Final part of solo playthrough of Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2e, where Fireborn takes the fight to the Hollows. Continuing on from the Partway Scenes.
Advanced fighting fantasy 2e solo - intro | start | partway | finish | all rolling solo
Disclosure - I'm a DriveThru RPG affiliate
Thoughts on Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2e
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Building on previous Thoughts on Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2e.
So this time I had lots more time to experience the combat system. In the basic Fighting Fantasy game, combat goes fairly quickly, even against multiple opponents.
But combat in Advanced Fighting Fantasy with multiple combatants (even just 4-6) is a bit of a drag in comparison. Adding a weapon damage roll is ok and a good way to vary weapons. However adding an armour / dodge roll too gets tedious. Especially having to look up on a table each time too.
In addition many of the combat rules or notes are missing (drawing weapons, leaving combat, other actions, movement). Apparently many are covered in the combat supplement, but just using the base rules here.
On the plus side it was still faster than many systems and fairly fluid. The criticals and fumbles add some uncertainty. And I liked having a few attack options beyond just "Attack". And you can always improvise special attacks such as disarming or grappling.
Outside of AFF is fine, but it is a mishmash of different systems put together in the hope they'll work. Honestly if I had to play something with Fighting Fantasy DNA, I'd choose Troika! over AFF2e.
It's also nice to have treasure tables included!
Solo Tools - Adventure Creation System and Knave 2e
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Building on previous Solo Tools notes.
I tried to use the Adventure Creation System but couldn't get much of what I wanted from it. Was mostly trying to get ideas for a dungeon and got a few ok rolls. And then I had to leave it behind as I was travelling and it's a chunky book. Might come back to it another time.
Instead I came back to the Knave 2e tables (which I used in last entry), which continued to be solid. And probably will cover Knave 2e in a future Rolling Solo.
I was happy with my Chaos Solo Emulator. The Extras and Threads work fine (mostly simplified version of Mythic 2e and similar systems), and I'll tweak the Oracle, Scene Changes and Events tables.
This overall Rolling Solo was a bit chaotic, as the number of Extras became probably too many. But that's probably because I wanted to see what the factions of the Hollows of Havoc would be when generated as part of a solo story. These took up a lot of entries in the Extras.
Which is fine as I'll return to the Hollows of Havoc as random tables in the future.
Adventures of Fireborn
aff2e thoughts | solo tools | scenes | char, extras, threads
Continuing on from Previous Adventures.
Scene 13 - New Foes and an Accidental Distraction
"We sat for a while and studied what we knew of the Hollows. Baxton and Alma both had much to add, and we've found the most likely back way into the Bloodhair caves to free their captives. With luck Crystal will be with them."
(Scene change - a major detail is worse); Fireborn, Alma, Baxton, and priest of Glatanka arrive to find someone in their way. The cave entrance is guarded by a statuesque woman in metal armour. She has crystal growths growing from shoulders and hip. With the webs and spider forms nearby. Alma and Fireborn spy from trees, Alma identifying Lavinia, one of the Axefall Guard. Fireborn recognises one creature as the spider-goblin who fled after her fight with Sir Shannon (Scene 4).
(Event - a thread becomes harder - B) - discover fate of Crystal). As watch, a one-eyed horned ogre emerges from cave. Talking loudly to Lavinia, he confirms the "Crystal elf" has been taken to "Isolde". Fireborn relates to Alma memory of her cousin Crystal always being obsessed with crystal objects. Soon after the ogre leaves and Fireborn follows him, alone.
The ogre heads towards the gold mine of the ogres, and Fireborn plans her ambush. It goes badly, her magic fails her and the ogre sounds an alarm with a warhorn and challenges Fireborn to face him. Ogre resists more magic and continues blaring horn. Eventually her boosted magic overcomes the ogre, putting him to sleep and Fireborn ruthlessly kills him. (Magic points - 0 of 20)
(Event - Group Positive and Negative) An answering horn sounds from uphill, shouts from Lavinia's direction and a more distant horn from Hollows. Quickly searching ogre, Fireborn finds a ledger, some gold and a fine net of gold threads. She makes way back to others, restoring her magic with her only potion.
Threads and Extras: Removed Thread G) Find where spider-goblin went. Added Thread Q) Find out who Isolde is, that may have Crystal; Updated Extras N) Axefall Guard, noting "Lavinia, insecure, statuesque, crystal growths".
Scene 14 - Whack the Spider
"Blythe Sunscour is the priest of Glatanka that Zara has given to aid in freeing the prisoners. He's heavily armed, righteous and handy with a sword. I quite like him."
(Scene as expected, Fireborn back to 20 of 20 magic points) Lavinia had left with some of her spiders to investigate the ogre's alarm. As had others. Which left fewer for the group to get by to get into the cave. Fireborn uses a little magic. hacks up one giant spider and the others slay another.
Torches keep other spiders at bay and burn away webbing. They splash up a stream into the cave.
Threads and Extras: Added Extras S) Blythe Sunscour, priest of Glatanka, chainmail, shield, sword.
Scene 15 - Into the Caves
"Going into the caves reminds me of Port Blacksand. Learning from the ghosts of Carsepolis under the city. I've always been happier underground than in the forest. Maybe that's why I'm an adventurer, and not singing and dancing with the trees!"
(Scene change - an obstacle blocks the way); Make their way through the caves, following the underground stream. Way blocked by locked iron framed-gate of dwarven make, with a lake beyond. No-one has lockpicks (failed Luck check, 7 of 8), so Fireborn smashes bars with her axe, helped by Baxton and a little magic. Surprisingly, nothing attracted by noise and group head through.
Beyond in the lake is a herd of healthy large cows, which start bellowing at group. Fireborn gives herself magical gills, slips into water and uses magic to get a cow to flee. Other cows back away, still bellowing.
(Event - Group Positive). Two Bloodhair goblin guards attracted by noise, accompanied by a pair of mistreated, scarred human slaves. One is Lydia's brother Beorn. Group stay back as slaves ordered to fetch a particular cow. Fireborn sneaks through water and ambushes goblins, hacking one down and freaking out the other. She cuts down second and they release captives without an alarm being raised. Lydia happy to be reunited with brother and second introduces himself as Tristan, a candlemaker by trade.
Threads and Extras: Removed Thread L) Discover fate of Lydia's brother. Extras - separated out Alma from Glatanka entry K), added her as U) Alma, hunter of Glantaka, from Engelric's Keep, knows everyone;
Scene 16 - Slay the Wolves
"When organising this with Zara Sunscour, we agreed to act at a couple of hours past midday. Hopefully our freeing of the captives would coincide with the Glatanka attack. We'd have no way to send a signal but the disruption caused by one might tip off the other..."
(Scene as expected and event - a thread is closed, Q - Find out who Isolde is; Fireborn on 13 of 20 magic points); Beorn tells them Crystal was taken away to Isolde as a gift. Describes her as a snake-demon with a human head, that Fireborn recognises as a naga. Isolde is also worshipped by some in Hollows as a demon of chaos.
From Beorn and Tristan find out other slaves kept in a cave, guarded by large wolves. All human, mostly used as entertainment by the goblins. Cave opens out in to an area open to the sky, near entrance to the cow-lake cave. In attack on wolves, Fireborn's magic sends one fleeing, and other attacked by Baxton and Blythe.
(Event - a companion joins or leaves) Second giant wolf is more trouble, ripping out Blythe's throat, before finished off by Fireborn and Baxton. Free the other slaves, arm them as they can, and join in attack on Bloodhair goblins alongside Glatanka faithful from elsewhere in caves.
Threads and Extras: Removed Threads - Q) Find out who Isolde is; Thread O) Help Zara attack on Bloodhair goblins. Added Thread R) Rescue Crystal from Isolde. Removed T) Blythe Sunscour from Extras. Added V) Freed Humans. Former goblin captives.
Scene 17 - Talking to Zara and Recruiting
"While free humans is a noble cause, I really came here to find Crystal. As always, my cousin makes things more difficult than they need to be!"
(Scene as expected. Fireborn 7 of 20 magic points); Glatanka followers from Shrine of the Sun have taken over the Bloodhair goblin caves. Their leader Zara Sunscour tells Fireborn how the Axefall Guard the goblins served was cut down by a knight of Glatanka, and remaining goblins fled into Hollows.
Fireborn finds help to confront Isolde the Naga and free her cousin. Baxton agrees in return for Fireborn talking to the ghosts first (Thread M). Lydia plans to leave alongside her brother Beorn. But another freed thankful captive volunteers. Jess of Owlsby, a broad woman who was a blacksmith. Zara gives her a blue candle that repels spirits and aid of Alma once more.
Fireborn doesn't discover much about Isolde in the books available from Glatanka followers, but hears of a snake demon in hot springs and uses her magic to find way towards that.
Threads and Extras: Added Extras W) Jess of Owlsby. Blacksmith, sworn to help Fireborn. Courageous, independent.
Scene 18 - Baxton and the Ghosts
"So going to speak with some ghosts. It's no surprise that a place such as the Hollows has ghosts. But then this space is old...and full of surprises."
(Scene as expected. Fireborn 20 of 20 magic points); Fireborn surprised when Baxton leads her to a large open-air temple in Hollows. Was once temple to Glatanka but has symbol of her brother Filash, the God of Fire. There are ghosts here, feasting on foods that no longer exist.
Fireborn spent ten years apprenticed to ghosts of Carsepolis, and talks to their leader in an ancient tongue. She is lead to what they want to construct (Thread M), a vault designed to hold the seeds of chaos that plague the Hollows of Havoc. Ask Fireborn for her help to compete the vault.
(Event - an Unwelcome Truth is Revealed). Ghost leader switches conversation to Baxton. Reveals that he can't be trusted, as he's betrayed everyone he works with, including the ghosts. Baxton can't understand conversation but sees them looking at him and looks concerned. Ghost also talk of Isolde the Naga, and the crystalline censer she guards, burning with power of Chaos.
(Event - An extra takes Action - People of Engelric's Keep). Switch of scene to Engelric's Keep, where freed captives are talking of Fireborn and people talk of her deeds.
See Fireborn wearing a fine wolfskin cloak, a gift from one of the freed captives.
Threads and Extras: Removed Thread M) Find out what ghosts trying to build. Added Threads S) Help Ghosts of Filash complete Vault; T) Find crystalline censer, item of chaos, held by Isolde; U) Confront Baxton; Updated Extras P) Ghosts of Filash.
Scene 19 - Confronting Baxton
"So maybe Baxton was the reason Crystal was here, leading her and her companions to the Axefall Guard and dealing with any faction who will pay. "
(Scene change - obstacle blocks the way); Baxton has fled by time Fireborn finishes with ghosts. When she catches up with him, he's behind a portcullis. Baxton admits to being Crystal's guide and that's why Beorn recognised him.
Baxton shouts at here that there are many secrets here in the Hollows. Crystal swears to kill him if they cross paths again.
Threads and Extras: Removed Thread U) Confront Baxton N) Help Baxton smuggle wagon if it makes sense. Added Thread V) Slay Baxton if see him again.
Scene 20 - Hunting down Isolde
"I tried to warn Zara Sunscour of dangers of keeping her people here, what with Baxton likely to betray her secrets, but she insists Glatanka will protect them in their cleansing of the Hollows"
(Scene change - an extra is involved; F: spider goblin; Fireborn 20 of 20 magic points); Fireborn uses her magic to locate the crystalline censer owned by Isolde the Naga. With Alma and Jess, she gets to hot springs and spot a familiar half goblin, half spider creature. It scuttles off and in their path they soon find one of the Axefall Guard, Lavinia, flanked by two goblins. These are mounted on giant spiders and marked with horns and black tattoos. Different to any seen before in the Hollows.
Lavinia charges forward in her plate armour, shaking off Fireborn's fear spell as Alma shoots at the spider-riders.
(Event - Negative for an Extra - Q: Bloodhair Goblins). Fireborn notices that both goblins have severed heads on their saddles. Heads of goblins with bright reddish hair of the Bloodhairs. Some harsh politics.
Jess interposes herself between Lavinia and Fireborn, trading blows with the Axefall Guard. Fireborn joins them, with two duplicates. But one image disappears when Lavinia strikes it, her crystalline growths glowing with energy and absorbing the magic. The two goblin spider riders close on Alma, who spears one who was already injured. It's spider flees but the second goblin and spider bring down the hunter with poison and blade.
Fireborn and Jess struggle against the lone Axefall Guard, until Jess disarms her (fumble from Lavinia) and then Fireborn cuts down the chaos knight. The remaining spider-rider picked on Nicodemus the riding lizard. A mistake as the lizard savaged the goblin, which fled on it's spider mount.
The spider-goblin creature who had spotted them was nowhere in sight. Fireborn and Jess stop to get their breath, put Alma's body on Nicodemus, and eat some provisions (to restore Stamina).
Threads and Extras: Removed from Extras Q) Bloodhair goblins and removed Lavinia from N) Axefall Guard description. Added Extras
Scene 21 -Ogre Surprise
"Ridlaire, Blythe, Alma. It's a dangerous life we live out on the fringes. Death stalks us at any turn and we must take what we want from life, while we still have one. So now I should ask what it is I want here..."
(Scene change - Hostile forces oppose you; Fireborn 4 of 20 magic points, 5 of 10 stamina. Jess 15 of 15 stamina); Their plan to take Alma's body back to Glatanka worshippers is disrupted. Two ogres wait for them at the cave entrance they had hoped to use. One larger with a body of feathers and a beak, wielding a huge axe, clearly touched by Chaos. At sight of companions they charged forward.
(Event - An Extra becomes a Rival or Foe. C: Crystal) The larger stops to bellow "the crystal elf wishes you gone". Fireborn and Jess shoot the smaller ogre. The feathered one reaches Jess, who is strengthened by Fireborn's magic but feels something crushed as ogre chops at her. The smaller ogre and Fireborn with two copies join the fray. The two ogres ignore Jess and try to cut down the elf
(Event - Positive for an Extra; M: Ghosts of Filash) From a high-up cave mouth , ghosts come to watch the fight. Clearly they are aware of much in the Hollows. The ogres can't land a hit on the real Fireborn, and she cuts down the smaller one. The feathered ogre, injured and alone, facing magical foes, flees. Fireborn notes the distinctive silver amulet it wears as they let the ogre go.
(Fireborn increases Dodge to 2. Also stat out Jess as a full character)
Threads and Extras: Added Thread W) Find out what ogre meant by "the crystal elf wants you gone". Added Extra Y) Feathered ogre, huge axe. Distinctive silver amulet, working for crystal, beak. Removed from Extras W) Jess, as promoted to full character.
Scene 22 -Crystal Trail
"I remember when Crystal was young, clutching the crystal trinket that she insisted should be her name. She always wanted attention, and she wanted to be famous and successful. More famous than me. It always bothered her that I didn't really care.
(Scene change - an extra is involved; M: Imp of the Fountain; All at max after resting); After resting with the followers of Glatanka, Fireborn uses her magic to track down the beaked ogre. With her and Jess is Roland, an exorcist of Glatanka provided by Zara Sunscour.
Fireborn sneaks down tunnel her magic has lead her to, seeing the feathered ogre. They are in a room with a couple of exits, furs, scattered feather and crude furniture. Talking to them is an imp carried in a palanquin by four cultists (from Scene 8) and two armoured guards. There is also iron bars with something monstrous and tentacled beyond.
Someone hears Fireborn and guards come to investigate. An alarm is raised. Fireborn and Jess face them with magic and blades. as they are fighting, feathered ogre comes up tunnel behind the guards. Fireborn shouts at ogre, asking where the crystal elf has gone. Replies that she has gone from here, gone to challenge the Warlock of Firetop Mountain (asked oracle if Crystal was gone from Hollows, to get Extreme Yes).
Fireborn surprised, finish off the guards they are fighting. Then notice a tentacled mutated monster behind the beaked ogre. Assume the imp has released it. A tentacle grabs the beaked ogre and Fireborn signals retreat. There is nothing more to be gained here and more foes may arrive soon.
Back with Glatanka followers, Fireborn uses magic to confirm Crystal has left, and decides it's time to leave the Hollows of Havoc...
Threads and Extras: Removed Threads B) Find Crystal; W) Find out what ogre meant by "the crystal elf wants you gone" R) Rescue Crystal from Isolde. Removed Extra Y) Feathered ogre.
End.
Epilogue
Fireborn had come to the Hollows to find the fate of her cousin. And her cousin had been betrayed and captured, and now apparently served demonic powers. It was time to leave the Hollows and confront her cousin. Had she been swayed by the lure of power, or was there more to the story.
Fireborn and Jess stopped back briefly at Engelric's keep, found Jess a lizard mount of her own. After paying respects at Alma's grave, they headed on, following the trail of a renegade elf of crystal, to Firetop Mountain or wherever the trail took them.
And Fireborn knew if she survived, she would one day be back at the Hollows and the ghosts that dwelled there...
Characters and Adventure Notes
aff2e thoughts | solo tools | scenes | char, extras, threads
Fireborn Ridlaire
Elf female. Unpredictable, independent, guardian of the dead, grew up with a fear of trees.
SKILL 6, STAMINA 10, LUCK 8, MAGIC 6. Magic Points - 20
Skills - Axes 2 (8), Bows 2 (8), Dodge 2 (8), Forest Lore 1 (9†), Knowledge Special Skills (all) 0 (8†), Languages (Common Speech) 2 (10†), Languages (Elven) 4 (12†), Lockpicking 1 (7), Magic (Minor) - 3 (9), Magic - Wizardry 2 (8), Magic Lore 1 (7), Second Sight 1 (7), Sneaking 1 (7), Underground Lore 1 (9†)
Talents - Dark Seeing, Learned† (+2 to knowledge special skills)
Minor Spells - Attraction, Dry, Extinguish, Glimmer, Hold, Instil, Noise, Pied Piper, Ripen
Wizardry Spells - Fear (1), Find (4), Gills (4), Ironhand (1), Lock(1), Mirror Selves (2), Sleep (2), Ward (1)
Equipment - Spellbook, battle axe (3/3/3/3/4/4/5), ornate elven longbow (2/3/3/3/3/4/5), backpack, provisions worth 5 meals, 17 gp, lantern and oil, blue candle against spirits, documents from ogre, gold net (worth 50 gp), fine wolfskin cloak.
Companion - Nicodemus the Riding Lizard (colourful, camouflage, can defend self, stubborn, Skill 6, Stamina 7)
Jess of Owlsby
Human female. Courageous, sworn to help Fireborn, stubborn
SKILL 6, STAMINA 16, LUCK 11, MAGIC 0
Skills - Armour 2 (8), Bargain 1 (7), Brawling 1 (7), City Lore 1 (7), Climb 1 (7), Clubs 1 (7), Crafting 2 (8), Evaluate 1 (7), Languages (Common Speech) 4 (10), Religion Lore 1 (7), Strength 2 (8), Swords 1 (7), Trap Knowledge 1 (7), World Lore 1 (7)
Talents - Strong Arm
Equipment - Large shield, warhammer, leather hauberk, longbow (2/3/3/3/3/4/5), dagger, 5 days food, backpack, symbol of Glatanka
Threads
- E) Find out who keeps lizard pets/mounts in Engelric's Keep and why
- P) Find out who makes demon offerings in ogre canyon.
- S) Help Ghosts of Filash complete Vault;
- T) Find crystalline censer, item of chaos, held by Isolde;
- V) Slay Baxton if see him again.
Extras
Those with [F] are a faction of the Hollows of Havoc
- A) Emberfall, elf plant-mage, cousin of Fireborn, tall, strange pets, house in Port Blacksand, one arm is vines.
- B) People of Engelric Keep.
- C) Crystal. Seeks fame above all else. Elf warrior, adventurous, distant cousin of Emberfall, lead adventurers. Made some deal with Isolde the
- D) Cobb. Wielder of Axe of Shipbuilding, owns lumber company, former mercenary, large, good-natured. Carpentry for Turnblade the Dreamer
- F) Spider-goblin. Mage, ally/servant of Shannon and demon of chaos
- G) Adelbart. Armed, desperate, priest of Donall (Logaan the Trickster) at Engelric's Keep, from Port Blacksand. Cultist of the Fountain, Was ally of Sir Shannon. Prisoner of Shrine of the Sun,
- H) Lydia the Sharp. Knife thrower, traveling entertainer, searching for brother who was lost with Crystal.
- I) Ogres of gold mine [F]. Led by Turnblade the Dreamer, descendant of Gwyar the Golden.
- J) Zara Sunscour. Noble, priest of Glatanka, rich, gold, petite
- K) Followers of Glatanka [F]. At Shrine of the Sun. Foes of Axefall Guard, Include scouts Clovis + Alma from Engelric's Fort.
- L) Cultists of the Hollows [F]. Fountain worshippers.
- M) Imp of the Fountain. Slaang, chameleon, carried on a palanquin, leads cultists.
- N) Axefall Guard [F]. Knights who serve an demonic axe and hope to take over Hollows
- O) Baxton. Smuggler, chiselled face, from Engelric's Fort, betrayed by cultists, agreed to help Fireborn for money.
- P) Ghosts of Filash [F]. Building something, serve Filash, god of Fire, foes of L) Cultists. Trying to build a vault to contain seeds of Chaos. Q(
- R) Goblins [F]. Enemies of Axefall Guard
- S) Turnblade the Dreamer. Ogre leader, descendent of Gwyar the Golden, dressed in human clothes, friend of Adelbart.
- V) Freed Humans. Former goblin captives. Include Beorn, Lydia's brother and Tristan the Candlemaker.
- X) Goblin spider-riders. Mercenaries, black tattoos.
Finishing Up
That was a longer one than usual! Fun but scattered.
Also just noticed that Fireborn should only have had 16 magic points all this time!
Next up will probably be Scum and Villainy, with Knave 2e the other candidate!
