Just did a historical Viking session. I've got it avoiding supernatural shit, making character sheets, doing skill checks, etc.
People keep telling me it's shit, but I just keep lapping it up, so we can't both be right.
Here's an adventure summary of the viking session, even told it to generate output in bbcode:
VIKING SAGA: PATH OF AMBITION
CHAPTERS & KEY EVENTS
- The First Raid:
- Led a dawn assault on a Saxon village, flanking the shieldwall.
- Claimed a huscarl's mail shirt, igniting rivalry with veteran Guthrum.
- Burned the village, earning Thrain Ironhand's scorn: "Fire is a coward's weapon."
- Rise to Power:
- Challenged Thrain to holmgang after mocking his caution. Killed him on the longship deck.
- Lost Rurik One-Ear (Thrain's loyalist) and 3 raiders during the mutiny.
- Seized Thrain's silver and authority, but rumors spread of your "recklessness."
- Greek Fire Gambit:
- Ambushed Saxon iron wagons, stole 10 pots of volatile Greek fire.
- Sold half to Frankish nobles in Quentovic, earning 600 sceattas.
- Betrayed Jarl Bluetooth's steward, killing him for withheld silver. Now hunted by Danish ships.
- Traitor's End in Dorestad:
- Stormed the docks, slaughtered Harald Silvertongue's huscarls, and exposed his pact with Saxons.
- Recruited 10 Frisian mercenaries (now 8 remain after the battle).
- Ship damaged: rudder shattered by Bluetooth's spy. Escape requires repairs or cunning.
CURRENT STATUS
Crew | 12 warriors (Bjorn, Asmund, 8 Frisians, +2 loyalists) |
Silver | 300 sceattas (after payments and bribes) |
Enemies | Jarl Bluetooth (Danish fleet en route), Thrain's widow (sowing dissent at home) |
Assets | 2 Greek fire pots, Saxon silver routes map, letter incriminating Bluetooth |
Wounds | Leg scar (healed), burns (-1 CON vs exhaustion) |
MAJOR DECISIONS & CONSEQUENCES
- Killing Thrain: Crew split. Younger raiders hail your boldness; veterans call you "Odin's mad dog."
- Burning Bluetooth's Hall: Danish jarl now offers 100 sceattas for your head.
- Sparing Thralls: Asmund respects this, but Bjorn mocks: "Mercy breeds weakness."
- Harald's Death: Saxons scatter without his leadership, but Bluetooth's spy escaped—your ship is crippled.
"Glory is ashes if your name dies here. The All-Father watches..."