Watch Well Games #86
Play-Through Review for Badger + Coyote. Outgunned Play-Through Report #4. Vaesen Play-Through Report #1.
Welcome to our community newsletter!
Hi there. I’m K.J. with your newsletter for this second Friday of July. I hope you’re doing well. Newsletters are always 100% free, but I have a tip jar. Over in the Notes section, you’ll find my janky art.
Today:
A Play-Through Review for Badger + Coyote, a cozy duet game by Pandion Games.
The fourth installment of my Outgunned RPG Play-Through Reports.
My first Play-Through Report for Vaesen Mythic Carpathia.
📖“What’s Up, K.J.?”
I finally finished Terry Pratchett’s Night Watch. Before moving on to Snuff in the City Watch series, I’m reading Richard Osman’s We Solve Murders. I’m enjoying it so far, and I didn’t doubt that I would, as I relished all of Osman’s Thursday Murder Club books over the past few years.
What are you enjoying reading this summer?
Also, my cartography partner Schlau @ LiD Gaming released his July map on Patreon. He’s been diligently writing up the listings for his maps over on the nifty new site RPG Trader by J.R.
Lastly, Niamh Celeste was kind enough to use (with my permission) some of my free janky art for the most recent issue of Role Player’s Digest here on Substack. It’s a useful guide and fun read for us who enjoy the TTRPG hobby.
🎲Play-Through Report: Badger + Coyote
I recently played Badger + Coyote by Pandion Games, who was kind enough to send me a review copy. Since this is a duet game requiring two players, I took on one role (badger) and found someone who was available to take on the other role (coyote).
K.J. says: “Straight out of the gate, let me first say I do have mixed feelings for Badger + Coyote. Let’s start with the positives. It has lovely artwork. The booklet is compact (A5 sized perfect-bound 44 page booklet, that is), so it’s easy to grab this up and transport to a friend’s house or a coffeeshop for a quick game. It doesn’t railroad players, so there’s plenty of room for player agency.
Now let’s get to the critical portion of this review. I would have preferred for the review copy to come with the two character cards (*as described on the product page) rather than one, as the two of us had to share the double-sided card (its small font didn’t help the situation). For coyote’s part, the wording was a tad confusing regarding Skill #/Stat # (see pic below). It would’ve been nice to see a bit more game mechanics tied to the Traits both characters had, especially because playing as a badger who cannot initiate direct communication, I felt quite limited concerning what options I had. It did seem like my only goal was to get food, and if that didn’t get met, then I didn’t need coyote. Although the booklet having 40 adventure hooks, if badger can’t initiate direct contact, doesn’t have any social skills (nor interest in being sociable) and really only wants coyote to help with getting food, then what would my character care about any of these other challenging situations involving other animals?
Despite what appears to be a lot of criticism, I think Badger + Coyote has a lot to offer. It’s great for a pair of gamers who can work around these game design challenges and use the scaffolding provided to enjoy a very co-narrative that relies more on imagination and less on the actual mix of game mechanics presented. Making a few quick house rules, where badger can communicate first and Traits get tied to rolls or mechanics, would improve the gameplay for me. Perhaps allowing badger to grow from just wanting food to being more sociable as the game goes on would be a beneficial homebrew goal to tack on. Conclusion, if you and partner or game buddy are looking for a cozy duet game where you can play animals (💡maybe homebrew another animal to play!) and go on adventures in nature, with all its splendor and peril, then Badger + Coyote may be a good fit for you.”
EZgreen says: “Badger + Coyote looks like a fun, simple, co-op RPG. The badger and coyote having different abilities to help each other adds to the cooperative play concept. One of the troubles that I found (while playing coyote), was that badger (the other player) could not talk to me (coyote) whenever they wanted, and only could grunt and growl. This left coyote being the only one that can indicate that they needed to talk about what would they do. Another complication was that coyote could have their Skill number between 2-5. If the Skill number moved to 1 or 6 (to be successful and avoid complications or failures), then the coyote and badger would go their separate ways. This felt to me like the game was at risk of ending too quickly, or the two players would face a lot of failure. I think there needs to be a roll chance for parts of the story, where coyote and badger make more open decisions that allow for outcomes to be on a sliding scale between bad, neutral, or good. Overall, I think Badger + Coyote has potential. It’s perfect for adults gamers who want to play a game with their children or for duet game fans who want to have some laughs with a partner.”
🎲Play-Through Report: Outgunned RPG Session 4 Summary
Catch up here with the previous reports:
Opening scene:
Abel’s hands shook as he loaded the shotgun.
“Alright gang, get ready!” Cora yelled out. The woman marched up to Bert and stood nose-to-nose with him. “We’re in this together now, little brother. There’s no turning back,” she said.
Abel tried to ignore the discomfort he felt about what the group was about to do. Miguel nudged his side, breaking the trance Abel was in.
“Those two are an interesting pair,” he whispered, jerking a thumb toward the siblings. “You think she knows how to pull this robbery off?”
Abel shrugged.
Cora’s voice suddenly rang out towards them. “Enough whispering, you! Let’s ride, Red Rabble Gang!”
Starting Location: Kanvwodi (pronounced Kah-nuh-woh-dee), Oklahoma - 1884
Ending Location: Buttercliff, Kansas - 1884
NPCs met:
Cora Fletcher - Red Rabble Gang leader
Bert ‘Berie’ Fletcher - Other gang member and Cora’s brother
Abel Edwards and Miguel Perez - Other gang members
Grover Davis - sheriff of Buttercliff, Kansas
Highlights:
Diego made a point to strike up a conversation with each of the Heroes. He asked the PCs a few questions about each of them and revealed a bit more about himself.
As they crossed into Kansas, they quickly found themselves in the middle of a shootout between bank robbers and the sheriff in the small fictional town of Buttercliff.
The Heroes went inside the sheriff’s office to assist law enforcement. Flint and Lazarus stabilized the wounded Sheriff Grover Davis.
Kenko taking a Spotlight to safely enter the bank and neutralize the gang’s leader Cora Fletcher.
The citizens of Buttercliff, Kansas rewarded the PCs by paying for their hotel room, meals, drinks, and a night full of dancing and celebrating. They also were paid $2 each in official reward money. Each Hero saved at least one life directly, so they all earned 1 Adrenaline.1
🎲Play-Through Report: Vaesen Mythic Carpathia Session 1 Summary
In issue #83, I wrote up part one of a proper review for Vaesen Mythic Carpathia. This was from the POV of a first-time reader and a GM who has not yet played the adventures or interacted with the Mythic Carpathia material.
Part 2 of my Vaesen Mythic Carpathia review is incoming soon, where I’ll write up how it’s felt to engage this source book as a GM and run sessions for the last three months.
This first session was modified and adapted from the introductory adventure in the Vaesen Starter Set for when PCs start in Pravda rather than Uppsala. It does NOT contain spoilers, as I’ve changed the key components. Enjoy!
PCs of the group with their Vaesen archetype:
Dion Konstantin, hunter
Sigrid Ragnarsdóttir, academic
Elizaveta Orlov, nun2
Dorofei Fedotov, occultist
Reginald Jeeves, servant
Prologue
After gaining the sense known as the Sight, the PCs individually received a mysterious invitation to join the Pravda Society. How exactly the semi-clandestine group’s leader Mr. Victor Armin became aware of their Sight-gaining experience with the vaesen, is unknown. Each of them arrived in Prague within the last three days. As they settled into their new residence at the Powder Gate, they met the other new initiates (forming this group of five). On their first official day, they were all asked to meet with Mr. Armin in the HQ’s sitting room.
Organizations & NPCs
The Pravda Society. “The Society for the Integration and Adaptation of the Carpathian Tradition, Based in Prague”. Simply referred to as ‘Pravda’, the organization operates ‘as a science and research’ hub … ‘focused on studying local history and culture. It also works for integration with the German-speaking part of society.’
Mr. Victor Armin. Pravda’s current leader. A stoic, yet warm individual. Always well-dressed and courteous. Beyond that, they really don’t know. Perhaps this will change over time.
Mr. Albert Meyer. Disappeared a few days ago. Last known location was the village just west of Prague, near the residence of Mr. Lev Gorski.
Mr. Lev Gorski. Great nephew of Jack Hobs. Resides at his great uncle’s house. Believes it was built by Mr. Hobs, and proudly shares this (false) statement with everyone who visits.
Mr. Jack ‘Jacky’ Hobs. Great uncle of Mr. Lev Gorski. Stole property (a house near a lake in a village) from a friend. Upon his death, Hobs became the vaesen will-o-the-wisp. Bound to the property until his wrong is made right, he haunts the lake outside the stolen residence, drowning a few unfortunate visitors of the area the last few months. Wants the deed returned to the rightful owner, so his soul can finally rest.
Miss Sofia Orvo. Apprentice of Dr. Neven Bedny, a respected consultant for the Pravda Society as he is a link to the scientific community. Unsure of her place in that community and trying to prove herself. Charming and kind, but not analytically minded.
Miss Anna Kruppa. Maid for Mr. Lev Gorski. Visits Enzo’s ghost light safely every night by turning her clothes inside out. Sits by the lake’s edge for hours every night to weep and speak to Enzo. Writes in her diary about their love for Enzo.
Enzo. Deceased and a specter in Jacky Hobs’ possession. Lover of Miss Anna.
Sergeant Luka Mizinski. A member of Prague’s police force. Investigating the disappearances and possible murders (as the bodies have not yet been found) of certain individuals around Mr. Lev Gorski’s residence.
Locations
The Powder Gate. Newly repaired and rebuilt, the building housing the Pravda Society’s headquarters is situated near the former Royal Court (Royal Palace), on the border connecting the old town and the new town. The Charles Bridge is about 1 km west.
Mr. Lev Gorski’s residence, located in a small village west of Prague.
Highlights
Mr. Armin informed the group of their first assignment. They were to a train west of Prague and visit a small village that was the last known location of a certain Mr. Albert Meyer. Mr. Armin believed vaesen may have had something to do with the situation, hence why they were asked to look into the matter.
During the train ride to a small village just west of Prague, Sigrid found a note from Mr. Armin thanking them for trusting him to go on the assignment. He saw no reason for alarm, as they all have the Sight to help them, should any vaesen have anything to do with the recent disappearances.
The party met all of the NPCs at various moments during their investigation, both inside and outside Mr. Gorski’s residence. They spread out to make most of their limited time and conversed with all the NPCs. As the ghost lights (specters held captive to the will-o’-the-wisp Jacky Hobs) appeared over the small lake, the PCs saved Miss Sofia from a watery grave. They also helped Miss Anna with closure in grieving over her lover Enzo. They found Albert Meyer’s body. They retrieved the deed from Mr. Gorski’s possession so it could be returned to the rightful owners, which allowed Mr. Jack ‘Jacky’ Hobs to find rest for his soul.
I plan to write up this free alternative introductory adventure for folks who start their group in Prague rather than Uppsala. It will include free maps of the Pravda HQ for base upgrades to be more interactive. Once I’m finished, I will share a link to it in a near-future newsletter.
Thanks for reading Watch Well Games.
It’s a 20-year old article, but Zdena Dvorska was recorded as saving hedgehogs in the Czech Republic since 1970.
Newsletters are always free and release every 2nd and 4th Friday with special 5th Fridays when possible. Enjoy what you read here?
Disclosure: Newsletters may contain affiliate links at no cost to you or the creators.
Adrenaline in Outgunned RPG is used for adding +1 to an Action or Reaction Roll, activate special abilities attached to certain Feats, and to immediately gain a Spotlight. (Well then, what’s a Spotlight in Outgunned? PCs “become the center of attention and surprise everyone with [their] action, with no need for rolling dice or taking chances” (source: core rulebook). Players can use Spotlights to save a ride, save a friend, get an Extreme Success, remove a Condition, or something else with the GM’s approval.
Nun is not an official archetype in Vaesen. The player simply wanted to modify the priest archetype’s title to ‘nun’ (page 31, core rulebook).
I just finished Night Watch, too! Loved meeting Nobby Nobbs as a kid.