Questions and advice for running a Sandheart campaign

[Runeblogger]

Hi, I hope this thread grows to be a hub for people sharing their experience on how to run a Sandheart campaign and solving questions about Sun County.

After running No Country for Cold Men (Sandheart Vol. 1) last year (read my experience and advice), my players have agreed to keep playing the Sandheart militia, and I'm excited to provide them with the best possible experience. 😀  We are playing with Egistar, Owe, Aurimenas and Nabissa (Dracus abandoned the militia to wander with the Three Bean Circus!).

Questions:

1. When rolling the experience rolls at the end of each season, how much time do you allow for training? I assume aside from patrolling the district, the militia spends certain amount of time training, but how many weeks do you allow for that each season? I was thinking a maximum of 1, either in "Pike and Shield" or in STR or CON.

2. Has anyone let one full year pass between one adventure and the next? In that case, how have you handled experience? Have you let players roll their 4 occupation rolls x 5 seasons = 20 experience rolls? I think that would be too much rolling, so I'm considering either applying the bonuses from occupations in RQ3 (set amount of automatic increases per year divided into "Soldier" and "Farmer") or stealing a rule from Aquelarre RPG and giving PCs 20 "experience points" they can trade for automatic increases in this way: 

If a skill is 01-20%, it increases 5% for every "experience point" you spend on it. (21-40% - 4% per point), (41-60% - 3% per point), (61-75% - 2% per point), (76%-90% - 1% per point) and (91-200% - 1 % for every 8 points spent).

I ask this because the episodes in Tradition (Sandheart Vol. 3) always happen in Dark Season, but The Corn Dolls (in Sandheart Vol. 2) takes place in Earth Season, so if you only want to play the published scenarios, after the Three Bean Circus episode in Tradition, you have to wait until next year's Earth Season to play The Corn Dolls.

After reading Nick Brooke's comment in this post about how the Sandheart militia works full-time (meaning 50% of the year), instead of only a season every 2 years as everywhere else in the County, I want to ask how are you filling that 50% of the year when your PCs are working on their fields:

3. Do you skip those 2,5 farming seasons and just allow PCs the 4 end-of-season occupational rolls from the Farmer occupation? Or have you come up with interesting events or scenarios that happen to them when they are not working for the militia?

4. What scenarios have you devised to cater for your PCs' goals and interests? I'd like to create one scenario for every typical "police procedural" case, f.ex. at least one murder case, and one of the militia duties described in Volume 1. 

5. If you have less than 8 players, do other militiamen always accompany them in their patrols/adventures, or do they patrol the district on their own? I've decided the latter, so PCs are never overshadowed by other NPCs, but I'm considering having one (from the pregens) accompany them as a replacement PC if necessary.

6. If all your PCs are Yelmalians (as is my case), what is their base income? 60L like the "specials"?

7. In my campaign, Egistar the Bold (one of the PCs) is the half-file leader of the militia. I guess someone else becomes the half-file leader when he steps down from the militia for half a year, right?

 

Now that Sun County is available again, you could also include the scenarios in it in your Sandheart campaign, as well as Gaumata's Vision from Shadows on the Borderlands (if you have that one). However, my players include long-time RuneQuest fans, and they already know those. I have also purchased Life and Traditions under the Sun Dome for ideas and answers, and I'm already thinking of a "festival scenario" using the contests suggested in it. I'm also thinking how to use the influence rules for factions, as I'd like the PCs to deal with intrigue in the County at some point.

Edited January 10 by Runeblogger

[Nick Brooke]

I didn’t say the Sandheart Specials work “full time (meaning 50% of the year),” I said they work “full time” (meaning: full time). YGWV.

[Runeblogger]

Sorry, I clearly misunderstood. My confusion stems from reading in Volume 1 (p. 20) that “the militia serve for 50% of the time during any given year…”. Later it says “All other militia [the ones not worshiping Yelmalio] are denoted as “specials”…”. So does that mean that only the ones worshiping other cults work full-time? 

[Nick Brooke]

Oh, I wasn’t paying attention to that: ignore me.

My advice would be to stick to seasonal adventures (or plot developments), allow experience checks and training as normal each season, maybe in some seasons not much happens and that’s OK, don’t rewrite the rules to “simulate” a perfect clockwork Glorantha, and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Try to build in some recurring villains or developing threats where you can build up to a big encounter after several early skirmishes. Those Morokanth slavers, the hippies, the Hazia runners, and the bloody Garhound Militia (spit!) are obvious candidates; look at the way PbtA games handle “fronts,” maybe, to build these things from news and clues to encounters to full scenario climaxes.

Edited December 1, 2024 by Nick Brooke

[davecake]

I handled this by also weaving in the Beer With Teeth Praxian scenarios - collect as Sacred Earth, Sacred Waters (and I recommend getting that, as it has some useful background info on the recurring NPCs, rather than buying all the scenarios separately). That gives a second strand of ongoing scenarios that takes the PCs outside of Sun County, and so meant these was never more than a couple of seasons without an adventure. And putting in some small stuff to break it up. 

I'd already run most of the scenarios in Sun County and Shadows on the Borderlands for pretty much the same group of players back in the day, so I didn't try to use Gaumata's Vision. I have not yet run Old Sun Dome with this group,  but as several are Yelmalions it is hard to find a plot hook that might drag them in - I will give it a go, though. Gaumata's Vision has quite a few similarities with Corn Dolls (intentionally), so if I was going to run it I'd want to keep those two scenarios a bit separate. 

In my game, running the scenario the Lifethief resulted in a nasty defeat for the party, so they learnt of the Lifethief but it remains intact, lurking and growing stronger, and they are keen to destroy it, but are reluctant to go against it again without knowing more about it, and assembling some allies and magic. This has so far led them into the Rubble to assist the Yelorna cult (who might help them contact the Unicorn Riders), and trying to find out more about the Father of Independents. Their trips to Pavis have also resulted in an attempt at revenge by the Dolphin gang hazia runners, but a pretty unsuccessful one. 

The hippies have become beloved NPCs, as one PC is romantically interested in Betony Hemptwist, and Joyous Artemisia assisted in the cleanup after the Corn Dolls. 

We have the big climax to Tradition coming up next. Looking forward to it, should be good fun. 

Edited December 5, 2024 by davecake

[Runeblogger]

Thanks for the tip!
So what was the hook you used to take your Sandheart PCs to work for the bison clan in Sacred Earth, Sacred Water? And in what order did you run those scenarios mixed with the others from the Sandheart books?

 

[davecake]

13 hours ago, Runeblogger said:

So what was the hook you used to take your Sandheart PCs to work for the bison clan

I think Allabeer just said 'these bison riders are asking for help, if you go and help them out it will be good for nomad relations' or some such flimsy excuse - my PCs are usually pretty good at grabbing a story hook when they see one. 

 

13 hours ago, Runeblogger said:

And in what order did you run those scenarios mixed with the others from the Sandheart books?

The order I actually ran things:

tedious task 1

Tradition Year 1 (uneventful fraternising with hippies)

No Country For Cold Men

tedious task 2

Stone and Bone

Corn Dolls

Second Tradition Vigil (PCs stopped any major incursion)

they visit Pavis for some research

Gifts of Prax

Lifethief - it goes terribly

they try to do some research around the Lifethief, get caught up in Pavis politics between Yelorna and Orlanth cults, also the Dolphins revenge

Fortunate Son

and now Third Vigil, which looks like it will be the 'big one' 

So still to go I have - conclusion of the Lifethief, Temple of Twins (effectively conclusion to the Prax story for now), The God Skin, Mad Prax (which I am planning to be effectively the campaign finale). 

 

[Runeblogger]

The PCs in my Sandheart campaign have picked to side with Egistar the Bold (one of the PCs and half-file leader) in his enmity towards Arnakus the Strong (the NPC file-leader), so now I want to show them how crucial it is for the 16 militiamen to work cohesively in combat. I’m planning to have the whole militia face a mounted attack, and I’m using the unused pregens as NPC militiamen. 
 

How do you picture the unit working? I see Allabeer ordering the usual 2-file of 8 formation to start with, but how many of the militia cover the exposed flank? I’m guessing that role falls on the light infantry (Kavar, the Lhankhor Mhy sage and the two impala riders). Then, as soon as the enemy riders think twice and try to attack from the front and back at the same time, the militia quickly maneuvers to a square formation. Does that make sense?

Also: what myth do you see being performed during Ernalda’s  High Holy Day in the area? So far I’ve briefly described the one Harald Smith posted here. 😇👌Are there any others you deem suitable?

Pic from last night’s game:

 

Edited December 17, 2024 by Runeblogger

[Kloster]

1 hour ago, Runeblogger said:

the militia quickly maneuvers to a square formation. Does that make sense?

Having a square formation to counter a cavalry attack is sound. It was the rule in all european armies up to 1850 (I don't know for other areas) and was effective. But I don't think you can have an effective square with only 16 soldiers: 4 men per face, and only 1 rank. It is better than being outflanked (or worse, attacked from behind), but not very solid.

[Nick Brooke]

1 hour ago, Runeblogger said:

Also: what myth do you see being performed during Ernalda’s  High Holy Day in the area? So far I’ve briefly described the one Harald Smith posted here.

I’d look at Life & Traditions p.150f. The events of The Unmoving Wall (BG HHD) could cause a fascinating clash of jurisdictions between the Militia and the BeeGees.

[Nick Brooke]

9 hours ago, Kloster said:

I don't think you can have an effective square with only 16 soldiers: 4 men per face, and only 1 rank. It is better than being outflanked (or worse, attacked from behind), but not very solid.

As a practical matter, I agree completely. But in RuneQuest we are playing a mythologically-infused sword-and-sandal fantasy (of small-unit tactics), and in that context I think a "square" Earth Rune defensive formation of a dozen or more soldiers (i.e. four per face, in a single rank) is eminently viable, from a Runic perspective. I'd be delighted to allow it in my own games.

[Joerg]

Back in Storm Age Dara Happa Emperor Urvairinus invented the Fire rune as a defensive formation, with the file leader surrounded by a shield wall made up by his file. Yelmalians might omit that central baggage.

[g33k]

7 hours ago, Nick Brooke said:

As a practical matter, I agree completely. But in RuneQuest we are playing a mythologically-infused sword-and-sandal fantasy (of small-unit tactics), and in that context I think a "square" Earth Rune defensive formation of a dozen or more soldiers (i.e. four per face, in a single rank) is eminently viable, from a Runic perspective. I'd be delighted to allow it in my own games.

But as it plays out at the table (i.e. using RQG mechanics), would you give that "Runic perspective" any game-mechanical weight?  If so... what weight, applied how?

Because game-mechanically, 12-16 soldiers relentlessly-attacking one single face of a 12-16 person defensive square look to have a huge advantage, just sayin'.

Edited December 18, 2024 by g33k
clarity

[jajagappa]

1 hour ago, g33k said:

Because game-mechanically, 12-16 soldiers relentlessly-attacking one single face of a 12-16 person defensive square look to have a huge advantage, just sayin'.

You could deploy as two ranks of 4 on one side (facing left), two ranks of 4 on the other side (facing right), deploy 2 covering top flank, 2 covering bottom flank, and then have 4 in reserve. Much smaller, tighter "square" but may be easier to brace/protect the group as long as there are not large mounts that could barrel through them.

[g33k]

13 minutes ago, jajagappa said:

You could deploy as two ranks of 4 on one side (facing left), two ranks of 4 on the other side (facing right), deploy 2 covering top flank, 2 covering bottom flank, and then have 4 in reserve. Much smaller, tighter "square" but may be easier to brace/protect the group as long as there are not large mounts that could barrel through them.

I'd love to see some game-mechanics where square formations get a solid "Runic" bonus (as Nick suggested), even if there's combat-mechanical reasons for more-accurate purely-physical approaches.

[Kloster]

21 hours ago, Nick Brooke said:

As a practical matter, I agree completely. But in RuneQuest we are playing a mythologically-infused sword-and-sandal fantasy (of small-unit tactics), and in that context I think a "square" Earth Rune defensive formation of a dozen or more soldiers (i.e. four per face, in a single rank) is eminently viable, from a Runic perspective. I'd be delighted to allow it in my own games.

Oh, I would also allow it, if only to avoid having to make case for the number of troops. And with current rules, I don't want to have to manage one by one thousands of men. It just feels wrong to me.

Your runic reason is also right on spot (for Glorantha).

14 hours ago, g33k said:

Because game-mechanically, 12-16 soldiers relentlessly-attacking one single face of a 12-16 person defensive square look to have a huge advantage, just sayin'.

On this, you're right. Historically, a square was used versus cavalry, but versus footmen, the line formation was considered better.

12 hours ago, jajagappa said:

as long as there are not large mounts that could barrel through them.

If you don't count Spanish Tercios, square formations were almost impossible to move, so an attack of large mounts (say Rhinos, Elephants or maybe Bisons) would obliterate said square because they are static and can't avoid the charge. In Zama, the romans countered the Carthaginians elephants by avoiding being trampled with their superior mobility, not with static squares (or shield walls)

[Kloster]

14 hours ago, g33k said:

But as it plays out at the table (i.e. using RQG mechanics), would you give that "Runic perspective" any game-mechanical weight?  If so... what weight, applied how?

I would allow for a bonus on the Earth (or perhaps Stasis) roll for inspiration.

Let's say +20% to Earth rune roll, and more with more men and more ranks.

Edited December 18, 2024 by Kloster

[Runeblogger]

Hi again,

Has anyone played through or run the scenario "Fortunate Sun" aka "Last Tango in Pavis" in Sandheart Vol. 2?

I'm running it in a couple days, so I'm looking for any sort of useful insights of what worked or didn't, and what you do would differently if you were to run it again. 

[Nick Brooke]

@MOB ran its predecessor for me (and a bunch of others) at one of the RuneQuest Cons in the nineties. This was the older version, with its pregen Yelmalian characters. Our advice would be to have lots of beer-bottles handy, because you can use beer bottle caps as randomisers à la Prince Valiant.

Oh, and it’s easy to skin up a disgraced Light Priest character for RuneQuest in almost zero time. (“What Rune Spells do I have?” “All of them!” “OK. What Gifts and Geases do I have?” “No gifts, and all of the geases!”. MOB almost literally threw the book at him, for farting during the High Holy Day ceremony as I recall.

[Malin]

Pick the right person for the "chosen adventurer" (descendant of Isig). If you get someone who interacts with that, the whole thing becomes a lot more fun (and might feed a lot more adventure in the future).