannothingwithoutcontext(andpossiblybecauseyourGMisevil),yourGMwillassignaStressRatingtoyourtask.Ifyouractionisbeingactivelyresisted,thiswillusuallyberepresentedbydicerolledbytheGM.Ifyouractionnotbeingactivelyresisted,orifyouarereactingtotheenvironment,youwillbefacedwithasetvalue.

Example:Sincethesentryisawakeandexpectingtrouble,theGMrolls2d10andgets5and8.

ComparingTheRollNowthatyouhaveyourdiceresultsandtheStressvalue,compareyourhighestvaluewiththehighestStressvalue.

Ifyournumberisgreateranditis6+,youhavescoredaMINORSUCCESS.IfyouhaveanotherdiegreaterthanthehighestStressvalue,youhavescoredaSUCCESS.Ifyournumberisgreater,butitis5orless,youhavescoredaPUSH.YoualsoscoreaPUSHifyournumberisequaltotheStressvalue.IfyournumberislessthantheStressvalue,butyourolleda6+,thenyouhavescoredaFAILURE.IfyournumberislessthantheStressvalueanditis5orless,youhavescoredaTOTALFAILURE.

Example:Willard's9beatstheStressvalueof8.WillardhasscoredaMINORSUCCESS.

ExplanationofResultsSUCCESS:Notonlydoyousucceed,butyougainabonusdie.MINORSUCCESS:Youractionsucceeds.PUSH:Notasuccess,notafailure.Nothingchanges.FAILURE:Youslipup.Ifyouretrytheaction,theStressincreases.TOTALFAILURE:Notonlydoyoufail,butyouloseonediefromtheattributepool.

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BonusDiceandEmptyPoolsBonusdicegrantedbysuccessescanbeusedintwoways:YoucanrollasinglebonusdieaftertheStressvaluehasbeendetermined.Anymodifiersoftheoriginalroll(focuses,etc)willcarryovertothisbonusdie.Aftertheencounterisover,youmayspendyourbonusdicetoreplenishanyattributepoolthathaslostdice.Youmayonlyreplenishyourownpools,notthepoolsofothers.Youmayonlyreplenishbacktostartingvalues.Anyextrabonusdicearelost.

WhenyouwouldloseyourlastdieinyourPhysicalorSocialpool,youmayloseadiefromyourMoralepoolinstead.YoumaydothisuntilyouhaveonlyonedieinyourMoralepool.Losingyourlastdieinapoolwill,dependingonthepool,leadtodeath,madness,orsurrender.

Death,Madness,andSurrenderWhenatotalfailurewouldremoveyourlastdiefromthePhysicalpool,youhavedied.Feelfreetodescribeyourdeathaspoeticallyasyouwish.

LosingyourlastdieinyourSocialpoolalsoremovesyourlast,tenuousgrasponsociety.UpontheGM'sdiscretionyoumayeitherbreakdownorfinallysnap,decidingtotakeasmanyofthemwithyouasyoucan.

OnceyourlastdiehasbeenlostintheMoralepool,youhavelostallbeliefinyourcauseandyourmission.Dependinguponyoursituation,youwilleitherdesertorattempttojointherebelsyourself.

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SETTING

Theyearis1192.TheThirdCrusadeisdrawingtoaclose,manysoldiersarereturninghomeafteryearsofwarfare.RichardLionheart,absenteeKingofEngland,hasdisappeared.

EnglandhassufferedforyearsundertheburdenoftheThirdCrusade.NowitsuffersagainundertheruleofKingJohn.Taxcollectorstravelthecountryside,huntingdowneverylastfarthingowedtotheKing.Knightsholdtheborderlandsthroughamixoffearandmercenaries.

Allofthisgreetsyouasyouaredischargedfromtheboats,membersofanarmythatnolongerneedsyou.Unabletoreturntosocietyafterwhatyouhaveseenanddone,youwerelookingtowardslifeasabanditormercenary.Thankfully,yourlifeisdestinedforsomethingmore.YouhavebeenapproachedbythoseloyaltotheKingandofferedacommission.Youwillgoforthandremovethosewhoactwithtreasonintheirhearts.

YouarenowoneoftheKing'sMen.

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RUNNINGTHEGAMEThere'saconflictineveryhumanheart,betweentherationalandirrational,betweengoodandevil.Andgooddoesnotalwaystriumph.Sometimes,thedarksideovercomes...thebetterangelsofournature.

AllTheKing'sMenisagameaboutadystopianpastThelegendofRobinHoodviewedthroughthecrackedprismofCoppola'sVietnamwarepic.Thisisagameastoldfromtheperspectiveofthebadguys.Morethanthis,though,itisagametoldfromtheperspectiveofpeoplebeginningtounderstandtheirplaceinhistoryasbeingonthewrongsideofaconflict.Inthisgame,playerswilldieandgomadatanincreasingrateasthegameprogresses.Donotworrythatyouarebeingtoohardontheplayersthisissupposedtohappen.AstheGameMaster,youarenotsomuchinoppositiontotheplayersasyouareleadingtheplayerstowardsthisrealization.YourtwobiggesttoolsforthisaresettingtheStressvaluesandsettingthemood.

SettingStressValuesTheeasiestruleofthumbhereistousediceiftheplayer'sactionisbeingresistedbysomeoneandsetaspecificvalueifit'snot.Becauseweareusingd10s,youcangaugearoughchanceoffailureorsuccessprettyquickly(hoorayfor10%values).

Usingdice,astandardtaskwithsomerisk(combatagainstafewcommonersoratrainedopponent)shouldhavetwoStressdice.Beforereducingatasktoonedie,looktowardssettingaStressvalueinstead.Evenasinglediecanrolla10andturnsomethingsimpleintoanightmare.

Whenyoudonotwantthechanceofmakingatasktoohardoreasy,settingaStressvalueisthewaytogo.AtaskthatshouldhavetwoStressdice

canbesetatStressvalue6.ForlesschanceofTOTALFAILURE,settheStressvalueat3.Ifyouwantatasktobenearlyimpossible,gonohigherthanStressvalue8.

SettingtheMoodBecausethisisagamewithadarkend,ifnotdarkthemes,emphasizethebleaknessofcommonerlife.Thesmallerthevillage,themoreextremethereactiontooutsiders,especiallyifthoseoutsidersarebrandishingweaponsorarmor.RememberthattheKing'sMenareoperatingwithnooutwardlyvisiblesignsofroyaledict.ItwilltaketimetopresentthecrestofKingJohn.Soldiersandtaxcollectorswillonlytoleratethemsofar,eveniftheybelievetheplayers'tale.Foraddedpathos,havethegroupvisitoneoftheplayer'shometowns.Takepainstoremindtheplayerofhisorhertiestothepeoplethattheyareinvestigating.

ReactingToPlayersWhileprintedadventuresaregood,fartoooftenthewholeworkgoesupinsmokethesecondtheplayersareoutsideofNPCcontrol.ItisagoodplantoadoptaYes,but...methodtosteerplayersbacktowardstheirinevitablegoal.ThereismorethanenoughunrestwithinEnglandatthistime.Iftheplayersdecidetotravelfarafieldofyouroriginalplanandrefusetoturnbacktowardstheirgoal,feelfreetochangelocationsornamessoasnottoloseyourpreparations.Aboveall,havefun.

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HEARTOFSHERWOODSampleAdventureforAllTheKing'sMen

Ontheroad,IthoughtthattheminuteIlookedathim,I'dknowwhattodo,butitdidn'thappen.Iwasintherewithhimfordays,notunderguard;Iwasfree,butheknewIwasn'tgoinganywhere.HeknewmoreaboutwhatIwasgoingtodothanIdid.IfthenoblesbackinLondoncouldseewhatIsaw,wouldtheystillwantmetokillhim?Morethanever,probably.

NotetoGMs:ThisadventureborrowheavilyfromApocalypseNow.Itissuggestedthatyouwatchthisfilmtogetafeelforhowthisshouldbeportrayed.

LondonEveryone gets everything he wants. I wanted a mission,and for my sins, they gave me one. It was a real choicemission, and when it was over, I never wanted another.

TheplayersaresummonedtothechambersofLordKeeton,probablybeingintroducetoeachotherforthefirsttime.

YoumenhavebeenbroughttogetherbyyoursharedloveofyourcountryandyourKing.Thoughyoudonotknoweachother,knowthatyouallarebeyondreproach.Thismissioncanonlysucceedifyouallworktogether.Yourmissionistoproceednorthbythemainroads.PickupLordHuntingdon'spathatNottingham,followitandlearnwhatyoucanalongtheway.Whenyoufindhim,infiltratehisbandbywhatevermeansavailableandkillhim.He'soutthereoperatingwithoutanydecentrestraint,totallybeyondthepaleofanyacceptablehumanconduct.Andheisstillintheforest,commandingmentoactsoftreason.Ashehasbecomesomethingofafolkherotothearea,itisimperativethatthismissionneverbetiedtoKingJohn.YouwillbegivenasmalltokenofourKing.Usethisonlyasalastresort,notevenourownmenshouldknowofwhatyou

aredoing.YouwillberidingwithothermenreturningfromtheCrusade.YourinitialcoveristhatyouareinthepersonalretinueofSirGuyofGisbourne.Youwillbegiventunicsinhisliveryandsomesimpleweapons.AllSirGuyknowsisthatyouwillbetravelingwithhimnorthwards,thenpartingways.Gatheryourthings,SirGuyleaveswithinthehour.LordKeetonisagruffman,usedtogivingordersinthefield.Hewillanswerfurtherquestionswithcurtanswersandwillnotethattheplayersshouldgetmoving.

Themenridingnorthstandmorethanfortystrong.MostofthemservedintheCrusades,notallweresoldiers.SirGuy,theonlynobleridingwiththegroup,canbefoundattheheadofthemen.Whileheknowsthattheplayersareonmissionforthecrown,heisconflictedbyacompletedisdainforcommoners.EverythinghesayswillbeinFrench,onlyswitchingtoEnglishifnoneoftheplayersareNorman.SirGuywilldirecttheplayerstoacartatthebackofhisretinue(SirGuy'smenaccountfornearlyhalfofthegroup,atleastsixofthemarelightcavalry).Theplayersareexpectedtodrivethecartthemselves.

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OnTheRoadIfthat'showGisbournefoughtbandits,IbegantowonderwhattheyreallyhadagainstHuntingdon.Itwasn'tjustinsanityandmurder;therewasenoughofthattogoaroundforeveryone.

Iftheplayerswishtoconversewiththeothertravelers,letthem.Theothermenwillbeshortwiththeiranswers,thenoutwardlyhostiletotheinquisitivestrangers.Iftheypersistwithquestionsorchatter,thiswillsetoffaSocialcheckwithaStressvalueof4toavoidminorfisticuffs(Physicalcheck,Stressvalue1d10).Afterwards,oriftheplayersarenottalkative,readthefollowing:Lessthanaday'sjourneynorthofLondon,therainsstart.Notrelenting,therainsmaketravelingtheroadtreacherousatbest.Untiltheroaddries,theroadhasnarrowedtothepointthatthewagonisbeginningtohaveproblemsfindingwaysaroundthisimpromptustream.

Aroundabendlayseveralbanditshopingtorobawealthymerchant.Intherain,theymistaketheplayers'caravanforone.CombatstartswithaPhysicalcheckagainstStressvalue6toavoidtheinitialvolleyofarrows.Afterthreeroundsofcombat(Physicalcheck,Stressvalue2d10),thebanditsflee.Incensedbytheattack,SirGuypursuesthebandits.Unlesstheplayersunhitchtheirhorsefromthecart,theymustremainontheroaduntilSirGuyreturns.Ifaplayergiveschaseontheirhorse,itisashortrunoverunevenground(Physicalcheck,Stressvalue4)tocatchupwithGisbourneandhiscavalry.SirGuyandhismenwillhavecapturedthreemen.Themenareboundandthrownontotheplayers'cart.Gisbournewishestomakeanexampleofthematthenextsettlement.Duringtheride,thecaptivespleadfortheirlives(Moralecheck,Stressvalue3).

Therainsletupbeforethevillageisreached.Gisbourneordersthebanditsbroughttothecenteroftown.Acrycomefromthegatheringcrowdoneofthebanditshailfromhere.Uponrealizingthis,Gisbourneordersthebandit'sfamilyforward.Withastatementof'C'estlarcompensepourlesrogues,'Gisbourneintendstokillthefamilyalongwiththebandits.

Thereareseveralwaysfortheplayerstohandlethissituation:Physicalchecks(savingthebanditsorfamilybyforce)areatStressvalue4d10.Oncestarted,thesewillnotstopuntilGisbourneandhiseightloyalfollowersareslainortheplayersfleeintothecountryside.Socialchecks(convincingGisbournetosparethefamily)areatStressvalue8.Moralechecks(watchingtheexecutions)areatStressvalue2d10(4d10iftheplayersfailedattheSocialcheck;3ifonlythebanditsareexecuted).

WhiletheplayersmayconvinceGisbournetosparethefamilymembers,thereisnosparingthebandits.Gisbournewillcursetherainformakingthevillageimpossibletoburn.

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NottinghamInthisunrest,thingsgetconfused.Power,ideals,theoldmorality,andpracticalnecessity.Butouttherewiththeserfs,itmustbeatemptationtobeGod.

Iftheplayersattempttothwarthisjustice,Gisbourneleavestheminthevillagewithoutthecart.Unlesstheplayersweresuccessfulatsavingthefamily,however,theywillnotaidtheplayersintheirpilgrimagetoNottingham.IftheplayerssatbackandwatchedGisbourne,theystillmustpartwaysatNorthampton.SirGuyiswellknownhereanyonestillwearinghisliveryhaveincreasedStressforanySocialcheckstheymaketothelocals.

WhentheplayersreachNottingham,thelegendofRobinHoodhastakenover.Thereisapriceonhisheadof40crowns(5crownsforeachofhismen).PeoplespeakinhushedtonesofRobin'sderringdo.GatheringinformationonRobinHoodwillbetrickyforagroupofoutsiders.Atleastfoursuccessful(orminorsuccess)Socialchecks(Stressrating2d10)mustbemadebeforesomeonewilltrusttheplayersenoughtoletslipthefollowingtidbit:

RobinHoodandhismenarehiddenawaydeepinSherwood,intheoldpartsoftheforest.OnlythetannerinWickhamknowshowtocontacthim.

Failedcheckswillnotpreventpressingformoreinformation,butaTotalFailurewillstartaminorfight(Physicalcheck;Stressvalue1d10).

MakesurethattheplayersseesomeofthebeneficialinfluencesofRobinHood.EveryonehasastoryabouthowRobinHoodsavedthemwithmoneyfortaxesordefeatedthugsouttorobavillage.Eachsuchtale(nomorethanfour)will

causeaMoralecheckwithStressvalue4.

WickhamAsforthechargesagainstme,Iamunconcerned.Iambeyondtheirtimidlyingmorality,andsoIambeyondcaring.

OncetheplayersreachWickham,thereisacommotion.TheSheriff'smen(atleasttwoforeveryplayer)arecollectingtaxesandtakingthosewhocannotpayforatourofthedungeonsofNottingham.Again,thereareafewwaystoconfrontthesituation:

Physical:AvoidingthemenviastealthhasaStressvalueof6.Failuremeansthattheplayerisspotted.Fightingthemenwillrequireatleastthreechecks(Stressvalue3d10)untilRobinHoodarrives.Social:Playerscannotconvincethementhattheyhavealreadypaidordon'tliveinWickham.ShowingtheKing'sfavorwillstillrequireaStress5check.Morale:WatchingtheSheriff'smenwithoutactionwillrequireacheckatStressvalue3d10,asit'sobviousthatthemenarerobbingthevillagersofeverythingtheyhave.

RobinHoodandhismenareannouncedbyavolleyofarrowstowardstheSheriff'smen.Observantplayerswillseeafewvillagersfalltothevolleyaswell.IftheplayersarestillfightingtheSheriff'smenafterthreePhysicalchecks,theywillneedtomakeaPhysicalcheckwithaStressvalueof6toavoidgettinghitbyanarrow.

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RobinHoodEverybodywantedmetodoit,himmostofall.Ifeltlikehewasupthere,waitingformetotakethepainaway.Hejustwantedtogooutlikeasoldier,standingup,notlikesomepoor,wastedrenegade.Eventheforestwantedhimdead,andthat'swhohereallytookhisordersfromanyway.

TheyearsofroughlivinghasnotbeenkindtoLordHuntingdon.ItisclearthatRobinHoodandhismenaresufferingfrominfectionsandmalnourishment.Aftertheinitialvolley,theychargefromthebrush,sendingtheremainingtaxmenfleeing.Robinandhismenignorethefleeingmenand,toapoint,thevillagers.Theyarefocusedonretrievingarrowsandpickingoverthefallenforbetterfittingbootsornicerweapons.

Iftheplayersattackrightnow,theymustmakePhysicalchecksatStressvalue8fortworoundsuntilRobinandmostofhismen(thosenotkilledbytheplayers)retreatintothesafetyofSherwood.

AttemptingtotalktoRobinHoodorignoringhimhasthesameeffect.LordHuntingdonnoticestheplayersafterdonninganewpairofbootsandapproaches.Whateverhisphysicalstate,Huntingdon'smindisstillsharp.ASocialcheckwithStressvalue4d10isrequiredtohidethefactthattheplayersareworkingforKingJohn.

IftheplayersmanagetoconcealthisfactfromRobinHood,theyareinvitedtoafeastwithintheforeststrongholdofSherwood.IfRobinfiguresouttheplayers'intent,heandhismenfleeintoSherwood.

HuntingdownRobinHoodwithinSherwoodforestisanarduoustask.AtleastfivePhysicalchecks(Stress2d10)isrequiredtoavoidthetrapsandambushes.Oncewithinthecamp,apitchedbattlewillensuebetweentheplayers,RobinHood,andhisremainingMerryMen(twoperplayer).ThisbattlerequiresPhysicalchecksatStressvalue3d10untilenoughsuccesses(orminorsuccesses)aregainedtokilltheMerryMenandRobinhimself(oneperMerryMan,threeforRobinHood).

AcceptinghisinvitationfordinnermakesthejourneyintoRobin'scampuneventful.Oncethemealstarts,RobinHoodwillengagetheplayersinconversationabouttheCrusades,KingRichard,London,andothernewsoftheday.AnotherStress4d10Socialcheckisrequiredtoconcealtheirmotives.Oncetherusehasbeendiscoveredortheplayersfinallyattack,thecombatplaysoutmuchasabove.Iftheplayersmanagedtoconcealtheirintentions,however,theStressvalueis2d10.

AftermathThehorror...thehorror...

SurvivorswillbeallowedsafepassagetoNottingham.Fromthere,theSheriffwilltreatthemlikeconqueringheroes,tryingtogainfavorwithKingJohn.OncebackinLondon,theplayersrecoverallPhysicalandSocialpooldiceastheyawaittheirnextmission.

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Appendix

SpecialtiesBehemoth:Youcouldprobablypunchoutahorse.Rollanextradiewithallfeatsofstrengthorbrawlingchecks.[+1Physical;1Social]BestintheWorld:PickaFocus.Dicebelow6arecountedas6,butyoudropyourhighestdie.[+1toyourfocus'pool]Driven:Yourefusetogiveup,nomattertheodds.YoureduceallMoraleStressvaluesby1.[1Social;+1Morale]Grizzled:Themeninyoursquadfiguredthatyouwereunkillable.RerollyourlowestdieonaPhysicalTotalFailure.[+1Physical]Heathen:YoufollowtheKing...andtheOldWays.RollanextraSocialdiewheninteractingwithvillagers.[+1Social;1Morale]Loyalist:YouservetheCrown,whoeverwearsit.RerollyourlowestMoralecheckdie.[+1Morale]Norman:Whilenotanobleman,youhaveitbetterthanmost.YourNationalitybecomesNorman.[+1Morale]SilverTongued:Youcantalkyourwayoutofanything.RerollyourlowestSocialcheckdie.[+1Social]WarriorPriest:YouservedtheChurchduringthewar.YourrolebecomesPriest.[1Physical;+1Social;+1Morale]

NationalitiesAngloSaxon:Youareacommoner.[nochange]Norman:Youinteracteasierwithnobles,sharingacommonlanguage.ReduceallSocialStressvaluesby1vsNormans,butadd+1vsSaxons.[nochange]

RolesSoldier:YoufoughtintheCrusades.[+1Physical;+1Morale]Priest:Youfoughtformen'ssouls.[+1Social]

SampleCharactersWillardSpecialty:Driven:Yourefusetogiveup,nomattertheodds.YoureduceallMoraleStressvaluesby1.[1Social;+1Morale]

Nationality:AngloSaxon:Youareacommoner.[nochange]

Role:Soldier:YoufoughtintheCrusades.[+1Physical;+1Morale]

Physical:3(Stealthy)Social:1Morale:4

JaysonSpecialty:SilverTongued:Youcantalkyourwayoutofanything.RerollyourlowestSocialcheckdie.[+1Social]

Nationality:AngloSaxon:Youareacommoner.[nochange]

Role:Soldier:YoufoughtintheCrusades.[+1Physical;+1Morale]

Physical:3(Archery)Social:3(Gossip)Morale:3

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JohntheLanceSpecialty:BestintheWorld:PickaFocus.Dicebelow6arecountedas6,butyoudropyourhighestdie.[+1toyourfocus'pool]

Nationality:AngloSaxon:Youareacommoner.[nochange]

Role:Soldier:YoufoughtintheCrusades.[+1Physical;+1Morale]

Physical:3(Athletics)Social:2Morale:3

BrotherRonaldSpecialty:WarriorPriest:YouservedtheChurchduringthewar.YourrolebecomesPriest.[1Physical;+1Social;+1Morale]

Nationality:AngloSaxon:Youareacommoner.[nochange]

Role:Priest:Youfoughtformen'ssouls.[+1Social]

Physical:1Social:4(Persuasion;Oratory)Morale:3

PhillipSpecialty:Norman:Whilenotanobleman,youhaveitbetterthanmost.YourNationalitybecomesNorman.[+1Morale]

Nationality:Norman:Youinteracteasierwithnobles,sharingacommonlanguage.ReduceallSocialStressvaluesby1vsNormans,butadd+1vsSaxons.[nochange]

Role:Soldier:YoufoughtintheCrusades.[+1Physical;+1Morale]

Physical:3(Melee)Social:2Morale:4

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LONDON...I'MSTILLONLYINLONDON...EverytimeIthinkI'mgonnawakeupbackintheCrusades.WhenIwashomeaftermyfirsttour,itwasworse.I'dwakeupandthere'dbenothing.WhenIwashere,Iwantedtobethere;whenIwasthere,allIcouldthinkofwasgettingbackhere.

AllTheKing'sMenisaroleplayinggamethatsendstheplayersintotheemployofKingJohn.BackfromtheCrusades,yourbandmustferretoutthosewhowouldraisearmsagainstyourKing.

Youaresentundercoverintothelion'sden,freetominglewiththoseyouoncecalledbrotherbutwhonowplottreason.Youmustseekoutalltraitortothecrown,includingtheLordHuntingdon...RobinHood.

TABLE OF CONTENTSABOUTINTRODUCTIONCHARACTER GENERATIONSelect SpecialtyChoose Nationality and RoleRecord AttributesChoose Focuses

GAME MECHANICSDeclaring ActionsAttribute Pools and FocusesStressComparing The RollExplanation of ResultsBonus Dice and Empty PoolsDeath, Madness, and Surrender

SETTINGRUNNING THE GAMESetting Stress ValuesSetting the MoodReacting To Players

HEART OF SHERWOOD - Sample AdventureLondonOn The RoadNottinghamWickhamRobin HoodAftermath

AppendixSpecialtiesNationalitiesRolesSample CharactersCharacter Sheets