Ghastly Affair Antagonists IV: Soldier through Thief-taker

https://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/ghastly-affair-the-gothic-game-of-romantic-horror/

In the early years of Wine and Savages, one of my obsessions was adapting Savage Worlds to Gothic Romance in the style of The Castle of Otranto, The Mysteries of Udolpho, The Monk, and other such early classics. I made some progress, but Daniel James Hanley beat me to the punch with Ghastly Affair. a charmingly horrific D20 RPG of Gothic horror in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It is, frankly, brilliant and I encourage the curious to check out Hanley’s site – The Engine of Oracles – and download the free version of the game (or buy the nifty illustrated version).

Presented below are a selection of NPC archetypes inspired by the Antagonists section of Ghastly Affair – but equally suitable for The King is Dead and other Gothic settings.

Soldier, enlisted infantry

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Fighting d6, Gambling d6, Intimidation d6, Notice d6, Shooting d6, Stealth d4, Survival d4

Charisma: +0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Sanity: 5; Toughness: 5

Hindrances: Vow [Major; desertion is punishable by death]

Edges: Combat Reflexes

Gear: flintlock rifle and bayonet, dagger, haversack, uniform

Soldier, infantry NCO

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Fighting d6, Gambling d6, Intimidation d8, Knowledge (Battle) d6, Notice d6, Shooting d6, Stealth d4, Taunt d6, Survival d4

Charisma: +0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Sanity: 5; Toughness: 5

Hindrances: Vow [Major; desertion is punishable by death]

Edges: Combat Reflexes, Command

Gear: flintlock rifle and bayonet, flintlock pistol, dagger, haversack, uniform

Soldier, light cavalry (Cossack, dragoon, hussar)

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Fighting d6, Gambling d6, Intimidation d6, Notice d8, Riding d8, Shooting d6, Stealth d6, Survival d4

Charisma: +0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Sanity: 5; Toughness: 5

Hindrances: Vow [Major; desertion is punishable by death]

Edges: Combat Reflexes, Steady Hands

Gear: flintlock carbine (as rifle), pair of flintlock pistols (if lucky), dagger, lance, saber (as short sword), haversack, champagne bottle, riding horse, uniform

Soldier, heavy cavalry (cuirassier, Polish hussar)

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Fighting d8, Gambling d6, Intimidation d6, Notice d6, Riding d8, Shooting d6, Stealth d4, Survival d4

Charisma: +0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Sanity: 5; Toughness: 8 (3)

Hindrances: Vow [Major; desertion is punishable by death]

Edges: Combat Reflexes, Steady Hands

Gear: cuirass (as plate corselet), saber (as short sword), dagger, lance, pair of flintlock pistols, haversack, war horse, uniform

Soldier, officer

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Fighting d6, Gambling d6, Intimidation d8, Knowledge (Battle) d8+, Notice d6, Riding d8, Shooting d6, Stealth d4, Survival d4

Charisma: +0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Sanity: 5; Toughness: 5

Hindrances: Vow [Major; desertion is punishable by death]

Edges: Combat Reflexes, Command, Rich, other Leadership Edges as appropriate

Gear: rapier, dagger, pair of flintlock pistols, maps, spyglass, haversack, riding horse, uniform

Speculator

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Fighting d4, Gambling d6, Notice d8, Persuasion d8, Stealth d6, Taunt d6

Charisma: +2; Pace: 6; Parry: 4; Sanity: 5; Toughness: 5

Hindrances: Arrogant, Greedy [Major; fast-talks others into buying chancy investments for own profit]

Edges: Charismatic, Rich or Filthy Rich (sometimes)

Gear: bad wig, ill-fitting formal clothing

Tax Collector

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Fighting d4, Gambling d6, Intimidation d10, Investigation d8, Notice d8, Persuasion d6, Stealth d4, Taunt d6

Charisma: -2; Pace: 6; Parry: 4; Sanity: 5; Toughness: 5

Hindrances: Mean, Greedy [Minor], Stubborn

Edges: Strong Willed

Gear: accounting book, money chest, normal clothing

Thief-taker

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Fighting d8, Gambling d6, Intimidation d6, Investigation d8, Notice d8, Persuasion d6, Shooting d6, Stealth d4, Streetwise d8, Taunt d6

Charisma: +0; Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Sanity: 5; Toughness: 5

Hindrances: Greedy [Major or Minor depending on whether also engaging in criminal activities

Edges: Investigator, Strong Willed

Gear: club, flintlock pistol (as back-up), disguises, manacles, normal clothing