Schlock Around the Clock: More Sci-Fi Shenanigans

We sent in the Schlock Troopers once again last weekend to give John S. a chance to test out some new Star Schlock character profiles that he wants to include in an upcoming secret project as well as test a new approach to asymmetrical and dynamic missions for each team. 

Conceptually the approach to the mission cards is novel and allows players to revise their goals in response to developments in the game. It'll take quite a bit of playing and tinkering with these mission cards (each team chooses three, and then uses or discards them in different ways as the game proceeds) to get the kinks worked out, but they are already quite promising. It's a mechanism unlike any I've encountered, and it addresses some of the concerns we had in the last playtest game around mission objectives. 

A simpler version of this asymmetrical missions mechanism was part of the very first playtest game I did with John about three years ago, and then it disappeared from most subsequent playtests. It's fun to see a new iteration come back into play.

My pal Mar R. and I played the space villains while John and Steve B. played the forces of good. Mar and I opted to concentrate on a mission objective that allowed us to score points by tracking down the diplomats in this space port, convincing them to come with us ("if you want to live") to our home sector. I think John and Steve pursued a couple of different mission objectives throughout the game, including one in which they scored points for shooting the shit out of me and Mar.

Note on photos: The below photos are not a recreation of the unfolding action in the game but rather a smattering of shots at various points to provide a flavor of the proceedings. The photos were taken by my wife, Ellen. (Click any photos to enlarge.)

Star Schlock

Steve B.

A figure from John's recent Astroguards Kickstarter

Star Schlock designer and budding master sculptor, John S.

Steve B. about to activate some troops

Joe P. , your humble scribe

John S.

Friend and fine figure painter, Mar Rosquites

Some unit profiles sporting John's fine illos, too.

No matter what calculator John uses on his phone, the score just won't add up in their favor.

Filed marshals of doom plotting their epic victory

Astroguards! Into the fray!

Rod Roebuck, one of John's fun sculpts from the recent Kickstarter

This is what every game should be about...good times with your friends!

Parting Shots and Closing Thoughts

John is relentlessly productive with designing and developing this game, and it's inspiring me to revive my efforts after a long hiatus to get my own Dungeon Delves game into good enough shape for further playtesting. 

This is exactly what I hoped for when I started the Scrum Club: a supportive community of friends who would inspire each other in our individual and joint creative endeavors. We've already done it with a convention named after the club, and John and I have both run successful Kickstarters launching miniature figure lines. Jared S. has published a magazine, Bayt Al Azif, devoted to Lovecraftian role playing, which other club members have contributed to. I think John's going to be the first of us to get a game published, and I couldn't be more excited to have been a part of his journey.

To the stars, my friends!

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