M O D I P H I U S E N T E R TA I N M E N T S O F F I C I A L D I G I TA L M AG A Z I N E

MODIPHIA
ISSUE #2 SUMMER 2017 modiphius.com

EXCLUSIVE!
Strategy guides and
background articles for
Modiphius range of games,
including...
Achtung! Cthulhu
Conan
Space 1889
Star Trek Adventures
Airfix Battles
A NEW STAR TREK ADVENTURES MISSION AND
AN INTERVIEW WITH STAR TREKS RICK STERNBACH
 CONTENTS
FOREWORD 05
A welcome from editor Paul Cockburn.

HOW TO WRITE FOR

ACHTUNG! CTHULHU
A writers guide.
06 060
OUT OF THE ETHER 10
The background to Space 1889. Including
Port Progress, a campaign setting.

D-DAY COUNTER-ATTACK 17
New cards and scenarios for Airfix Battles.

A VULTURE AMONG THE STARS 24

A Star Trek Adventures scenario.
By Modiphia reader Fred Love.

BEFORE THE FLOOD 28

40
Achtung! Cthulhu fiction from John
Houlihan.

WEAPONS AS TOOLS 40
Getting the most from your gear in the
Conan RPG.

DESIGNER ON DECK 44
Modiphia chats with Rick Sternbach,
Star Trek production illustrator and designer

17 28
MODIPHIA Modiphius Entertainment Ltd 2017. CONAN 2015 Conan Properties International LLC (CPI). CONAN, CONAN THE BARBARIAN, HYBORIA and related logos,
characters, names, and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of CPI). All rights reserved. AIRFIX Hornby Hobbies Ltd. ACHTUNG! CTHULHU TM
and 2012-2017 Modiphius Entertainment Limited. Star TrekTM & 2017 CBS Studios Inc. STAR TREK and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights
Reserved. Fallout 2017 Bethesda Softworks, a ZeniMax Media company. All Rights Reserved.
 ASSASSINS OF INFINITY 48
More details on the Hassassins of the
Infinity RPG.

MAD' JACK McMASTERS 58

A hero of the Secret Wars.

66
INTO THE WASTELAND 62
New sculpts and an overview for the Fallout:
Wasteland Warfare miniatures game.

THE REMOTE GAUNTLET 64

A serious way to cause trouble in
Tales From The Loop.

MUTANT CHRONICLES 66
We made it! All the latest news, and whats
next, plus the Metropolitan Prophets.

48 62 SO, LET'S HEAR FROM YOU... 71

An invitation to be a part of Modiphia #3.

CREDITS
Publisher
Chris Birch

Editor
Paul Cockburn

Lead Graphic Design

Michal E Cross

Additional Graphic Design

Richard L Gale

64
Publishing Assistant
Salwa Azar

Some magazine background elements by:

Kjpargeter Freepik.com

MUTANT CHRONICLES and related logos, characters, names, and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mutant Chronicles International Inc.
All rights reserved. INFINITY is Corvus Belli S.L.L.2014. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording or by any information retrieval system without written permission of the publisher, save where indicated for use in play. Any trademarked names
are used in a historical or fictional manner; no infringement is intended.
 BOOKS COMING SOON
Conan the Thief
Conan the Mercenary
Conan the Pirate
Conan the Brigand
The Book of Skelos ACCESSORIES
Conan the Wanderer Gamemaster Screen
Conan the Adventurer Geomorphic Tile Sets
Conan the Scout Doom & Fortune Tokens
Conan the King Q-Workshop Dice
Nameless Cults Card Decks
Ancient Ruins & Cursed Cities Stygian Doom Pit
Conan Monolith Boardgame Sourcebook Fabric & Poster Maps
Conan and the Shadow of the Sorcerer Character Sheet Pad
Legendary Beasts & Otherworldly Horrors Conquerors Bag modiphius.com/conan

2017 Conan Properties International LLC (CPI). CONAN, CONAN THE BARBARIAN, HYBORIA and related logos, characters, names,
and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of CPI. All rights reserved. ROBERT E. HOWARD and related logos,
characters, names, and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of Robert E. Howard Properties Inc. All rights reserved.
The 2d20 system and Modiphius Logos are copyright Modiphius Entertainment Ltd. 20152017. All 2D20 SYSTEM text is copyright Modiphius Entertainment Ltd.

4 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
FOREWORD
W
hen I was a
kid, a time now
uncomfortably
closer to the era
of R E Howard
than the current
day, I was obsessed with Conan. I bought all
the books, even the obvious cash-ins by later
writers; I adored Barry Windsor-Smiths Marvel
comic books; there was even a time when I
thought Conan The Destroyer was an OK film.
Our Cimmerian friend isnt quite the A-lister
today that he was back then, which has been
a pity during the era of role-playing games,
both tabletop and computer. Sub-consciously,
I think any number of characters I played in
AD&D or similar titles would have been quite
happy to crush their enemies and see them
driven before them, but there would always
have been some paladin tut-tutting, or a
ranger saying we could sneak around the
back of the fortress. Still, I always found that
kicking the door in and yelling Im coming to
get you! tended to get everyone on the same
page as far as tactical planning goes.
Another favourite of my youth was, of
course Star Trek, and its awesome watching
Modiphius bring new energy to the universe
of Starfleet through Star Trek Adventures.
Im delighted that we can publish here some
reader contributions the first of many such
for all our different titles, Im sure. If you
have an idea for any of our games that youd
like us to showcase, then send a synopsis
(or even the whole thing) through to me
via support@modiphius.com, with the word
SUPPORT as part of the subject line.
Modiphia is here to shine a light on these and
many other titles, and to provide more and
more cool new stuff for each of them. Im more
than a little old-school in my custodianship
of a games magazine as much as possible,
alongside authoritative new content from the
authors of individual games, I want to hear
from people playing the games, and how they
are using those titles out in the wild. Wed love
to hear from people writing gaming blogs,
publishing fanzines or vblogs, or just with
enough time to write us an email with their
observations, and their new ideas.
Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this second issue
of Modiphia, and find a few ideas in here to
enhance your favourite games. Well see you
all again in the autumn.
Paul Cockburn
Editor
SUMMER 2017 5
 Achtung!
Cthulhu
ADVENTURES
HOW TO WRITE FOR THE SECRET WAR
Want to contribute to Modiphius
oldest and best loved RPG?
John Houlihan is here
to show you how...

ART: Dim Martin

A
chtung! Cthulhu is both
Modiphius oldest and
one of its best loved
roleplaying games. Since
2013, players and GMs
have been wading through
its exciting and unsettling World War Two
setting, battling fiendish Black Sun villains,
exploring ancient ruins and dark secrets, and
recoiling in terror from unspeakable horrors
summoned from the outer dark.
But with both a recently-launched Living
Campaign which began with A Light on
the Mountain, and work on the brand new
Forest of Fear campaign book also now
well underway, the High Command behind
Achtung! Cthulhu is seeking to recruit a new
set of writers and contributors to power its
continuing adventures. Do you fancy your
chances? Have you ever wondered what it
takes to write a compelling Achtung! Cthulhu
scenario? Well, wonder no more.

6 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
WHAT IS ACHTUNG!
CTHULHU?
Understanding the universe and getting the
tone right is critical. Achtung! Cthulhu is a
pulpy but intelligent, terrifyingly two-fisted
journey through World War Two, and you
need to be aware of its background and
existing adventures to be able to write
successfully for it.
In Achtung! Cthulhus Secret War, which takes
place inside the main conflict, the Nazi Cult of
the Black Sun are exploring the supernatural,
attempting to awaken ancient gods and forge
alliances with unspeakable horrors, while the
Nazi super scientists of Nachtwolfe develop
potent new weapons and technology to
support the Third Reich on the battlefield.
Opposing these eldritch organisations, are
the dauntless members of Section M, Britains
newest and most secret intelligence agency,
who stand shoulder to shoulder with their
US counterparts, Majestic, in the fight against
the Nazis and their mythos allies. A host of
heroes, investigators, civilians and soldiers
are holding back the tide of terror, equipped
with just raw courage, unusual artefacts and
mystical books of forbidden knowledge.
This is the Secret War.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
Research and preparation is critical for telling
the story you want within the overall universe,
even if its a relatively standalone adventure.
So, before you begin, familiarise yourself
with the back-ground materials at least
we can promise you some interesting
background reading!
nn The Achtung! Cthulhu Keepers and
Investigators guides are invaluable as your
primary resources.
nn Weve recently developed an official
Achtung! Cthulhu timeline and a canon
storyline which outlines the major events of
the Secret War and especially its conclusion.
Any new adventures will need to exist
within this canon and not directly contradict
this established lore. Its top secret at the
moment, but well issue you with a copy
after youve pitched your idea.
nn This years main campaign is the Forest
of Fear and its background storyline and
overriding story arc are documented in the
free booklet Secret War Operations.
nn You can also use books like the Shadows
of Atlantis and Assault on the Mountains
of Madness campaigns, the North Africa
Guide, Eastern Front and Pacific Front
Guidebooks, Terrors of the Secret War and
fiction like Dark Tales from the Secret War
for extra tone and flavour.
nn Take a look at the adventure A Light on the
Mountain to see an example of the Living
Campaign.
UNDERSTAND THE
OPPORTUNITY
Having absorbed a wealth of arcane Achtung!
Cthulhu knowledge, your actual adventure
pitch comes next, but its important to know
both exactly what youre pitching for and
understanding the opportunities available.
nn This year, 2017, Modiphius priorities are the
Living Campaign and then the overall Forest
of Fear storyline.
nn The plan is to release a series of standalone
episodes for the Achtung! Cthulhu Living
Campaign which contain hints and clues
which ultimately point towards the murky
goings on in the Forest of Fear.
nn These episodes will be collected in a
compendium and selected writers will be
invited to contribute to the Forest of Fear
Campaign book.
nn You can of course also pitch one-off
standalone adventures, and if thats the
case we are currently favouring scenarios
that tie into and develop the untold story of
the Secret War.
SUMMER 2017 7
 nn If you pitch a 400+ page campaign written
solely by you, its probably pretty unlikely
to happen (though never say never,
of course). Successful contributors to
bigger campaigns will most likely end up
working as part of a writing team in a much
more collegiate process.
PRE-PITCH
Before you make your pitch, heres some
other important factors to consider:
nn Make your principle characters and NPCs
interesting, memorable and hopefully both!
nn Consider how this adventure ties into the
overall story of the Secret War? What does
it add to the Secret Wars story?
nn Does it link with existing Achtung! Cthulhu
adventures/other campaigns?
nn What does it tell us about of the Secret
Wars principle organisations: Section M,
Majestic, Black Sun or Nachtwolfe? It
should probably feature at least one of
these organisations or one of the others
described in the Keepers Guide.
nn Does it feature any of the Secret Wars
existing heroes and villains? Wed like to
explore their back stories in more depth.
nn If you decide to create your own, who
are your heroes and villains, why are they
caught up in this story?
nn Creatures: invent new creatures and
monsters by all means, but check existing
resources like Terrors of the Secret
War as well. Avoid drawing on
sources outside the Achtung!
Cthulhu canon; including some
creatures can create licensing issues.
Drop us a quick email before you
hang your story on a particular
creature, or if in doubt, invent
something original which will avoid
any clash, though its better to
find some new and original way to
deploy an existing creature.
8 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
PITCHING YOUR IDEA
Begin by pitching us your idea with its
title, a short summary, and then expand it
into a one-page briefing document. This is
your big chance to sell the central idea of
your adventure. Include its date, theatre of
operations, and any other period details. Most
of all, make it so compelling we must learn
more. Heres the format weve decided on.
nn The title: a hugely important first step,
and much underrated. A bland title usually
means a bland adventure. This will be any
readers first contact with the piece, so
make it intriguing, enticing, memorable,
and compelling.
nn Follow up with an elevator pitch of up to
100 words
try to sell the central idea in
30 seconds. A couple of sentences should
do fine. If you cant explain it this way, its
unlikely to work as a concept.
nn Expand and expound the idea onto a
single-page treatment fill one side of A4,
but use it wisely.
nn On a separate single page, please give us
a short biography, that outlines your work
and writing experience to date, including
attachments and/or links to any published
work. We like to encourage new writers
of course, but it helps if you already have
some work in the field and can show some
level of achievement.
nn All adventures should work for players
existing characters and campaigns, as well
as the pre-generated characters youll
include.
nn Balance is important players want to have
a good time, but also to be challenged;
peril, choice, and adventure should be their
constant companion. Aim for a good mix of
risk and reward.
nn Pacing: Many successful adventures start
slowly and build to an exciting climax. How
will you pace yours? A series of peaks and
troughs? A thrill-a-minute ride? A gradual
 rise to an earth-shattering finale? A slower- nn Introduction chapter with a What is
paced more gentle thought piece? All are Achtung! Cthulhu and Overview sections.
acceptable depending on subject matter
nn Plot Chapters (split into Episodes and
and tone.
scenes these should have the stat blocks

WRITING THE FULL appearing where NPCs and creatures are

ADVENTURE encountered).

nn Adventure Seeds section: what short plot

You should aim for an overall length of
ideas can be spun off this adventure?
5,000-10,000 words. We will consider shorter
List five short ideas that complement and
or longer adventures, as length is largely
accompany it.
determined by the story you want to tell, but
adventures outside these parameters will nn Allies & Adversaries at the end (a repeat of
be the exception rather than the rule. You the NPC stat blocks with full background).
must also plan to include four pre-generated
nn A list of four pre-generated characters
characters ideally with a mix of different
suitable for the adventure.
backgrounds: military, civilian, historian, and
archivist, being the main archetypes. nn A section containing any new rules, tomes
or equipment. n
As a writer, your focus is rightly on the
words, but its important to try and think
of the complete finished book and what it
will look like, even as you write. Even the
most compelling prose in the world can look
fearfully off-putting if its presented in large,
dull blocks of unbroken text. How can you use
illustrations, maps and other graphics to bring
your adventure to life? Can you offer some
initial ideas to the artists and illustrators to
help them out? As players love handouts and
maps to help visualise the world, could you
use those? Thinking of the complete finished
book in this way is a great habit to get into
and it will result in an attractive looking, as well
as compellingly-written finished product.

FORMATTING YOUR
ADVENTURE
Make the Achtung! Cthulhu Style Guide your
bible formatting is important! Publishing
resources are extremely limited and we dont
have time to re-edit incorrectly formatted
work, so its important to get the format
right from the outset. Fortunately Achtung!
Cthulhu has a well-established template for
its adventures, developed in conjunction with
both players and GMs, and you should follow
this existing plan:
DEBRIEFING
Thats a whacking great slab of advice to absorb in one great
chunk, but hopefully it will prove useful, not just for Achtung!
Cthulhu but for all your adventure writing and pitches. If its
whetted your appetite to explore the world of the Secret War,
especially for submitting for the Living Campaign, then fantastic,
wed be delighted to hear from you. Work on your one-page pitch
marked Achtung! Cthulhu Adventures in the subject line and
send it to john@modiphius.com. Most of all, good luck and good
hunting well be waiting to hear from you!

SUMMER 2017 9
 OUTOF THE ETHER
I
n Space: 1889, the
fantasies of Jules Verne,
H G Wells, Arthur Conan
Doyle, H Rider Haggard,
and others are brought to
life classical adventures
and science fiction stories with
a nostalgic touch. You play in an
era of technology and progress,
in a world illuminated by gaslight,
powered by steam, and infused
with the spreading wonders of
electricity and ether.

There are adventures for

TEXT: Stefan Kppers (Introduction) and
gentlemen (and ladies) to be
found on Londons foggy streets
and in the salons of Paris, as
well as on the dusty roads of
Syrtis Major and under the jungle
canopy of Venus. Soldiers can
be found in service to their
country from Afghanistan to
Martian Parhoon; inventors test
out their new devices from the
Moon to Meepsor; historians lose
themselves in the dusty archives
of Martian city-states in search of
secrets of their ancient peoples;
and wild Lizard-men and proud
Martian steppe warriors carry

SPACE: 1889 Dennis Maciuszek (Port Progress)

TRANSLATION: Nicole Heinrichs
out missions to protect their
tribes; all to earn fame, influence,
PROOFREADING: Daniel Thibault and honor.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Nico Mendrek
ILLUSTRATIONS: Daniel Jdemann (Map of Port Progress), With Space: 1889, the entire
Juha Makkonen (Ray gun), Mia Steingrber (Scientist), Solar System of 1889 awaits
Eric Lofgren (Space suit) your travels.

10 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
The Ubiquity Rule System is
used in various RPGs such as
Hollow Earth Expedition (a Hollow
Earth pulp setting with Nazis and
dinosaurs), Desolation (a post-
apocalyptic fantasy world), and
All for One (musketeers in 17th
century France) demonstrating
its tremendous versatility. Its
basic rules are simple and quickly
explained. The Gamemaster
determines the Difficulty Rating
of an action, which the player
must then exceed this with his
roll. The combined rating of a
Skill and an Attribute determines
the size of the dice pool used to
resolve the action. Players can
use any dice available, with even
numbers counting as successes.
To avoid time-consuming dice
rolling orgies you can also Take
the Average, which is half of your
characters Rating, to get an
automatic success. For example, if
a players character has a Larceny
rating of 6 and the Gamemaster
sets the Difficulty of the task at 3
successes, the player may Take
the Average to automatically
succeed without rolling any dice.
Talents allow for special actions,
such as drawing a weapon more
quickly, providing allies with skill
bonuses, or even entrancing a
target during combat so that they
lose interest in attacking. Style
points enhancements can buy
bonus dice, boost Talents, and
reduce damage.
The Space: 1889 Core Rules are
available in stores now! Check
out the free Quickstarter on
clockwork-publishing.com
Sourcebooks on Venus, Mercury,
and the Marvels of Mars
(including detailed information on
Martian technology and creatures)
will soon be available as well.
Of course, all Space: 1889 books
are available as PDFs from
www.modiphius.net including
several adventures not yet
released in print:
nn The Strange Land by
Gareth Hanrahan
nn London Bridge has Fallen
Down by Andrew Peregrine
nn Nocturne in the City of Lights
by Kieran Turley
Just to give you a taste of what is
possible, the following is a short
adventure seed based on the
setting of Port Progress.
SUMMER 2017 11
 Researchers wanted in Port Progress!
AN APPEAL TO THE YOUNG ENGINEERS OF THE WORLD
Your laboratory is too small? Waiting years to get a power connection? Does your
PhD supervisor not grasp your theories anymore? You neednt fret any longer
apply today for an Edison scholarship in the city of technology and peace!

This year, the leading theme of the Edison scholarship is The next generation
of ether travel. Therefore, this call particularly addresses researchers and
inventors in the following fields:

nn Ether engineers specializing in fine-tuning

ship propulsion and solar collectors.

nn Astrogators and surveyors working

on mapping projects on Earth as well
as in space.

nn Engineers of Photography and

Heliography as well as keypunch
operators for the improvement of
communication systems and the
operation of mechanical and quasi-
biological apparatuses.

nn Exobiologists with evidenced successes

in acclimating extraterrestrial plants to
terrestrial environments.

nn Philologists and anthropologists with

knowledge of Martian languages for
the translation of texts concerning
engineering.

nn Ethernauts and aviation pioneers

for studies of long-term residence in
space (applicants without family bonds
preferred).

The progressive face of our city will

greet you in New York Harbor. An
electrical tram will take you across the
Brooklyn Bridge to Port Progress in the
South of Jamaica, Queens County.

Alongside the cheerful employees and the

friendly staff of the city who you will meet
at your arrival in the morning hours, you will
work in the worlds most modern community

12 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
 with the privilege of living here!
Our high standard in selecting our
citizens secures a cultivated and
law-abiding neighborhood.
During the weekend, if your
ambitions grant you a break, the
tram will take you to the harbour
where you can take a trip to
Jamaica Bay, visit the aquarium,
or take a walk along the beach
hoping for a sudden inspiration
which you can then discuss with
your colleagues at the clubhouse.
On the day of your arrival, your
personal mentor will meet you
for a first conversation, designed
to help you settle in. The leading
engineers among them the
architect of the visionary Port
Progress, Mr Edison himself
are accommodated in classicistic
mansions along the Faraday Belt,
the outer ring road. Here you will
also find your workplace in one of
the spacious workshops.
Construct components on
illuminated, flexible drawing
boards. Browse through endless
storage halls searching for
raw materials. Use the latest
tools or pass on the job to one
of our assiduous craftsmen.
Make a reservation for a spot in
the chemistry lab, and find an
experimenting table waiting for
you the very same day, including
all required equipment, chemicals,
and a lab technician attending to
your every need. Use the pressure
and isolation chambers, the water
tanks or the glass-coated
incubators in the greenhouses.
Every workshop has a hot water
connection as well as a power
supply and a telephone. Apply
for computing time on the citys
Babbage analytical engine to
analyze your tests.
In the East of the outer ring you
will find the well-appointed library.
There is a briefing every Monday
to introduce you to the work
with index, microfilm archive, and
phonographic records.
The living quarters of our
employees are easily accessible on
Ampre Street, the next ring road
towards the city center. This is also
where the doctor practices and
lawyer offices are located.
As a scholar, you will receive a
monthly wage of $25 as well as
a temporary residence in Ohm
Avenue (on special application,
this applies to a small staff of
consultants as well). At ground
level, you will find shops for the
everyday and not-so-everyday
needs. Even on a winters evening,
you can go shopping in bright light:
all street lanterns are electrical.
Your apartment building reaches
up to seven stories. On the
roof terrace, where the house
community maintains picturesque
pleasure gardens, observatories,
or heliograph stations, you will be
close to the stars. Some rooftops
even provide landing space for a
small aircraft.
You can reach your elegantly
furnished apartment by a
paternoster. Your Remington
typewriter already awaits you
on your desk. You can use the
pneumatic telegram tube for your
written correspondence. Thanks
to its label, the pneumatic tube
can easily be told apart from the
waste shaft, which is connected to
a steam-powered compactor in the
basement. Your shirts, suits, and
dresses go into the laundry chute
through which they slide directly
into the buildings chemical-
hydraulic dry cleaning.
The broad Boulevard de Coulomb
constitutes the inner ring road
and encloses the Volta Park
including the opera house. You
may also enjoy the end of your
workday in an Italian, Siamese, or
Martian restaurant, which are all
located in the ground floor of an
office building.
Fees for medical treatments are
covered by your scholarship up to
an additional $25. You can cover all
your expenses arising during your
stay conveniently by transferring
your patents to the Edison Trans-
Etheric Company, the Edison
Difference Systems, or the Edison
General Electric Company (which is
currently being established).
An academic background is not
required. Whether you are a
genius tinker, a researcher with
extraordinary experience, or
a sharp-minded lady who was
denied access to a university
apply now. Language skills and
visits to other planets give you
an edge!
Send your application in duplicate,
including certificates, letters of
recommendation, and (if available)
publications, patents, design drawings,
or photographs, to:
The Edison Scholarship
119 Boulevard de Coulomb
Port Progress, NY
USA
SUMMER 2017 13
 A Guide to Port Progress
In 1887, Thomas Edison needed
a new laboratory and, thanks
to his ether patents, he had the
resources to build a complete
city of science founded on his
ideals progress and pacifism.
Port Progress is designed as a
utopia for scientists and tinkers,
regardless of their personal
14 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
background. In the following
you will find a map and a
description of the city as well
as some of its most prominent
inhabitants. You will find some
ideas on how to spin adventures
around Port Progress; feel free
to include them into your game
as you see fit!
A: FARADAY BELT
1: Thomas Alva Edison
The leading inventor in the
fields of ether navigation and
electricity is more a tinkerer than
an academic. Scientist characters
who win one of his closest
colleagues (chief lab assistant
Charles Batchelor or the young
electrical engineer Arthur Edwin
Kennelly) as a Mentor might be
able to work with him on one of
his experiments. If that succeeds,
it could lead someday to flights
further into the Solar System.
However, such characters need
to look out for rivals. Industrial
spies might gain access to a
garbage compactor and steal
the remnants of documents. Are
they enviers or foreign agents,
or are workers sympathizing
with the Paris Commune behind
all this? Telegrams have already
been redirected illegally via
the pneumatic tube. Maybe the
characters even have to stop a
mail bomb on its way through the
tube system?
2: Francis Robbins Upton
This mathematician and physician
is the academic counterpart to
the empirical Edison. He provides
the necessary math, and he is
bursting with new ideas, too.
Equipped with prototypes
of navigation and display
apparatuses, Upton might send
the characters on a newly charted
course across the ocean, to
Mars or even across the Asteroid
belt, surveying and mapping
unexplored lands and worlds.
3: William Kennedy Laurie
Dickson
This 29-year-old Scotsman is
working on a groundbreaking
technology: the Kinetograph,
an early film camera. Through
a peephole in a cupboard, the
Kinetoscope, the viewer will
soon be able to watch the
celluloid film which is illuminated
by a light bulb. In the game of
Space: 1889, Dickson can also
supervise research projects on
analytical engines as a Mentor.
Just as his Kinetoscope from the
year 1891 did not grant the viewer
a look inside the inner mechanism,
Dicksons lab is also locked and
secured with a punch card lock.
Adventures might include alarm
system tests, the introduction of
a Differoscope as a street sign
(with official, secret, or subliminal
messages), or analytical engines
designed to support political
unification processes that then
take on a life of their own.
4: Alice Eastwood
It is one of Edisons concerns
to improve the oxygen supply
during long ether journeys.
Can the robust plants of
Mars or the thriving plants
of Venus be cultivated in
terrestrial greenhouses? By a
recommendation letter of Alfred
Russel Wallace, Edison came
across this 30-year-old teacher,
botanist, and wilderness guide.
Eastwood has started to plant
various extraterrestrial crops
in the greenhousesand the
biologist always has a need
for new supplies. She tries to
crossbreed these alien crops with
plants from Earth. At the same
time, she is drawn back to the
Rocky Mountains now and again.
During these trips, she leaves her
research to her staff, and their
work is piling up. By now, they are
already crossbreeding alien and
terrestrial animals. Should they also run a high risk of ending
succeed, it is only a matter of up as a lab rat for an innovative
time until carelessness or criminal treatment. It is thus not just for
intent might lead to the break-out humanitarian reasons that the
of a monstrosity. doctors sometimes go to the poor
areas of New York. For a small
5: Storage Halls
fee, willing test persons can be
Some of these guarded buildings
found here on every corner.
store secret prototypes, from
personal gear to vehicles and
C: OHM AVENUE
aircraft (according to some
rumors, even weaponry). 13: Shops
The shops provide many a
6: Library
commodity, although at higher
In addition to a remarkable
prices than in New York City.
collection of reference books,
Service providers like the
the library also entails audio-
Pinkerton Detective Agency
documents on phonographic
have their offices here as well.
rolls. Edison collects Martian
writings, especially about his 14: Post and Telegraph Office
idol, the inventor Zeenos
Quantaani who is supposed to D: BOULEVARD DE COULOMB
have lived thousands of years
15: Edison Trans-Etheric
ago in the Tossian city
Company
Thymiamata. There is even a
A branch of Edisons ether
secret archive in the basement
transport company that offers
where scholars with language
flights (from Lakehurst) to Mars
expertise work on translations.
(Thymiamata, Syrtis Major,
One of the archivists is actually
Copratia) and Venus (Venusstadt,
an agent for the German secret
Nuova Firenze).
service Abteilung Z.
16: Edison Difference Systems
7: Port
8: Aquarium 17: Edison General Electric
9: Beach Company
10: Clubhouse The office building seems to
be unused, but now and again
B: AMPRE STREET stagecoaches drive up to the
construction site. Soon every
11: Lewis Latimer
window will be illuminated with
Starting his career as an
electrical light. This will be the
engineering draftsman, Latimer
place of the company uniting all
(an African American) made a
of Edisons electricity firms.
name for himself as a legal expert.
He deals with patent matters and 18: Italian restaurant
is loyal to Edison (just as most of 19: Siamese restaurant
New Yorks judges). 20: Martian restaurant
12: Hospital
E: HUB
The hospital provides a high
standard of carebut patients 21: Opera house n
SUMMER 2017 15
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COUNTER-ATTACK
ON THE ORNE
NEW CARDS AND SCENARIOS FOR AIRFIX BATTLES
WRITING: Alan Paull and Peter Appleyard

L
ooking back at the Normandy
landings of 1944, we see
them as a huge success,
the beginning of the end for
Germanys armed forces in the
west. Of course, it was anything
but plain sailing for anyone involved, especially
those involved in the near-shambles on
Omaha. At the other end of the Allies landing
area, there was reason to be anxious too
when the only German armoured formation in
position to challenge the landings launched a
counter-attack against the airborne forces on
the Orne and the British Sword beach.

Over the next few pages, we present some

new units for both Allied and Axis players,
and then some scenarios that allow you to
recreate the action on the Orne. Its June 6th
1944, and the 21st Panzer Division is about to
counter-attack!

SUMMER 2017 17
18
3 MORTAR TEAM MG SECTION MAJOR
4 Men with 2 3 Mortars 6 Men with 2 Vickers MGs 1 Major
ALLIES ALLIES ALLIES

3
+ + +

MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
2 2 2 5

3 Mortar 37 HE[6+] Vickers MG 5 MG(4) SMG 3 1 /

May fire Smoke. Target a square and place a Re-roll once for each miss when
Heavy When moving withour Transport,
Smoke(2) counter in it. firing at adjacent squares.
Open Terrain and Roads cost 2MP instead
Setup Weapon requires set up and may of 1MP. Hero If hit, always get a Save
not Move and Fire in the same turn. Setup Weapon requires set up and may using his value.

PINNED
PINNED
PINNED
nor Move and Fire in the same turn.
Indirect Fire May fire at any square Jeep You may buy a Willys Jeep
within range to which a Commander has Motorised You may buy a Transport without using an Armour choice and
Line of Sight. without using an Armour choice. without spending a Star.
RETRE AT RETRE AT RETRE AT

SOMUA S307(F) HALF TRACK SOMUA S307(F) HALF TRACK UNIC U304(F)
WITH PAK40 WITH MULTIPLE MORTARS
1 Pak 40 Gun on Somua S307(f) 1 8cm multiple mortar rack HALF TRACK
(Panzaergrenadiers) AXIS on Somua S307(f) (Panzaergrenadiers) AXIS 1 8 cm mortar on 1 Unic U304(f) AXIS

+ + +

3 3 3

Armour [1+] Armour [1+]

8mm Mortars 26 HE[6+] 8cm Mortar 37 HE[6+]

Permission is granted to reproduce the items on this page for personal gaming use.
Armour [1+] If target Unit is hit, roll HE[6+] four times. Firer
becomes pinned after firing. May fire Smoke. Target a square and place a
75mm Gun 5 AT(3) or HE[6+] Inaccurate Before rolling for effect on target
Smoke(2) counter in it.
Unit, roll 1 [WD] to hit its square. If missed & 1 Indirect Fire May fire at any square within
French Conversion If purchased is rolled, opponent moves area of effect 1 square range to which a Commander has Line of Sight.

PINNED
PINNED
PINNED

with 2nd French conversion, reduce total towards or away from firer. Otherwise, miss means
cost by 1 . no rolls on target Unit. French Conversion If purchased
French Conversion If purchased with 2nd with 2nd French conversion, reduce total
French conversion, reduce total cost by 1 . cost by 1 .
RETRE AT RETRE AT RETRE AT
 ALLIED ALLIED ALLIED
FORCES FORCES FORCES
Hornby Ltd. Hornby Ltd. Hornby Ltd.

Permission is granted to reproduce the items on this page for personal gaming use.
AXIS AXIS AXIS
FORCES FORCES FORCES
Hornby Ltd. Hornby Ltd. Hornby Ltd.

SUMMER 2017
19
 D-Day Counter-attack!
Oppeln, if you dont succeed in throwing the British
back into the sea, we shall have lost the war
GENERAL MARCKS (COMMANDER, LXXXIV CORPS)

I
ts the afternoon of June 6th 1944 and GAME SET-UP FOR D-DAY
some of the tanks of the tardy 21st COUNTER-ATTACK 1
Panzer Division have at last assembled
MAPS
to help the static coastal German infantry
divisions against the Allied invasion. nn Long Road and Checkpoint (long sides
Split up into three kampfgruppen, the together, with roads meeting in the middle).
available parts of the Panzer Division will try to See opposite page.
make it to the coast as the first step to pushing
nn Terrain: uses 2 Square Cover pre-placed
the Allies back into the sea. The main tank
and 6 Edge Cover pieces (2 for the German
group, led by Colonel Oppeln-Bronikowski,
player, 4 for the British).
will attack between the Orne river and Lion-
sur-Mer. Group Rauch has the objective of the nn British deployment zone: leftmost row of
coast at Lion-sur-Mer, while east of the Orne the Long Road map.
Group von Luck will attack towards the canal
nn German deployment zone: rightmost row
bridge (now known as Pegasus Bridge) and
of the Checkpoint map.
the Orne river bridge. Historically some units
made it to the coast, but withdrew to prevent
NUMBER OF ROUNDS
being surrounded and wiped out.
Unlimited.
We present three variants of this scenario:
EDGE COVER
1. Oppelns main attack versus prepared
2 for the German player, 4 for the British.
troops of the Staffordshire Yeomanry
(Shermans) and infantry of 2nd battalion,
VICTORY CONDITIONS
the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry;
The scenario ends when all the units of one side
2. As above, but played out on a larger scale
have left the maps or have been destroyed.
four-map variation for two Airfix Battles sets;
German units can leave by any map side, but
3. Counter-attack east of the Orne with less will only gain Stars for exiting the map if they
tank involvement. leave by the left-hand edge of the Long Road
map (the north edge). British Units can leave by
The scenario introduces the following new
any map side, but this scores neither side any
Units: for the Germans, three half track vehicle
Stars. The winner is the player who has scored
conversions from Baukommando Becker,
the most Stars at the end of the game.
using captured French chassis to mount
German weapons; for the British, fleshing out
BRITISH
their standard infantry units with MGs,
3" mortars and introducing a British infantry nn Each destroyed German Unit with no
Major. These six cards are shown on p.18 for Armour or with Armour 2 or less:
you to use. Stars of the Unit.

20 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
 NORTH

ALLIED DEPLOYMENT ZONE

AXIS DEPLOYMENT ZONE

Hornby Ltd.

nn Each destroyed German Unit with Armour the beaches. Its the moment weve been
more than 2: double Stars of the Unit. waiting for!

GERMANS We must exploit any gap theyve left us. Its

not about destroying the enemy here, weve
nn Each German Unit that exits the map
got to take out only those we need to, so we
through the north map edge (Long Road
can get to the sea! Avoid their antitank guns
map, long side): Stars of the Unit.
and keep driving.

BRITISH BRIEFING
Steady, men! Weve reached our first objective
after that tough fight off the beach well
done, chaps. Well maintain our defensive
positions here, because it sounds like Jerrys
moving up some tanks. Best if we wait for
them, and give em what they wont be
expecting!
Keep the anti-tank well protected by the rifles,
and make sure we have some armour ready
to counter-attack when I give the word.
ALLIED FORCES
UNIT STARS
Choose Your Forces 16
Force restrictions: Your Force must include at
least one infantry Unit and one 6 pdr Unit. You
must use only British cards with the optional
addition, from the American Force deck, of
Shermans (except the Calliope), M3 Halftracks
and Paratroopers. Otherwise use normal
Building Your Force rules.

GERMAN BRIEFING AXIS FORCES

We must throw the British back into the sea, UNIT STARS
or we will have lost the war! Thats what the
Herr General said. Now we have clear orders: Choose Your Forces 24
get through to the coast, then attack onto

SUMMER 2017 21
 Force restrictions: Your force must include
at least 2 Panzer IV tanks (including
Commanders). You cannot include any vehicle
with Armour 5 or greater, nor can you include
Panther or Sturmgeschtz vehicles (these
vehicles were not available to 21st Panzer
Division). Otherwise use normal Building Your
Force' rules.
French conversions
There are three new German vehicles that are
converted from captured French originals. If you
buy two vehicles with a French conversion
ability, the total cost of the two vehicles
together is reduced by 1 Star, so for example
buying 2 Somua halftracks only costs 3 Stars.
GAME SET-UP FOR D-DAY
COUNTER-ATTACK 2
This variant of the scenario is the same as the
variant 1, with the following adjustments. It
requires the use of two sets of Airfix Battles.
MAPS
nn Long Road, Cross Road, Checkpoint and
Forest (see next page for layout).
nn Terrain: uses 4 Square Cover pre-placed
and 12 Edge Cover pieces (4 for the German
player, 8 for the British).
EDGE COVER
4 for the German player, 8 for the British.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
As for variant 1, except the Germans have to
exit by the top of the Checkpoint and Forest
maps (still the north edge).
22 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
ALLIED FORCES
UNIT STARS
Choose Your Forces 22
Force restrictions: Use the force restrictions
from variant 1, but your Force must include
at least two infantry Units, at least two 6 pdr
Units and a maximum of one Sherman Firefly.
Otherwise use normal Building Your Force rules.
Deployment: You may deploy as many Units
as desired as reinforcements, rather than
place them at the start.
AXIS FORCES
UNIT STARS
Choose Your Forces 36
Force restrictions: Your force must include
at least four Panzer IV tanks (including
Commanders), at least two French conversions
and at least one Panzergrenadiers. You cannot
include any vehicle with Armour 5 or greater,
nor can you include Panther or Sturmgeschtz
vehicles (these vehicles were not available to
21st Panzer Division). Otherwise use normal
Building Your Force rules.
Deployment: You may deploy as many Units
as desired as reinforcements, rather than
place them at the start.
GAME SET-UP FOR D-DAY
COUNTER-ATTACK 3
This variant of the scenario is the same as the
variant 1, with the following adjustments to
reflect that it is taking place on the other side
of the Orne river.
nn Terrain: uses 2 Square Cover pre-placed
and 2 Square Cover for the British to place
freely, plus 6 Edge Cover pieces (2 for the
German player, 4 for the British).
 ALLIED DEPLOYMENT ZONE

NORTH
Hornby Ltd.

Hornby Ltd.
AXIS DEPLOYMENT ZONE

SQUARE COVER Force restrictions: Your Force must include at

least 2 Panzer IV tanks (including Commanders).
2 for the British. You may place these
You cannot include any vehicle with Armour
anywhere on the maps, except in the German
5 or greater, nor can you include Panther or
deployment zone.
Sturmgeschtz vehicles (these vehicles were
not available to 21st Panzer Division). Otherwise
ALLIED FORCES
use normal Building Your Force rules. n
UNIT STARS

Choose Your Forces 16

Airfix Battles is the introductory wargame
Force restrictions: Use the force restrictions by Modiphius Entertainment. It lets you
from variant 1, but your Force cannot include use your Airfix figures (or any other
more than one vehicle with Armour 2 or figures for that matter) to fight fast, fun
greater. Otherwise use normal Building Your and furious battles. Youll find everything
Force rules. you need for the initial 10 scenarios right
inside the box. For this scenario, you will
AXIS FORCES also need the Bonus Force Deck and the
new cards printed in this magazine.
UNIT STARS Check out www.modiphius.com/airfix
Choose Your Forces 24 for more information about the game.

SUMMER 2017 23
 A VULTURE AMONG
THE STARS

A
The following
A MISSION FOR
Vulture Among the Stars is
is a reader a short encounter between
submission
STAR TREK ADVENTURES
a Starfleet vessel and a
from Fred Love. Ferengi Marauder employed
While not an by the Orion Syndicate.
official scenario The encounter begins when
the balance of matter and antimatter in its
for Star Trek the Starfleet vessel receives a garbled distress
engines. This imbalance tears space-time to
Adventures, call from a transport ship under attack near an
create a wormhole that immediately sucks in
it should drop asteroid field. By the time the Starfleet vessel
any lifeboats that havent been secured. The
into most arrives at the scene, the transport has suffered
Starfleet captain will have to decide whether
campaigns severe damage and has jettisoned its crew
to pursue the fleeing Marauder or enter the
without and passengers in four lifeboats. The Ferengi
wormhole to rescue the lifeboats.
difficulty. Marauder is in the process of looking to collect
the lifeboats with its tractor beam.
DIRECTIVE
The Starfleet crew will have to rescue the This scenario utilizes a single Directive, which
lifeboats while engaging the Marauder. If requires Starfleet personnel to investigate any
the Ferengi vessel takes serious damage, it and all credible distress calls and render aid if
attempts to flee. Before retreating, however, possible. Gamemasters may call attention to
the Marauders engineer deliberately disturbs this Directive at the start of play.

24 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
GM Guidance: Gamemasters begin this
scenario with a minimum of four points of
Threat, with one additional point of Threat for
each Player Character above four. That way,
if the game features five Player Characters,
Gamemasters start with five Threat. Its
probably best to introduce the scenario,
through the distress call, during a quiet part
of the campaign, though it will serve as a
diversion, if required.
THE DISTRESS SIGNAL
Captains Log, Stardate 48214.85. We
have received a distress call and are
currently traveling at maximum warp to
investigate. The signal appears to have
originated from a transport vessel called
the S.S. Eye of Malornia, traveling near an
expansive ring of asteroids known as the
Pinicon Cluster. The message, a garbled
voice recording from the transports
captain, sounded panicked and made it
clear the vessel was under attack. Sensors
indicate the discharge of energy weapons
and explosions, and a radiation signature
consistent with a heavily damaged warp
core. Our ETA puts us in the center of the
Pinicon Belt in ten minutes.
The crew can discern more about the tactical
situation by employing the ships long-range
sensors. This requires a Reason + Sciences
Task with a Difficulty of 1, assisted by the
ships Sensors + Sciences Task. A successful
Task reveals that a single attacking vessel
has inflicted critical damage to the S.S. Eye of
Malornia, which could lead to a catastrophic
breach of the transports warp core. If a Player
Character uses Momentum to improve the
outcome of the sensor scan, the crew learns
that the transport has ejected four life boats
and that the attacking vessel is a Ferengi
Dkora-class Marauder.
A successful sensor scan also reveals
information about the region of space where
the ships are located. This encounter takes
place in three zones. The first is a small zone
of open space at the center of the Pinicon
Cluster, where the Ferengi Marauder and
the transport are located. The transport
routinely travels through the Pinicon Cluster
as a shortcut on its standard trading run. The
Marauder captain learned of this and attacked
in the center of the asteroid belt, where
the transport was at its most vulnerable.
The Marauder captain intends to take the
passengers captive and turn them over to
the Orion Syndicate to be ransomed to their
various homeworlds.
The second zone is in the rocky debris of the
asteroid field, which surrounds the first zone
in a roughly spherical shape. The third zone
is empty interstellar space that surrounds the
asteroid field.
Its possible to plot a course through the
asteroids and into the center of the Pinicon
Cluster, but it requires the officer at the Conn
to make a successful Daring or Control +
Conn Task with a Difficulty of 2. Failing the
task activates the ships navigation failsafe
protocols and drops the ship out of warp
outside the asteroid belt and at long range
from the Ferengi ship and the transport
vessel. Any maneuver that requires the ship
to enter or exit the asteroid belt will require
the successful completion of the task, with a
failure resulting in the ship remaining in the
zone in which it started, yielding the initiative
to the Ferengi vessel.
THE LITIGATOR
The Starfleet ship must drop out of warp to
investigate the source of the distress call.
Once traveling at sub-warp velocities, the
Player Characters will be able to use sensors
to detect four lifeboats drifting near the center
of the asteroid field (assuming they dont
know this already), along with the crippled
transport vessel and the Ferengi ship.
Gamemasters may read the following text to
the Players or paraphrase its contents:
SUMMER 2017 25
 Each lifeboat contains between 10 and 12
Setting the Scene: The heavily damaged
humanoid life-forms, and each lifeboat is
transport ship S.S. Eye of Malornia drifts
equipped with rudimentary thrusters and
in open space at the heart of the asteroid
minimal shielding to block hostile transporter
field, its warp core ready to blow at
beams. However, the lifeboats are not equipped
any moment. The passengers of the
with any defenses that will allow them to put up
transport have abandoned the ship and
a fight against a Dkora-class Marauder.
wait helplessly in four lifeboats. A Ferengi
Marauder has one of the lifeboats caught
If the Starfleet ship moves aggressively
in a tractor beam and is preparing to bring
toward the Ferengi vessel, its captain will
it into its cargo hold. In moments, all hands
hail the Starfleet vessel, looking to speak to
aboard the lifeboat will become captives.
the commanding officer. Appearing on the
viewscreen is a female Ferengi with a snarling

Dkora-class Marauder mouth and jagged teeth.

These sizeable craft, utilized mainly by individual Ferengi the Ferengi Starfleet vessel, this is Captain Brasha of
Alliance is most accurately described as a collection of culturally- the Litigator, the Ferengi barks. You risk
affiliated businesses for defense, trade, salvage, piracy, and any being blown out of the stars if you travel any
other activities their owners think they can profit from. deeper into the Pinicon Cluster. If you wish
to collect the passengers and crew involved
Traits: Ferengi Marauder
in this properly licensed personnel relocation
SYSTEMS operation, you may contact the Orion
Syndicate and arrange for the payment of an
Communications Engines Structure
appropriate fee.
9 10 10
Player characters with Ferengi contacts may
Computers Sensors Weapons
have heard of Brasha. She yearned for great
8 9 7 wealth and infamy as a child, but the highly
misogynistic culture on Ferenginar provided
DEPARTMENTS
her no opportunity to do so. She ran away
Command Security Science from home and joined the Orion Syndicate,
which eventually bought her a Marauder to
3 2 2
captain after shed proven herself a shrewd
Conn Engineering Medicine raider and smuggler.

1 2 2
No amount of bargaining or reasoning with
Power: 10 Scale: 5 Captain Brasha will convince her to give up
on the lucrative prospect of taking hostages
Shields: 12 Resistance: 5
back to her Orion employers, and the Starfleet
Crew: Proficient (Attribute 9, Discipline 2) vessel most likely will have to engage in ship-
to-ship combat with the Litigator. The Starfleet
Weapons:
vessel may try to transport the survivors
nn Phaser Banks (Energy, Range Medium, 8A, Versatile 2) aboard, but doing so would require both the
Starfleet ship and the lifeboat to lower their
nn Electro-Magnetic Pulse (Energy, Range Close, 10A, Piercing 1,
shields, making both easy targets for the
Dampening)
Litigators electro-magnetic pulse weapon.
nn Photon Torpedoes (Torpedo, Range Long, 5A, High Yield) In any case, if any of the lifeboats lower their
shielding, the Ferengi may attempt to beam
nn Tractor Beam (Strength 4)
the passengers as well.

26 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
At a suitably dramatic moment, Gamemasters
may consider spending two Threat to cause
the Eye of Malornias warp reactor to lose
containment and explode. In that case, any
starship nearby suffers 3A Piercing 2 damage
from the explosion. At the Gamemasters
discretion, the explosion also may destroy a
number of lifeboats.
Brasha wont risk her command if the fight
turns against her. If the Litigator suffers
three or more breaches, or if the Starfleet
vessel manages to rescue two or more of the
lifeboats, Brasha will flee. But not before she
plays one last trump card
WORMHOLE!
Brasha will try to cover her escape and keep
the Starfleet vessel from pursuing. She orders
her engineer to intentionally create a dangerous
imbalance in the matter-antimatter intermix
ratio of the Litigators warp engines. As the
Marauder jumps to warp, the engine imbalance
leaves an artificial wormhole in its wake.
Setting the Scene: The Litigator has
warped out of the asteroid belt, but an
intentional imbalance in her warp engines
has torn a hole in the fabric of space,
leaving a vortex of orange light swirling in
the center of the Pinicon Cluster.
The wormhole instantaneously sweeps up
any remaining lifeboats in the vicinity. It
should be clear to the Player Characters
that the lifeboats wont last long against the
gravimetric stress, and the Starfleet ship will
have to follow them into the wormhole to save
them. This may create a dilemma for Players
who would prefer to pursue the Litigator,
especially if the Ferengi ship managed to bring
any lifeboats aboard. Gamemasters should let
the Player Characters decide how to proceed
but remind them that time is of the essence.
If the Player Characters follow the lifeboats
into the wormhole, they find themselves
inside a kaleidoscopic pinwheel of color and
gravimetric distortion. The deck rocks beneath
their feet as the ship lurches violently from
side to side. Any lifeboats in the wormhole
spiral completely out of control like leaves in
a hurricane. The Starfleet ship will have to pull
the lifeboats aboard using a tractor beam, a
Difficulty 3 Control + Security Task assisted by
the ships Structure + Security.
The Gamemaster may spend 2 Threat to
create a gravimetric eddy, which automatically
causes the Starfleet ship to lose its tractor lock
on any lifeboats. Additionally, the eddy also
severely stresses the structural integrity of the
lifeboats. Any lifeboat that suffers a second
such eddy is destroyed.
CONCLUSION
If the Starfleet vessel entered the wormhole,
it eventually emerges from the other end
roughly a sector away from the Pinicon
Cluster, meaning it will take several days at
high warp to get back to the Litigators last
known coordinates. If Captain Brasha got
away with any hostages, the Player Characters
may wish to track her down or investigate the
presence of the Orion Syndicate in the area.
There is the prospect for additional
confrontation with the Ferengi too, since
Captain Brashas actions will be considered
illegal and intolerable by Starfleet.
If the Player Characters rescued any of
the crew or passengers of the S.S. Eye of
Malornia, they will express their gratitude.
The PCs will need to delivered them to a
nearby starbase for debriefing. This may
offer the Gamemaster a chance to introduce
interesting recurring NPCs.
Either way, the scenario offers a number of
plot threads which the campaign might
return to. n
& 2017 CBS Studios Inc. STAR TREK and related marks and
logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SUMMER 2017 27
 BEFORE the FLOOD
FICTION PREVIEW
WRITING: John Houlihan
ART: Borja Pindado

28 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
 This issue our fiction excerpt is from Before the Flood, the fourth volume
in John Houlihans acclaimed Seraph Chronicles series, which sees one
man defy dread Cthulhu and his minions down the ages. The novel is
available in print and PDF from Modiphius and on Kindle and paperback
on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com, where you can also find the first
three novellas, The Trellborg Monstrosities, The Crystal Void and
Tomb of the Aeons. For more information check out john-houlihan.net.

T
he year is 2034 and Britain CHAPTER ONE:
is a drowning isle, after a THE ISLAND
cataclysmic wave destroyed
Pip... pip... piiiiiiip. It is 7 oclock and this is the
her cities, killing millions,
voice of the Free BBC, today, October 9th,
raising the sea level by 60
2034. Minor incursions continue, but no major
metres and changing the
engagements with the creatures have been
landscape forever. The Flood has brought
reported in the last 48 hours.
Albion to her knees and now the Devils, a race
of malevolent sea creatures, haunt her coasts
Unconfirmed reports of a newly surfaced
as the survivors retreat inland, struggling for
island structure off the coast of Anglesey
their very existence.
have been dismissed by Ruth Miller. The
Internal Security Minister for the Provisional
Mankind learns to fear the sea and avoid the
Government said All kinds of wild rumours
water.
and gossip are swirling during the current
conflict. I urge our brave defence forces to
When a mysterious island surfaces off the
remain calm and treat such wild speculation
coast of Wales, a small team of British militia
with the healthy pinch of salt it deserves.
under the command of the war weary veteran
The creatures...
Sergeant Emma Stokes, is dispatched to
investigate this new threat. But a chance
Turn that fucking thing off. I growled at
meeting with a mysterious Major takes them
Adams and, with surly reticence, he obeyed.
on a dangerous odyssey through this drowned
You can switch off the attitude too, I said. Im
world, to a hidden fortress-city which seems
in command here and I dont give two fucks
to offer new hope in the battle against the
whether you like it or not. Now, make yourself
creatures. Yet as humanity clutches on by its
useful, raise HQ and get me an activity report
fingertips, who are the real enemies in this
for this sector. Something doesnt feel right
deadly flooded world?
here, and I want to know why.

SUMMER 2017 29
 Adams slapped his headphones on with a grunt and fiddled
with the buttons on the ancient set. He was probably
cursing under his breath, mouthing silent obscenities while
he thought I couldnt see him. Well fuck him. Fuck them all. I
didnt volunteer for this. Who in their right mind would?
I regarded my militia unit as it huddled dolefully in the
ruins of a booth in the abandoned fun fair, where they
were doing their best to shelter from the sheets of rain,
which came down like stair rods. It was a bitter cold night,
harsh and unforgiving as it gets on the Welsh coast in late
autumn and the rags and tags which these soldiers, had
scrounged together, provided scant protection against that
kind of weather.
They werent much to look at at the best of times but
now they resembled drowned rats rather than any kind of
proper fighting force, the ragged Union Jack armbands,
their only common insignia, made them look even more
pathetic. What an ongoing joy it is to serve in the militia,
such a privilege to command such people.
And I was supposed to lead them into battle? Some fucking
hope, theyd fold like a paper house at the first Devil patrol
we met. They were beaten, we all were, though some of us
werent quite ready to admit it just yet.
Im rambling, sir? Do you want me to tell the story or not?
Okay, so let me get to it in my own way and then you can
judge for yourself. Weve got a little time now havent we?
Time is not quite so much of an issue any more, that at
least youll have to admit?
My name? Stokes, recent promotion notwithstanding...
Sergeant Emma Stokes, 43rd Wessex Army Reserve or
the TA in old money. Call me Stokesy if you must call me
anything, sir.
Thanks, I will take a smoke.
How did we happen to be there at that particular place, at
that particular time and meet that particular man? Ive no
idea, it wasnt a conscious decision. Fate, circumstance,
kismet, call it what you will.
What I can tell is my men werent keen. Id had to kick,
haul and bully them practically every step of the way.
You cant blame them I suppose, conscripts dont make
the best soldiers and besides, whos ever keen to march
30 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
towards their own death? Not that they had much choice.
Everyones got to do their duty nowadays havent they, sir?
Otherwise theyre just a walking waste of rations. Its either
march, starve or be hanged and sometimes you could toss
a coin for which of the three is the worst.
Anyway, wed been out for a couple of days by that stage
and the Devils were busy, much busier than normal. They
were out in force and wed slipped past several patrols,
before finally going to ground in an abandoned holiday
home. Id spotted another chain of them, lurking down by
the shore, which meant they werent going to be so easy
to evade, so, making sure my men were hunkered down,
I crept closer for a shufti.
I shouldered my weapon
and led them a little through
the red dot sight, imagining
squeezing the trigger and
opening up with a three-round
burst that would have split
that shamans fishy skull.
At my side was Challis, my corporal and second in
command, the only other real soldier in the patrol. Him,
at least, I knew I could count on. Together we watched the
Devils pass from the shelter of a dilapidated old seaside
fun fair, its peeling posters and rotting rides providing us
with decent cover as they sauntered by. Ten braves and
one shaman, hopping and flopping in that disgusting way
they have on land. I shouldered my weapon and led them
a little through the red dot sight, imagining squeezing the
trigger and opening up with a three-round burst that would
have split that shamans fishy skull. A little bit of payback
for London and everything weve suffered since I was
owed we all were.
Engage them? Really? Are you taking the piss... sir?
My orders were to recon the island, take as many photos
as I could grab and report back, period. Nothing mentioned
about engaging Devil patrols, or in fact, about signing my
own death warrant.
Besides Challis and I had the only functioning weapons
and they were old SA-80s, Civil Servants (you cant make
em work and you cant fire em), practically obsolete to
all intents and purposes. The rest? Well they had the odd
shotgun, a pistol or two and some improvised clubs and
pitchforks, whatever the hell theyd managed to rustle
up. We might as well have engaged them with sticks and
stones for all the good theyd have done, small arms like
that would have just bounced off most Devils hides, never
mind the payback from that shamans battle magic. Taking
them on would have been like writing the shortest suicide
note in modern military history.
I passed my weathered rifle to Challis, so he could take a
look through its scope, pretty much the only decent optic
we had. Challis was my corporal and best shot, a tough,
weathered Antiguan, hard as nails with short dreads like an
early period Bob Marley; a vet of Iraq and the Stan, and a
dozen of those other dirty, pointless oil wars we managed
to drag ourselves into before the Flood.
What do you think? I asked.
Shit, well theyre all heading somewhere with a purpose
and it dont take too much working out. He inclined his
locks toward the island. Let these fuckers pass, itll be dusk
soon and then we can have a stab at it. He handed me
back the weapon and spat, the spittle hanging like foam off
a nearby sideshow counter. Overhead a seagull shrieked.
Agreed. I said and watched the Devil patrol recede along
the shoreline until it was out of sight.
How did I come to be commanding that patrol? By default,
of course sir, how else? Anyone with even the vaguest
hint of combat experience is at a premium nowadays, hell
I heard they even gazetted the Royals goat up to major
for surviving that siege at Swindon. Oh yes even NCOs
from the Reserve are considered prime leadership material
nowadays for that sort of mission, sir, though most of them
would have trouble leading a latrine detail.
I sound bitter? Yeah well Im glad thats coming through.
Anyway they dont spare proper officers for that kind of
recon work, Im valuable enough, but not too valuable,
expendable in an acceptable risk kind of way. Put it this
way, no-one would have been organising a state funeral
with full military honours, if I hadnt come back.
My motivation? I have my reasons sir, same as everyone
else. Survival mainly, revenge partly. We really are all in it
together now arent we, in this peoples war, or whatever
the fuck you want to call it?
Before? I dont really remember too much detail from
before, this is all I seem to have known for ever and a day:
futility, evasion, retreat.
Year by year, yard by yard,
the waves crept higher, slowly
swallowing this septic isle
inch by inch
But thats changed hasnt it now, after the outcome of
this particular mission? I doubt the spooks from Military
Intelligence (the shortest two-word paradox in the
language) expected things to take quite the turn they have.
Before the Flood? Of course I remember... some of it at
least, though it seems like a different world, one I havent
lived in for a long, long time. Oh I remember the reports,
remember as we watched the waves slowly rise, year
on year, letting our stupid desire for cheap energy and
stupider fripperies subsume everything else.
And for what? To watch some bullshit reality show on a
giant flat screen TV, argue on Twitter about banalities or
allow a succession of liars to sell us endless shit we didnt
want, and didnt really need.
Oh in our pride, our arrogance, we thought we could hold
the seas back, but when the waves slowly claimed most
of East Anglia, we didnt worry too much about it, just
retreated to higher ground, told ourselves we still had
plenty left and besides, the defences would hold. Year
by year, yard by yard, the waves crept higher, slowly
swallowing this septic isle inch by inch. And still we did
nothing, or at least nothing meaningful. Ever heard of King
Cnut? Swap a couple of letters, add an s and put blind in
front of it that was us down to a tee.
So should we really have been surprised when it all finally
came to pass? Oh, it was a shock alright: a mix of our
complacency and their monstrous ambition no doubt. But
with all our satellites and all our science and all our state
surveillance schemes, how come we didnt spot an entire
alien civilisation lurking on the ocean floor?
SUMMER 2017 31
 Oh I forgot, we were too busy, fighting petty wars amongst
ourselves, fucking each other for a cheap quid or a cheaper
gallon, or maybe we were just looking in all the wrong
places. We were so worried about the terror within, we
completely missed the terror from the deep.
Some say the Devils have been at it for years, centuries
maybe: plotting, scheming, making their unfathomable alien
plans and just waiting for the moment to strike. The worst
thing is, we actually helped them, actually helped them
invade us, with our own blind, short term stupidity. When
the waters crept high enough, they finally saw their chance
and they struck and its us, the survivors, whove been
drowning by inches ever since.
CHAPTER TWO:
THE THINGS IN THE MARSH
We waited the day out until darkness began to bleed into
the miserable slate-grey sky and then we were ready to
make our move. The Devils dont see too well in twilight,
thats the story anyway and I wanted to wring out any
small advantage I could, so we could just get the job done
and come the fuck home, without contact or casualties.
Well, we all know how that turned out...
We slunk through the broken houses and deserted
landscape like foxes, Challis on point, me at the rear and
the rest of our ragged little band stretched out between
us. We rounded the headland and thats when I caught my
first proper sight of it, the thing which had spontaneously
surfaced off the coast, wreathed in enshrouding mists and
burning with a strange malevolent light. It was an ominous
sight, squatting there about four or five miles off shore and
it seemed to hum and vibrate with some kind of primitive
energy, as if it were singing some unholy song, calling to
the Devils in its own strange language.
When it first appeared, a week previously, there was all
kinds of talk and rumours about what it might be and what
it might mean. No one believed the propaganda or the
Provisional Governments fervent denials: some said it was
a new threat, others, a temple to the creatures dark god.
There were even a few that thought it was some new kind
of surface home for them, meaning they might retreat
there and leave us alone.
Wishful thinking, those fish-eyed bastards want us
enslaved or extinguished, nothing more, nothing less
32 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
anyone who believes anything different is a fool. I couldnt
even begin to guess what the island was then, didnt want
to, thats way beyond what any grunt needs to know, but
you could tell it was important, it mattered. There were
enough of them swarming around it at any rate. My best
guess back then? Some kind of spawning ground maybe,
or a focal point for the dark magic their shamans employ.
Still, that was irrelevant now, I had a mission and a purpose
and the sooner it was completed, the sooner we could get
the fuck out of there and come back home.
In front of us was a small trawler, which would make an
ideal observation post, but further up the shoreline lay
the beached, rotting hulk of the Prince George, the last
of our great aircraft carriers, which had been lost during
the Royal Navys final stand off the Isle of Man. Crippled
and crewless, she had finally drifted down to this forlorn
shore, where her prow had ploughed into the shallow
shingle, before coming to rest with a great crunching sigh.
She now lay over on her side, great rents still visible in her
hull and superstructure, where they had been blown open
by the Devils magic. Listing and listless she sat there like
the carcass of some great forgotten leviathan that had
come here to die, giving up its body to rot and corruption,
cloaked in a burial shroud of rust, seaweed and barnacles.
...it seemed to hum and vibrate
with some kind of primitive
energy, as if it were singing
some unholy song...
I whistled up Haines, a scrawny looking red-headed kid,
perhaps fifteen or sixteen, difficult to tell these days but
she was thin as a scarecrow and about as much use in a
fire fight. I dont why, but ever since shed been assigned to
our happy little band a few days earlier, as a replacement
for another dead nameless kid, shed looked at me
like I was a combination of Wellington and Churchill or
something. Maybe it was the gun, maybe the stripes...
I nodded at the island. Youre the shutterbug right? Time
to do your thing. I handed her the battered digital camera
which had been entrusted to me. Listen up Haines, youre
going to sneak over to that fishing boat, take as many
pictures as you can of that thing and then get back here
pronto, understand? So try to keep them in focus and
of course, remember the most important thing... try to
stay alive.
She gulped, nodded and looked nervously towards the
deck of the beached trawler. Dont worry, I said, winking,
trying to put some courage into her. Im coming too, keep
you company, okay? Her answering grin was as earnest
as it was pitiful and I had to half turn away, pretending to
check my weapon, as I bit my lip.
I left the rest of them hidden in the ruins of an abandoned
cottage with Challis detailed to keep them in line and after
a last hasty scan of the coastline, Haines and I broke cover
and sprinted, sliding into the lee of the rusted hull. We
waited but the only sound was the gentle lap of the waves
nibbling the shore, so I heaved myself up onto the listing
deck and then helped Haines shin up after me. Keeping
low, we sneaked onto the corroded bridge.
I peeped over the broken helm, glancing at the islands
craggy, misshapen rocks, its shifting skirts of mist and
spume, which momentarily parted to reveal hints of the
stark, alien geometry underneath. It didnt pay to stare
directly at that place for too long, it unsettled the mind
and sapped the will, but a brief glance satisfied me that
nothing had changed, so I let my eyes slide off that fearful
unnatural architecture and ducked back down.
Anywhere close to the shoreline is guaranteed to put you
on edge, you never know when the Devils might emerge
from the depths, but as I listened, all remained quiet. I
nodded to Haines who took out the camera, holding it with
the reverence you might afford a religious object. She was
just about to bob up to take the first reel, when I put a
hand on her arm.
Is the flash off? I whispered. Dont want to give away our
position now, do we?
Shit, sorry sir. She look mortified but then nodded, fiddling
earnestly with the settings.
All set? Frame it through the viewfinder, use the auto-
focus and then fire away. Dont look at it directly,
understood?
Yes sir, she said emphatically and then began to snap
away. I kept my eyes peeled on the placid waters rolling
against the shore, but they remained undisturbed. After a
couple of moments, Haines ducked down and turned her
urchins eyes on me.
All done.
Good. Okay...
It looks really spooky Sergeant, like something from a fairy
tale or a nightmare. What do you think it is really? Is it true
what they say about it?
Dont know, dont know what they say about it. Above my
pay grade, which means its way way above yours. I doubt
it means anything good for us though, it never does. You
done?
I think so, Ive got plenty of pics, standard and IR, some
good detail I think.
Good, well call that a day then. Lets get the fuck out of
here. We eased ourselves out from the wheelhouse silently
and I could almost feel the relief emanate from her. Could
feel it start to emanate from me too.
Instinct makes you cautious out there beyond the frontier
and as I cast a last glance back I was glad I had, for there,
beginning to emerge from the waves not a hundred yards
away, was the long frog-like chain of another Devil patrol.
They were mob handed too, two dozen or so braves, a
couple of shamans and a brutal looking chieftain.
Lets go! I hissed and I dragged Haines towards the
rusting stern. We both went over the side and as my boots
bit into the sand, cushioning the landing, I was already
flipping off my safety. Long, tense moments passed as we
nestled there behind the shattered rudder, listening to the
crunch of sand beneath their flippers. If they decided to
come this way, wed be fish food.
SUMMER 2017 33
 Over in the cottage, I could see Challis covertly making the
clenched fist signal; hold position. I readied my weapon,
resting my index finger on the trigger guard and gripping
the handle so tight my palm started to cramp. Time beat
itself against the drumming of my pulse, but were the
Devils sounds diminishing, or was that just wishful thinking?
Then the air split, a great
terrible croaking roar, like the
tearing of a shroud, and my
index finger slipped onto the
trigger proper.
Then the air split, a great terrible croaking roar, like the
tearing of a shroud, and my index finger slipped onto the
trigger proper. Behind me I thought I heard Haines whimper
as the shamans cry echoed across the bay, indicating our
certain discovery and imminent death.
Challis was still signalling, hold, hold and while I trusted
my corporal with my life, I could see the snout of his
weapon peep over the lip, being readied too. Hold, hold,
his signal didnt change and the tension became almost
unbearable. I readied myself to spring around the corner
and unleash a burst into the heart of them. With a little
luck, maybe we could take down enough to...
Then his gesture changed and now Challis was beckoning
us back toward him and the cover of the cottage. I exhaled,
letting go a breath that seemed to be have been held
forever and chanced a look around the hull. The Devils
were moving away from us, heading north, their scaly
backs and angular fins turned toward us. Go left... go right,
on such small margins do the fortunes of war and so
much else turn.
I grabbed Haines and we flew back at the double, vaulting
over the ruined stones of the cottage and panting, sank
down, backs against the wall. I dont think Ive ever been
so relieved in my life and my grin was half exhilaration, half
rictus. Challis smiled, but the rest of the patrol stared at us
with a mixture of incredulity and indifference.
Nice to see you fuckers too, I spat, then while Challis and
I covered the beach and the retreating Devils, I ordered
the rest of the patrol back through the abandoned culvert
34 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
which had masked our approach. Silent as rats, they
scurried off. Challis and I followed, keeping our weapons
trained in the creatures direction, until finally we were out
of sight and clear.
The further away from the beach we got, the more I liked
it and after that, we put as much distance as we could
between us and the sea. Unless theyre feeling bold or
after something specific, the Devils dont like to venture
too far inland as you know sir, and so we found an old
gutted pub and went to ground there. I set a watch, but
stayed awake anyway, still buzzing on the adrenaline
and preparing for the vigil to wait out the long hours of
the night. I was relieved, wed accomplished our mission
without being detected and without any casualties and
nowadays, I call that a major win. Now all we had to do
was bide our time and filter back inland once dawn broke.
Even the wretched pile of bones and bleached skulls piled
up in the corner didnt unnerve me. They were ancient and
didnt count anymore. Only the living counted now. I was
feeling good about things, or about as good as you can
get nowadays.
I set a watch and everyone else bedded down. Hours
passed. I dont sleep much, if at all these days and virtually
never out on patrol, so I stayed awake and listened to
the sounds of the night for a while. Perhaps I was half
dozing, perhaps lost in contemplation, but I must have felt
something before I heard it, for suddenly I was fully awake,
eyes wide and senses alert.
The unit slumbered on oblivious, but I went and roused
Challis, who instantly came round.
Somethings up, wake them, but quietly. Im going to take
a look.
Want me to come with?
No, stay here, sit tight and dig in. If Im not back in half an
hour, youre in command. Dont come looking... and thats
an order. Get these photos back to HQ, I said handing over
the camera, and the rest of them if you can. The photos
take priority.
Understood.
Haines. I whispered to the teenager who happened to be
on watch. Come on, youre with me.
We stalked out into the darkness in the wee small hours
when your mind and body are at their lowest ebb. You
could just about see your hand in front of your face, but my
instincts arent often wrong and Ive learned to trust them.
Oh, Im the first to shoot down any of that supernatural
bullshit, but intuition? Out there in the wilderness, well lets
just say you get a feel for certain things and Id trust my
instincts over a thousand intelligence reports.
An unnecessary risk? Maybe sir and its true normally on
a mission of that kind, Id have dug in, stayed put and
ignored any distant drums from the deep. But something
about this felt different, like my presence was... required. I
needed to take a look and thats about all I can tell you, sir.
So we padded along, taking a circuitous route to cover the
ground, the darkness populating the night landscape with
indistinct menacing shapes.
...the empty eye sockets
seemed to bore right through us,
but the bones had long ago
been picked clean
Haines gave a gasp and my rifle snapped up. It was a
pyramid of human skulls and assorted bones, perhaps
six foot high and gleaming palely in the wan light. One of
the Devils sign posts or perhaps an indication of their
sick sense of humour. Do Devils even have a sense of
humour? For answer the empty eye sockets seemed to
bore right through us, but the bones had long ago been
picked clean. It was a grim sight, both a reminder and a
warning that were now beyond the pale and about to
enter the badlands or the very worst of the badlands.
What remained of our ailing isle was pretty much all
badlands nowadays.
What are we looking for, sir? Haines voice wavered as we
pushed on, still half freaked by that macabre landmark.
I dont know exactly, I admitted. But somethings not right far away myself, but the training took over and I signalled
out there and whatever it is, its not far away. And call me
Sarge, not sir, thats for officers.
Yes si... Sarge. Do you think its Devils? Haines asked
wide eyed. The creatures were nicknamed after some
old Doctor Who episode or something. I never watched
that kind of crap before the Flood, never had time for it.
But the creatures apparently resemble some of those old
cardboard and plastic TV monsters pretty closely. Devils?
Dagons? Deep Ones? What did it matter what they were
called in the end?
Maybe, but theres something else... I didnt have time to
finish my sentence for about five hundred yards away small
pinpoints of light suddenly flashed, fiery interruptions in
the dark. Faintly, I could hear the retort of weapons, human
weapons, though much quieter than anything I had ever
heard before.
Whats that Sarge? asked Haines nervously.
Not sure, but wed better take a look. Stick close by me
and silent as the grave, or thats where youll be heading.
Yes sir, she said, forgetting again. Fear made her voice
waver.
We picked our way cautiously across the boggy marshland,
the filthy water squelching and sucking at our boots as if
it was trying to pull us in. Tall grasses and reeds rasped
against my face but I scarcely noticed them as the sounds
grew louder, muffled retorts, a regular thud thud thud and
the pinpricks of light grew more intense. We came to within
fifty yards and I pulled at Haines arm, dropping us both
low. There was little light to see by, the night was black and
unforgiving. I could only make out the presence of vague
amorphous shapes as I sighted along the barrel of my rifle.
Of course we didnt have anything useful like low-light or IR
scopes, they dont give those out to the militia.
One by one the lights began to be extinguished and the
sounds diminished too, until there was just a single one
left. There was a last stifled sequence of recoils and then it
faded away, leaving only darkness and silence.
I put a finger to my lips but even in the darkness the whites
of Haines eyes were wide, staring, like she was on the
point of totally freaking out. I didnt blame her, I wasnt
Haines to keep her shotgun low (and pointed away from
me) and we proceeded. We circled cautiously toward the
cover of some scrubby trees where we could observe,
without stumbling smack bang into the middle of whatever
the hell it was that was happening out there.
SUMMER 2017 35
 Nerves taut, we slipped across the marshy ground, flitting
from cover to cover, but I kept my weapon raised, ready
to open up at so much as the slightest provocation. Have
you ever been in a situation like that, when you know
every next step could be your last, sir? Focuses the mind
somewhat, its not easy, but experience helps and although
my heart pounded like a rave bass line, we made it into
the copse without further incident. Again we waited,
made ready for whatever was out there to reveal itself
but the silence remained unbroken and after a couple
of minutes, the moon decided to peep out from behind
covering cloud, providing us with the first half decent bit
of illumination.
It shone onto a small clearing in the marshland, a raised
gap in the surrounding sea of tall grasses and there, amidst
the mud and brackish water was a scene of utter carnage.
Bodies, human and Devil lay locked together, stretched out
or half submerged around the fringes of a small, scrubby
island slightly raised above the surrounding waters.
It didnt take me long to read the lie of the land: this is
where those humans had made their last stand; they had
died in a ring around its perimeter, singly or in pairs, back
to back in some cases. There were only about a dozen
of them from my rough count, but they must have taken
down four warbands worth of Devils, on their own, at
the very least. Their bodies were everywhere, piled high
one upon the other, maybe seventy braves in total,
slaughtered as they charged in for a headlong hand-to-
hand assault.
That was unusual, the Devils had some ranged weapons,
harpoons, spears and the like plus that infernal battle
magic and they werent usually so reckless as to engage
a defensive position in a headlong charge like that. I could
only think they wanted to take these people alive and had
expended many lives in trying to achieve that aim.
The humans werent exactly standard issue either. These
didnt look much like ordinary grunts, they were big,
strapping, physically impressive men and women, nothing
like the desperate, malnourished odds and sods I led. They
were kitted out in some serious military gear too, state-
of-the -art hardware and then some: masks, body armour,
night scopes and rifles the like of which Id never seen
before. They seemed to have barrels that were more than
half silencer, which probably explained those ultra quiet
thud thud thuds.
36 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
Still nothing moved and now I began to smell the blood and
muck of the brutal aftermath. Flies were already beginning
to swarm and surely it wouldnt be long before that would
draw more Devils to investigate?
Who were these people and what the hell were they doing
here, miles from anywhere? I hadnt a clue, but there was
no saving them now, they were just so much fish bait. HQ
would probably want to know of course, you dont just lose
an outfit like that and not want to know the reason why,
but frankly, sir, duty didnt much come into it.
I waded through the floating
Devil bodies and the smell
was as rotten as a barrel of
mouldering fish guts.
What I saw was opportunity, a golden opportunity to kit
my people out with that advanced gear and I simply
ached to take it. Whoever this unit were, they had no
use for it now and it would mean our chances of survival,
of actually making it back home, just went up by several
notches. I listened again, but it was still quiet, so I sketched
my plan to Haines and while she covered me from the
copse, I stalked forward, intent on helping myself to those
tempting goodies.
I waded through the floating Devil bodies and the smell
was as rotten as a barrel of mouldering fish guts. They had
died in their dozens, their soulless eyes glinting vacantly,
eerily in the moonlight. The only good Devil is a dead Devil
and theres nothing much to add to that, but my finger
hovered on my trigger, just in case any of them lingered.
Closer to that islet, the corpses were piled high and I was
forced to shoulder arms and physically turf a couple aside
so I could reach solid ground. I was glad I was wearing
gloves, for I really didnt want to have to touch that flabby
fishy flesh. Nose wrinkling with disgust, I rolled a couple
of braves over until they went belly up then heaved them
with the toe of my boot, so that they floated off into the
stagnant waters.
But this was no time to linger and quickly, I went from body
to body, stripping them of those unusual weapons, night
vision goggles, spare ammo, masks and anything else I
deemed useful and readily portable. Their uniforms were
black, almost featureless, some kind of light absorbing
semi-adaptive camo I guessed, with integrated body
armour, but they bore no insignia or markings I could
readily identify.
No dog tags either, were these boys and girls even ours?
Their kit was like something from a sci-fi movie, but hurry, I
told myself, theres no time to ponder and I worked quickly
and methodically, stripping the bodies as respectfully as I
could, making neat piles of their gear,
Towards the centre of the isle, knee deep in Devil dead
I found their CO. She must have been the last to fall, for
she was surrounded by Devil corpses, a silenced pistol
gripped in one hand and an F-S knife still locked in the
fist of the other. Shed plunged it right between the eyes
of the nearest brave in her death throes. A trident had
taken her through the throat, half ripping off her mask and
cutting the armour clean through to her chest. She was
a captain, there were three pips adorning one tattered
shoulder and there, on the other, that distinctive badge,
etched into the armour so subtly I hadnt seen it at first:
a wreathed world, topped with coronet and tailed with
anchor and the words Per Mare, Per Terram By sea, by
Land. This officer and presumably her men too were
Royal Marine Commandos.
Shit, these were serious soldiers, hard fighters, the kind
of elite unit that rolls up and routinely fucks the enemy
without even breaking stride, or passes through them
like a sea of ghosts so that you wouldnt ever know
theyd even been there. I didnt think we even had any of
these guys left. What the hell were they doing out here
in this godforsaken hole? Why had they engaged these
warbands? They were all set up for stealth by the looks of
it, those suits and silencers were a dead giveaway, so why
had they become involved in a stand-up fire fight?
Perhaps theyd had no choice? Spotted or possibly tracked
here, surrounded, forced to make a final stand, theyd died
to a man and taken the best part of four warbands with
them, before measuring out their lengths in this hellish
marsh. What was the story here?
Not my business, I told myself, just recover the gear,
remember what you need for the report and be thankful
its not you. I knelt and slipped the captains pistol and
spare magazines into my belt and closed her sightless eyes
for the last time, whispering rest in peace for want of
anything better to say. I half turned, ready to lever myself
up when Haines voice shrieked Sarge!
Where it came from I had no idea, perhaps it had been
wounded and my words had roused it or maybe it was just
lying there, waiting for the unwary. Either way suddenly
looming over me was the massive steaming bulk of a Devil
chieftain, spiked mace raised as it chittered its filthy war
cry. As I brought up my rifle I can remember thinking, boy
trust me to draw a huge bastard and I even had time to
notice the dancing necklace of human ears which it wore as
a macabre trophy. I tried to fire the SA-80 on the rise, but
it was way too late and the chieftains mace shattered its
barrel, sending the remains spinning off into the darkness
with a distant splash.
My fingers clawed for a weapon,
scrabbling desperately for
anything to use...
The force knocked me back clean off my feet and I landed
hard on my back, air forcefully expelled from my lungs. My
fingers clawed for a weapon, scrabbling desperately for
anything to use, but they came up empty and the creature
hopped forward and planted a webbed foot on either side
of me, raising its club for the killing blow. I heard two clicks
as Haines shotgun misfired and I almost laughed at the
absurdity of it all. I wanted to shout, forget me, run! run!
but found my mouth as dry as if I were breathing sand. I
looked up into those soulless saucer-fish eyes and in that
instant almost felt glad, glad that my struggle was over,
the pain, the loss, all swept away with one quick swish of
its mace. A moment of agony and then sweet nothingness
and finally, peace...
But of course it didnt quite happen that way, otherwise
I wouldnt be sitting here making this report, would I? Im
not ashamed to say that I cringed, eyes screwed tight,
teeth clenched for the cruel impact which would crush my
skull and end it all. Yet the long moment played out and
somehow it didnt arrive. I was still alive. Why?
I unscrewed one eye and looked up, still wincing at the
anticipated blow, but the chieftains eyes suddenly seemed
to bulge even wider, if that were possible. The mace raised
above its head slipped from between webbed forepaws
and it staggered, tottering and bleeding, falling to its knees.
SUMMER 2017 37
 There was a flash like quicksilver, so bright it seemed like
liquid moonlight and where seconds before the chieftains
face had blazed with fierce malice, now, there was simply
an empty void and no head at all. Something bounced
wetly across the turf and then the creatures body sagged,
as if all the air had been let out of it. I watched it crumple,
black ichor pumping from its neck, a black waterfall staining
my fatigues.
My apologies... Sergeant is it? I seem to have bloodied
your battle dress.
A figure emerged from behind the chieftains corpse.
What the holy living fuck?
Oh, nothing quite so blasphemous. Please, allow me.
A gloved hand reached out and helped me to my feet.
Thank... you. I mumbled.
My pleasure, naturally.
Who the hell are you? I asked.
Hands where I can see them! Now, or I will shoot you
down! Haines came thrashing through the waters,
brandishing the shotgun and now had both barrels levelled
at this newcomer, who was nonchalantly wiping clean the
heavy, leaf-bladed knife with which hed performed the
dreadful execution. He sheathed the Khukri and adjusted
the helmet and respirator which cloaked his face. Long
pale hair spilled over his collar and he wore the same dark
38 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
uniform as the fallen soldiers, but with a single OF-3 crown
on each shoulder.
Yes, I do believe you would young lady. I would say your
threat would carry slightly more conviction if you had
reloaded after your misfire, though.
Stand down Haines, I said, Hes on our side. You are on
our side right, Major? I added with slightly less certainty
but he nodded graciously.
Oh, absolutely. Nice to make your acquaintance,
Sergeant?
Stokes, call me Stokesy, this is Haines.
Well good to meet you both, though I wish it were in
happier circumstances. Whats brought you to this forlorn
place, if you dont mind me asking?
Curiosity sir. I saw the muzzle flashes and decided to
investigate. The rest of my unit is holed up in a ruined pub
about half a mile away.
Curiosity hm? A dangerous trait that and not just for cats.
Well, I see youve made a start on salvaging the marines
gear.
I, well...
Dont apologise Sergeant, Poor Captain Priestman and her
brave lads wont be needing it any more. I should not have
left them here, but other, more pressing matters seemed
to demand my attention, an apparently wild goose chase
that... His rich rather plummy voice dwindled mid sentence.
I should never have allowed myself to be separated from
them, but the prize seemed worth the risk. Im only glad I
was able to return to lend you a hand.
As am I sir, and that youre so handy with that blade.
A most dependable little pocket knife, he said as he slid
the Khukri into a leather sheath on his belt. Im only sorry
I wasnt back in time to help these brave marines. Still,
spilled milk and all that. Now, let me lend you a hand, then
we can repair back to your hidey hole and plot our next
move. He had such an air of calm, the quiet authority of a
natural leader, that I didnt even think to question his orders
and simply moved to obey. n
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All Rights Reserved.

SUMMER 2017 39
 WEAPON UTILITY
in Conan 2d20
WRITING: David Thomas
ART: Tim Truman and
Mateusz Wilma

40 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
T
he Conan 2d20 RPG contains THE WEAPONS
some great rules for
Dagger / Knife: Having a basic cutting tool
resources, kits and tools. In
is useful in many situations. A dagger can
reality, many weapons have a
be used to clean and skin a hunting kill, pry
utility benefit outside of their
gems from a statue, open a basic lock, cut an
designed use or are originally
opening in a tent, be tied to a stick to make
derived from tools themselves. In this article,
a crude spear for hunting, shave tinder and
Im going to examine how weapons can be
spark flint, etc. A dagger or knife can thus act
used as tools and resources in the Conan
as a basic kit for hunting and shelter Survival
rules. This brings two benefits to your games.
tests, as well as some Thievery and Craft tests.
First, it actually makes weapons useful outside
This means that the Difficulty for these tests
of combat. Second, it adds realism because
will not be increased for not having the proper
it now matters which weapons characters
kit available.
choose to carry on a level beyond damage
output, etc. Scouts are better off carrying
Bow: A bow, with good range, accuracy,
a tomahawk; fishermen will want a spear or
and killing power, is one of the best all-
javelin; soldiers or mercenaries, especially
around weapons for hunting. It allows the
archers, may want to carry a hammer. This
wielders choice of a reroll of 1d20, or 1 Bonus
allows a utility and realism for weapons that is
Momentum on a Survival test for hunting.
seldom seen in an RPG.
The wielder must choose before the test is
made, with a reroll representing shooting any
A few notes before I dig in. First, Ill give
game that one comes across, and a Bonus
examples of how weapons can be used as
Momentum representing hunting larger prey
tools, but I encourage players and GMs to think
for more yield.
of other uses as well. Second, all of this falls
under the common sense rule: you obviously
wont be using a pole-axe to cut down a tree.
Ive gone general rather than specific here, so
feel free to go into more detail in your own
games. Finally, you can only get the benefit
from one weapon tool on a test.

The Core rules say that a tool can be used to

add Bonus Momentum, lower a Difficulty (or
stop a Difficulty increase), or allow the reroll
of a d20. For determining which of these each
weapon grants in certain situations, Ive used
the following criteria:

nn If a weapon makes something easier in a

specific situation, it lowers the Difficulty.

nn If a weapon makes something easier in

general, it grants a reroll.

nn If a weapon increases the yield or success

of something, it grants Bonus Momentum.

SUMMER 2017 41

Spear: A spear can be used for fishing, and
also hunting larger animals. Its not great for
throwing, so it doesnt actually make hunting
much easier, but it allows for larger kills. In
game mechanic terms, a spear allows a reroll
of 1d20 when making Survival tests for food
near bodies of water. A spear grants 1 Bonus
Momentum when hunting land animals.
42 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
Javelin: A javelin is good for fishing, and better
for hunting animals than a spear due to its
range. A javelin grants 1 Bonus Momentum on
Survival tests for food near bodies of water.
A javelin grants a reroll of 1d20 when making
Survival tests to hunt land animals for food.
Sling: A sling yields more hunting bounty,
whether more small animals or a large animal.
Slings are easy to find ammunition for and
have great range. A sling grants 1 Bonus
Momentum to Survival tests for hunting.
Axe: An axe can be used to cut trees for
traps and barricades, to build shelter, and to
gather wood for a fire. An axe pommel can
be used to hammer. Axes with a spiked head
can break stone and pry open doors, etc.
Like a dagger, an axe counts as an all-round
survival kit, negating the increased Difficulty
for not having proper tools. In addition, an
axe grants -1 Difficulty to Craft tests to build
traps in wooded areas. In wooded areas, an
axe allows a reroll of 1d20 for Survival tests
to find shelter and on Resistance tests vs the
elements. Finally, due to easily allowing the
collection of firewood, an axe grants 1 Bonus
Momentum on tests to resist cold or survive
against starvation.
Sword: Swords, especially hacking swords,
make traversing overgrown brush and jungle
terrain easier, as one can hack a trail through
the tangled vegetation. Using a hacking
type sword reduces by 1 a Difficulty increase
for traversing terrain hindered by dense
vegetation.
Maul/Warhammer: Both of these weapons
are able to act as a large hammer, and thus
are useful for building barricades. Archers
might carry a maul to pound posts for
makeshift barricades to fire behind. They
can also be used to help repair items, within
reasonable common sense. A hammer grants
-1 Difficulty on Craft tests to build makeshift
defenses, large traps, etc. This in effect makes
the area a Hindrance or Hazard (core rulebook,
p.111). A hammer acts as a basic kit, removing
the penalty for not having proper tools, for
any Craft test to repair an item in which having COMPLICATIONS
a large hammer would reasonably help.
There is a negative consequence that comes from regularly using
your weapons as tools, and that is dealt with via Complications.
Whip: A whip is commonly used for taming
When rolling a Complication on a skill test in which you are using
wild beasts. Using a whip to control or
a weapon as a tool, the GM may rule that one of the following
threaten any non-mount animal grants a
things happens:
reroll of 1d20 on an Animal Handling test.
Furthermore, the GM may grant a Bonus
1 Complication
Momentum to a whip wielder for any Persuade
or Command roll involving intimidation versus Choose one of the following options, or devise your own:
unarmed humans.
nn Ranged weapons with load Resources lose 1 load.
ARMOR
nn The weapon dulls and loses 1 of its damage dice until repaired
While armor mostly hampers the wearer as (taking an hour) and a D1 Craft test.
the trade-off for the protection it offers, at the
nn The weapon becomes worn in some way, such as an axe haft
GMs discretion some types of armor may be
cracking. Attacks made with the weapon are at +1 Difficulty
useful tools for certain situations as well. For
until repaired (over two hours) and a D1 Craft test. A further
instance, Heavy Clothing may award a reroll
Complication before the weapon is repaired means it breaks,
of 1d20 on Resistance tests against cold or
requiring a day or more time to repair, and a D3 Craft test.
desert environments. A helmet may double as
a makeshift water bowl or soup pot, adding nn The weapon has cut into an insect nest. Two Venomous Swarms
a Bonus Momentum to thirst and starvation (core rulebook, p.332) angrily defend the nest.
based Survival tests.
2 Complications

Choose one of the following or devise your own:

nn The weapon breaks. Its now either useless scrap or requires a

day or more of time and a D3 Craft test to repair.

nn The weapon slips during use, causing 4 damage to the wielder

with Piercing 1 Quality.

nn The use of the weapon in hunting has spread blood in the water
or the smell of death in the air. Two Toughened predators, such
as crocodiles, bears, or tigers appear to claim the kill.

In summary, weapons and armor can bring the

utility outside of combat that they offer in real
life into your Conan games with these simple
mechanics that are already a part of the rules.
This brings a new level of realism to which
weapons certain character types will choose
to carry. n

SUMMER 2017 43
 Designer On Deck
STAR TREK ADVENTURES INTERVIEW
Modiphia chats with Rick Sternbach,
production illustrator/designer for Star
Trek incarnations from The Motion Picture
to Voyager, and consultant on Star Trek
Adventures design elements including the
upcoming geomorphic gaming tiles.

W
ith clients including NASA,
Analog, and Time-Life Books,
Rick Sternbach is a two-time
Hugo Award-winner for best
professional science fiction artist.
His long association with film and
television ranges from The Last Starfighter and Steven
Soderberghs Solaris to the original Cosmos documentary
series, for which he and its astronomical art team received
the inaugural Emmy Award for visual effects.
However, science fact is as much a part of his work as
science fiction. He became involved with true space design
with Voyagers Ares IV Mars orbiter, and his company,
Space Model Systems, has produced planetary terrains
and globes for the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, and
a scale model of a proposed asteroid retrieval spacecraft
for the Keck Institute for Space Studies. He is also a Fellow
and founding member of the International Association of
Astronomical Artists (IAAA).
Yet for sci-fi fans, it may be Star Trek with which he is
strongest associated. Rick was central to Treks televisual
rebirth in the 1980s and 1990s, updating tricorders, phasers
and spacecraft for The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine
and Voyager. His new Romulan bird of prey design and
Senate chamber floor design were memorable features
of the prime universes most recent cinematic outing,
Star Trek: Nemesis. He is once again a consultant on the
Trek universes design elements, helping Modiphius bring
authenticity to Star Trek Adventures.
Q: When did you start working on Star Trek, and how did
you get the job?
My first real assignment with the franchise was on Star
Trek: The Motion Picture in 1978. I had visited Paramount
Pictures late in 1977, and met with production designer Joe
Jennings and his art department staff when they were still
planning to do the Phase II television series. At the time,
Joe had nothing for me, but some months later, he called
to tell me the studio was changing gears and making the
feature film, and I was invited to join them. Joe left after
a while to do the Shogun mini-series, and my new boss
was Harold Michelson. Harold gave me some amazing
tutorials on projecting set plans up to full perspective
(and accurate) sketches, and was a total pleasure to work
for. Most of my work involved adding to what graphic
designer Lee Cole had started with the TV version of the
production. She set the style with the backlit control panels
and signage, and I created a lot of new material, all with ink
and hot press illustration board and plastic templates and
hi-con negatives and photostats. Way before we had any
personal computers and laser printers!

44 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
Q: What was the most challenging thing about designing
technology and architecture for Gene Roddenberry's
universe?
I suppose it would have to be equal parts keeping
Starfleet/Federation and alien ships and hardware
stylistically separate and recognizable, making those
designs visually interesting, and making them make at least
some science and engineering sense, within the overall
Trek context. Ideally, all of these things should look cool
and look like they might work. When we began Star Trek:
The Next Generation, some bits we assumed would be
needed based on previous shows and films, like phasers
and tricorders and communicators and other designs,
were required by the scripts. Long discussions in the art
department and, piles and piles of sketches led to periodic
approvals by the producers, and eventually everything got
built and filmed.
Q: Did you ever put any jokes or Easter Eggs into
your designs?
Q: Which design are you most proud of?
In the ships area, its a toss-up between the U.S.S. Voyager
and the Klingon VorCha attack cruiser, followed closely
by Deep Space 9 and maybe fifty other ships and shuttles.
The Delta Flyer was another clean Starfleet design that I
had a great time with. Okay, and the Runabout, with Jim
Martins able assist on surface detailing. And a few hundred
Starfleet and alien hand props, with maybe the TNG
tricorder being a nicely iconic bit of equipment.
Q: Have you designed anything that people wouldn't
know was yours?
Oh, there were lots of pieces and parts that needed to be
designed and built, and maybe didnt get a lot of coverage,
like light fixtures and power generators and ceiling fans
and sickbay scanning beds. And an occasional pool table.
The electronic shuffleboard game on the TMP Enterprise
Refit rec room was mine, but its hardly something to add

Most of the little gags I inserted into the

show involved the occasional backlit
computer screen that I
got to draw up,
based on the
established
LCARS style, and
those were anime
references. The one
physical gag I added
was to the desk model
of the U.S.S. Stargazer
in Captain Picards
ready room, a small and
pretty much unseen little
anime mech cemented to
the underside.

Star Trek Adventures:

Next Generation Starfleet Tile Set.
Art by Jose Esteras with Rick
Sternbach acting as Design Consultant.

SUMMER 2017 45
 to my rsum. Most of the major ships and props done
over the years are pretty well-known, and the rest are
there to reinforce the design consistency of the various
cultures and periods.
Q: Which movie or TV series would you have loved to
work on?
If I had the opportunity and the free time and a work visa,
I would have loved to have contributed to the Stargate
franchise in some form. They did some amazingly great
46 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
episodes and hardware, and Ive waved at them from
afar. They did appropriate a lot of our very specific Trek
tech jargon, but I consider that a fun tip o the hat. Now,
had I been old enough, I would have jumped in with both
feet into a TV show called Men into Space, produced by
ZIV Television in 1959. I was eight years old, watching
the beginnings of the space program when there was
nothing man-made in Earth orbit (Sputnik changed that in
1957), and I saw it all happen. Add to that the Walt Disney
spaceflight films of the 1950s, and you can get a pretty
decent idea where my mind was headed.
Q: If you were to create your own Star Trek Adventures
Starfleet officer, which Federation species would you be,
and which division would you end up in?
Hmm. Human armed tech officer with a new post-Voyager
directorate that goes in to explore captured or destroyed
alien assets, after major incursions from outside the Milky
Way begin taking out antimatter refineries run by all
known species, requiring some new alliances. Specific
enough for you? And Discovery, dont steal that idea! Its
mine.
Based on the answer I gave, as an officer exploring
potential alien wrecks, it occurred to me to ask if any of
the game tiles will ever show trashed decks. Disabled
warp cores, blown-out computers, toppled furniture,
broken doors, phaser blasts. You know, fun stuff.
Everything Ive seen so far looks pretty squeeky clean
brand new.
Q: What was different about working on the gaming tiles
and our roleplay game, rather than TV and film?
The end product is a bit different but the process of going
from a tenuous idea to finished sketches and renders is
very familiar. We who worked in the studio setting assisted
with various licensed products, and gaming continues that
tradition nicely.
Q: And, of course, we always need to ask: Which is your
favorite captain?
Oh, no, youre not going to get me to admit that I think
I like Picard the best. Theyre all wonderful, or else how
would they have advanced to captain? Make of that what
you will. n
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AVAILABLE FROM MODIPHIUS.COM/STAR-TREK

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TM & 2017 CBS Studios Inc. STAR TREK and

related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

SUMMER 2017 47
 Assassins of Infinity
WRITERS: Justin Alexander and Jonathan Killstring Herzberger
ILLUSTRATORS: Xin Aoyama, Bagus Hutomo, and Aituar Manas

I
n the far-flung future of the Infinity Among those factions is Haqqislam. This
Roleplaying Game, open war rages sneak peek from the Infinity corebook details
between mankind and the alien legions the enigmatic Hassassin Society, along with
of the Combined Army on the verdant exclusive stat blocks and descriptions of the
jungle world of Paradiso. This existential Orders of the Hassassins.
threat has not been fully successful in
bringing humanity together, however. Among
the dozen worlds of the Human Sphere,
players will dive into the covert action and
espionage which boils beneath the seemingly
placid relations between the major political
factions.

48 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
In the mid-21st century, the Energy Crisis OLD MAN OF THE
crippled the economies of the Muslim world. MOUNTAIN
A crisis of faith and identity saw a proliferation
The Societys leader is the mysterious Old
of new interpretations of Islamic philosophy
Man of the Mountain. There are some who
and theology, the rebirth of Sufism, and the
say that the current Old Man is, in fact, still
rise of countless populist religious teachers.
Abdulahmed Rashad himself, the founder of
Out of this morass of theological ideas, it was
the order. Whatever the truth may be, it is the
the doctrine of Haqqislam that quickly became
Old Man of the Mountain who is the ultimate
ascendant. It was inspired by the teachings of
determiner of who (or what) constitutes a
Farhad Khadivar, who spoke of the need to
threat to the ongoing Search for Knowledge,
seek the True Islam described by the Quran;
a mission that extends beyond Haqqislam
an Islam that was built upon the central tenet
and includes anyone obstructing humanitys
of the Search for Knowledge. The resulting
development. He designates the targets
populist movement was, importantly, also
marked for death at the hands of his disciples,
successful in reaching out to the Muslim elite
and once they are marked, sooner or later
who saw a return to prosperity in its scientific
death inevitably follows.
and technological idealism.

Science moves fast and implacably, and

But where some embraced Haqqislam for the
the diversity of studies and avenues of
opportunities it presented, others saw it as
investigation that could result in the creation
a threat. As Haqqislam grew, many of these
of a Judgement Day weapon multiplies with
reactionary elements turned to violence.
each passing day. Misuse of corrupt Science
Among these, history best remembers the
could cause the cancellation of true Science
campaign of terror waged by Imam Khalaf ibn
by provoking an irrational, instinctive
Ahmads Legion of the Exalted. Ibn Ahmad
reaction from fear and ignorance. This would
declared a fatwa against Farhad Khadivar, and
gravely affect the Search for Knowledge.
it was a bullet fired by one of his Exalted which
took Khadivars life at the age of forty-two. Speech given via holoconference by
the Old Man of the Mountain during
HASSASSINS the Authorisation Ceremony of the
Hassassin Society
The Hassassin sect was founded in the
grief-stricken aftermath of Farhad Khadivars
murder when the mathematician, psychologist,
and theologian Abdulahmed Rashad resolved
to never again allow reactionary forces to
stand in the way of the Search for Knowledge.
He recruited agents and consulted with
contacts around the world. Within weeks,
Khadivars killer was dead in prison, his throat
slit. A month later, an agent killed Imam Khalaf
ibn Ahmad on a public street. The Hassasssin
shouted Haqqislams truth even as the imams
bodyguards shot him down. Over the next
seven years, it is said that every member of
the Legion of the Exalted was slain.

So began the fearsome legend of the

Hassassins.

SUMMER 2017 49
 HASSASSIN EXEMPLARS
The Hassassins consider themselves seekers
pursuing the Haqqislamite Virtues who, in their
defence of the Search of Knowledge, have
transformed themselves into the embodiment
of the Haqqislamite Ideals. Their teachings
wed the martial lore of the Nizari Ismailism (an
ancient order of assassins) with the mysticism
of neo-Sufism.
The Hassassin philosophy centres on the lataif-
e-sitta, the psycho-spiritual organs known
as the Six Subtleties. Mastering the use of
these organs unlocks a physical and spiritual
perfection through which a follower attains his
ultimate purpose in the art of divine murder.
50 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
The Hassassins are diverse in their skills and
training but united in their devotion to the
cause and not afraid to die if that is what it
takes. They seek public executions, viewing
their killings as an instrument of propaganda
for both themselves and the Search for
Knowledge.
LAYERS OF DECEPTION
Even before Bouraks government was
formed, the Hassassins appointed themselves
Haqqislams intelligence organization. The
societys government liaison is officially listed
as an agency of the Diwn al Jund, under the
title of Hassassin ETTVAK (an acronym for
Ettelaat va Amniyat-e Keshvar, a Farsi phrase
meaning Circle of Intelligence and Security).
The public face of ETTVAK, however, is a
cover for the Hassassin Bahram (Victory in
Farsi), a supposedly ultra-secret organization
that controls the Special Operations Division of
the Sword of Allah.
In practice, the Hassassin Bahram is an open
secret, almost as well-known as PanOceanias
Hexaedron. What very few people realize
(outside of elite intelligence operatives and
fringe conspiracy channels on Maya) is that the
Bahram is also a cover operation, protecting
the true Hassassin order which operates out of
secret bases in the Alamut deserts of the Iran
Zhat Al Amat Shanate. This, the core of the
sect, is not truly under the Hachibs control.
The Hassassins are a law unto themselves.
Haqqislamite leaders are reluctant to admit
this in public even when Hassassin activities
cause anger and revulsion, at home or abroad,
believing that its better to take the blame for
the Old Mans actions than to admit that they
cannot truly control them.
HASSASSIN GOVAD Hassassin Govad (Elite)
Named for the Persian word for wind, as ATTRIBUTES
well as Zoroastrian Yazata quasi-divine
Agility Awareness Brawn Coordination
wind spirits, analogous to Christian and
Islamic angels the Govads are the original 10 9 9 9
Hassassin Order, clandestinely operating for
Intelligence Personality Willpower
years before the sects first public appearance.
Carrying out covert missions at the Old 8 8 10
Man of the Mountains behest, the larger
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
intelligence community was entirely unaware
of their presence until about ten years ago, Combat +2 2 Movement +1 1w Social +1 1
when they were nearly wiped out in a costly
Fortitude +1 Senses +1 Technical +1 1
protracted battle with the terrorist group,
Equinox. While the campaign was ultimately
DEFENCES
successful, the Govad barely survived, at one
point reduced to a single operative, Dawud Firewall Resolve Vigour
Al-Dafani.
8 10 9

Today, the rebuilt Govad function as a covert Security Morale Armour

tracking and elimination unit, but they havent
2 2
forgotten their losses at the hands of Equinox,
and are diligently preparing for their return.
ATTACKS
nn Breaker Pistol: Range R/C,
This time, theyll be ready.
1+5 damage, Burst 1, 1H,
Biotech, Breaker, Piercing 1,
Vicious 1
nn Grazeblade: Melee, 1+5
damage, 1H, Breaker, Non-
Hackable, Stun, Subtle 2,
Thrown, Toxic 3
GEAR
Multispectral Visor 1, Light
Combat Armour, Smoke
Grenades; no Cube
SPECIAL ABILITIES
nn Ever-Ready: After their near-
extinction combating Equinox,
new Govads are trained to
expect anything. They gain 2
bonus Momentum on face-to-
face tests made to determine
surprise.
nn Loyal Unto Death (2 Heat):
Hassassins never let
themselves be taken alive.
If the player characters try
to capture a Hassassin, a
Heat point spend allows the
Hassassin to take their own
life (with a concealed cyanide
capsule or similar method).

...the Govads are the original Hassassin Order, nn Old Mans Dirty Work:
Autonomous agents of Alamut,
clandestinely operating for years before the
Govads are masters of death,
sects first public appearance. with all that implies. They can
reroll up to 3 when making a
Combat test, but must accept
the new results.

SUMMER 2017 51
 HASSASSIN FIDAY Hassassin Fiday (Nemesis)
Every soldier knows that death is a ATTRIBUTES
possibility. Every contract killer knows theyre
Agility Awareness Brawn Coordination
expendable. But the Hassassin Fiday are
neither of those things; they are something 13 12 12 8
much greater. Fiday they who are willing to
Intelligence Personality Willpower
sacrifice are the Old Man of the Mountains
hidden aces. Selected from Hassassins 8 7 10
whove shown incredible skill, faith, and
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
dedication but lack the ability or desire to
pass their knowledge on to students Fiday Combat +5 3 Movement +2 2 Social +1
are assigned the Hassassin Societys most
Fortitude +3 Senses +1 1 Technical +1 1
dangerous, risky, and important missions.

DEFENCES
And so, they become the societys ultimate
weapon; elite operatives who can infiltrate any Firewall Resolve Vigour
location, and take out any target whether
9 13 15
or not they make it out alive. The rich and
powerful have always depended on the fear of Security Morale Armour
retribution to keep them safe that, and any
4 2
would-be assassins self-preservation instincts.
But neither of these things deter the Fiday.
ATTACKS nn Inevitable: The Fiday are not
After all, death is their friend, their colleague;
nn Boarding Shotgun: Range C, afraid to greet death, but
they no more fear its arrival then they would
1+8 damage, Burst 1, 2H, consider it poor manners to
the rising of the sun.
Knockdown, Medium MULTI come alone. Every time they
receive a Wound, they add
And the sun always rises. Normal Shells Mode
+1 to warfare attacks for the
(Primary): Area (Close),
remainder of the scene.
Spread 1
AP Slugs Mode nn Loyal Unto Death (2 Heat):
(Secondary): Piercing 3 Hassassins never let
themselves be taken alive.
Fiday are assigned the nn Grazeblade: Melee, 1+7
If the player characters try
damage, 1H, Breaker, Non-
Hassassin Societys most to capture a Hassassin, a
Hackable, Stun, Subtle 2,
Heat point spend allows the
dangerous, risky, and Thrown, Toxic 3
Hassassin to take their own
important missions. life (with a concealed cyanide
GEAR
capsule or similar method).
Holomask, Light Combat Armour,
Smoke Grenades; no Cube nn Zealous Charge: Once theyve
acquired their target, few
SPECIAL ABILITIES things can stop a Fiday. All
nn Common Special Abilities: Defence or Guard Reactions
Fear 1, Menacing 2. taken in response to a Fidays
attack are made at +1 difficulty,
nn Death, My Old Friend: The
and if the test fails, add 1 Heat
Fiday are resolute in the face
to the pool.
of annihilation, granting them
+4 Morale Soak.

52 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
HASSASSIN BARID Hassassin Barid (Elite)
The Hassassins power derives from the ATTRIBUTES
idea that nowhere is truly safe from them; a
Agility Awareness
Hassassin could be anyone, anywhere, and
could strike at any time. But as society moved 8 10
increasingly toward quantronic infrastructure
Intelligence
and data-based interactions, the Hassassins
knew they would have to adapt. 11
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
In response, the Barid meaning messenger
were formed. Experts at navigating Combat +2 1 Movement
quantronic environments, they provide support
Fortitude Senses
and intelligence for their fellow Hassassins
but their most notable trait is undoubtedly
their infowar capabilities. Hassassins in any
realm, their signature message is eerily similar Firewall
to their fellow Hassassins; threaten the Search
11
for Knowledge, and your smouldering corpse
will serve as a warning. Security
ATTACKS
nn Killer Hacking Device:
...their most notable CLAW-0, SWORD-2, SHIELD-0,
GADGET-0, IC-1, UPGRADE
trait is undoubtedly their
Cybermask, Sucker Punch;
infowar capabilities. +2 bonus damage,
Piercing 3
SWORD-2 Redrum: 2+6
damage, Grievous, Piercing
5, Unforgiving 2
IC-1 Black ICE: 1+1 damage
nn Rifle: Range M, 1+6 damage,
Burst 2, 2H, MULTI Light Mod,
Vicious 1
Light Shotgun Mode
(Secondary): Range C,
1+5 damage, Burst 1,
Unbalanced, Knockdown
nn Wetspike: Melee, 1+4
damage, 1H, Biotech, Piercing 1,
Subtle 3, Toxic 1
GEAR
Deployable Repeaters, Light
Combat Armour; no Cube
Brawn Coordination
8 9
Personality Willpower
9 8
+1 1 Social +1 1
+1 Technical +3 1
DEFENCES
Resolve Vigour
8 8
Morale Armour
2 2
SPECIAL ABILITIES
nn Loyal Unto Death (2 Heat):
Hassassins never let
themselves be taken alive.
If the player characters try
to capture a Hassassin, a
Heat point spend allows the
Hassassin to take their own
life (with a concealed cyanide
capsule or similar method).
nn Quantronic Assassin: Barid are
living proof that infowar can be
just as deadly as conventional
warfare if not more so. When
making an infowar attack against
a target using equipment with
the Neural quality, they can
choose to deal physical damage
instead of quantronic.
nn Trained Messenger: Whether
providing intelligence, or
making a statement, a Barids
message is always sent with
force. They can reroll one d20
when making a Tech test, but
must accept the new result.
SUMMER 2017 53
 HASSASSIN LASIQS Hassassin Lasiq (Elite)
Despite their gregarious demeanour, the life ATTRIBUTES
of a Hassassin Lasiq is a lonely one. Snipers
Agility Awareness Brawn Coordination
par excellence, they provide a quiet, precise
alternative to the orders typical methods. 8 10 8 12
Unlike the dramatic statements that other
Intelligence Personality Willpower
Hassassins employ, Lasiqs are silent,
invisible, and precise; priding themselves 8 9 8
in eliminating only their target, and leaving
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
the surrounding environs more-or-less
untouched by their presence. Combat +3 2 Movement +1 1 Social +3

Fortitude Senses +1 Technical +1

Slower and more deliberate than their
peers, Lasiqs stalk their prey to astounding
completeness. Whether by remote
surveillance, investigation, or infiltration, a
Lasiq becomes intimately familiar with their
targets their habits, routines, moods, and
deepest secrets before striking. In the
moment of death, they are often closer to
their victim than anyone else has ever been
or will ever be. Because of this, Lasiqs choose
to honour their victims, craven though they
might have been, in ways the rest of the order
normally eschews.
But make no mistake; the message is still
delivered; evil is never safe, because nowhere
is truly outside the Hassassins reach.
DEFENCES
Firewall
8 8
Security
ATTACKS
nn Viral Sniper Rifle: Range
L, 1+8 damage, Burst 2,
BioTech, Toxic 2, Unwieldy,
Unforgiving 2, Vicious 2
nn Wetspike: Melee, 1+4
damage, 1H, Biotech, Piercing 1,
Subtle 3, Toxic 1
GEAR
Climbing Plus, Fake ID 3, Light
Combat Armour, Long ModCoat,
Multispectral Visor 2; no Cube
Resolve Vigour
8
Morale Armour
1 2
SPECIAL ABILITIES
nn Applied Knowledge: The time
Lasiqs spend studying their
targets isnt for nothing. When
attacking a character they have
previously succeeded on a
Senses or Social test against,
they can reroll any dice that
did not generate a success on
the initial roll, but must accept
the new results.
nn Hawk-Eyed: Lasiq do their
best work at a distance. When
attacking at long or extreme
range, they may reroll up to
4, but must accept the new
results.

Lasiqs are silent, invisible, and precise; priding nn Loyal Unto Death (2 Heat):
Hassassins never let
themselves in eliminating only their target.
themselves be taken alive.
If the player characters try
to capture a Hassassin, a
Heat point spend allows the
Hassassin to take their own
life (with a concealed cyanide
capsule or similar method).

54 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
HASSASSIN MUYIBS Hassassin Muyib (Elite)
Sometimes, the Search for Knowledge is ATTRIBUTES
threatened by particularly resilient forces.
Agility Awareness Brawn Coordination
When the dedication of the Fidays, the
precision of the Lasiqs, and the speed of the 11 8 10 9
Ragiks proves insufficient, it poses a difficult
Intelligence Personality Willpower
question; what, precisely, can the Hassassins
do about it? The Muyibs those who answer 8 7 9
have a simple response:
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
Blow everything to hell. Combat +3 2 Movement +1 Social +1

Fortitude +3 Senses +1 Technical +1

Renowned for their precise targeting, one
might not think the Hassassins would have
DEFENCES
use for demolition experts; but in a world of
secret bases, military instillations, and TAGs, Firewall Resolve Vigour
overwhelming firepower is often the best
8 9 10
answer. They train the Muyibs in temporary
encampments in the inhospitable lands of Security Morale Armour
Alamut to provide it.
4

ATTACKS SPECIAL ABILITIES

...in a world of nn D-Charges: 2+6 damage,
1H, Anti-Materiel 2, Comms,
secret bases, military
Disposable, Piercing 3, Spread
instillations, and TAGs, 1, Unsubtle, Vicious
overwhelming firepower nn Knife: Melee, 1+5 damage,
1H, Concealed 1, Non-Hackable,
is often the best answer.
Subtle 2, Thrown, Unforgiving 1
nn Panzerfaust: Range L, 2+5
damage, 2H, Munition, Unsubtle
nn Rifle: Range M, 1+5 damage,
Burst 2, 2H, MULTI Light Mod,
Vicious 1
Light Shotgun Mode
(Secondary): Range C,
1+5 damage, Burst 1,
Unbalanced, Knockdown,
Spread 1
GEAR
Heavy Combat Armour; no Cube
nn Alamut-Hardened: Muyibs
train in the brutally inhospitable
Alamut deserts, preparing
them to face all manner of
hardships. When making a
Fortitude test, they may reroll
one d20, but must accept the
new result.
nn Explosives Expert: When
making any skill test with
explosives, a Muyib gains 3
bonus Momentum.
nn Loyal Unto Death (2 Heat):
Hassassins never let
themselves be taken alive.
If the player characters try
to capture a Hassassin, a
Heat point spend allows the
Hassassin to take their own
life (with a concealed cyanide
capsule or similar method).

SUMMER 2017 55
 HASSASSIN FARZANS Hassassin Farzan (Elite)
Farzan, a Persian name meaning Wise, is the ATTRIBUTES
title bestowed upon the Hassassins mentors,
Agility Awareness Brawn Coordination
teachers, and instructors. Veteran fighters,
their role is to guide the sects initiates in 8 10 9 8
spiritual and philosophical studies, as well
Intelligence Personality Willpower
as martial techniques. Often, this means
accompanying their students into the field, 9 10 9
providing guidance, support, intelligence, and
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
if matters become dire intervention on
their behalf. Combat +2 1 Movement +1 Social +1 1

Fortitude +1 Senses +1 Technical +2 1

As the Hassassins could be anyone, so, too,
do the Farzans seamlessly blend into society,
DEFENCES
under the guise of teachers, poets, Sufi
mystics, and other scholarly pursuits. Rather Firewall Resolve Vigour
than a disguise, Farzans maintain that they
9 9 9
are all these things, and more besides they
simply choose which aspects of their nature Security Morale Armour
to reveal.
2

ATTACKS SPECIAL ABILITIES

nn Paired Tonfa Bangles: Melee, nn Field Study: Years of
1+4 damage, 1H, Concealed instructing students have
2, Parry 4 honed the Farzans leadership
skills; fireteams they lead are
nn Rifle: Range M, 1+7 damage,
...the Farzans capable of taking Reactions.
Burst 2, 2H, MULTI Light Mod,
seamlessly blend into Vicious 1 nn Loyal Unto Death (2 Heat):
Hassassins never let
society, under the guise Light Shotgun (Secondary):
themselves be taken alive.
Range C, 1+7 damage,
of teachers, poets, If the player characters try
Burst 1, Unbalanced,
to capture a Hassassin, a
Sufi mystics, and other Knockdown, Spread 1
Heat point spend allows the
scholarly pursuits. Hassassin to take their own
GEAR
life (with a concealed cyanide
Armoured Clothing, Ballistic Vest;
capsule or similar method).
no Cube
nn Natural Born Warrior:
The Farzans have studied
every combat art known
throughout the Human Sphere
and a few that arent.
They do not pay Heat to use
Defence or Guard Reactions,
and if successful, they add
1 Heat to the pool.

56 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
HASSASSIN RAGIKS Hassassin Ragiks (Nemesis)
Innovation. Determination. Independence. The ATTRIBUTES
Ragiks of the Hassassin sect embody these
Agility Awareness Brawn Coordination
traits to near-perfection. Selected to become
part of the Hassassin Societys elite, Ragiks are 11 12 10 8
trained in secret camps in the Moons of the
Intelligence Personality Willpower
Seven Imams, supplementing their skills with
airborne assault training which allows them 9 9 11
to be rapidly inserted as blitzkrieg agents
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
into any field of operation, either to turn the
tide of battle or to seize and defend strategic Combat +3 3 Movement +2 2 Social +1 1
positions without external support.
Fortitude +2 1 Senses +1 1 Technical +2 1

Also known as the Companions, Ragiks

DEFENCES
as elite and veteran Hassassins are also
leaders, instructors, and exemplars in the Firewall Resolve Vigour
Search for Knowledge. Those who survive will
11 13 12
become section chiefs, using their hard-won
field expertise to inform their leadership. Security Morale Armour

Ragiks are also among the most public-
facing Hassassin orders, serving as liaisons
between the sect and the Sword of Allah in
order to coordinate the Hassassins military
deployments. Some struggle with the need to
emerge, however partially, from the shadows
they have made their homes, but many Ragiks
eventually embrace this role, relishing the
opportunity to stand as proud examples of
the best Haqqislam has to offer (while also still
making examples of their enemies).
Also known as the
Companions, Ragiks...
are also leaders,
instructors, and
exemplars in the Search
for Knowledge.
2 3
ATTACKS
nn Hacking Device: CLAW-1,
SWORD-1, SHIELD-1, GADGET-3,
IC-1; +1 bonus damage
CLAW-1 Spotlight
IC-1 Hivemines: 1+2
damage, Vicious 1
nn Grazeblade: Melee, 1+6
damage, 1H, Breaker, Non-
Hackable, Stun, Subtle 2,
Thrown, Toxic 3
nn Boarding Shotgun: Range C,
1+7 damage, Burst 1, 2H,
Knockdown, Medium MULTI
GEAR
AutoMediKit, Combat Jump Pack,
Medium Combat Armour; no Cube
SPECIAL ABILITIES
nn Common Special Abilities:
Menacing 1
nn Blitz: Ragiks tend to be self-
reliant; they like to hit first,
hit hard, and hit fast. When
making an attack against a
target they have not damaged
in this scene, they generate an
additional 2 Momentum.
nn Determined: Ragiks gain +2
Morale Soak.
nn Exemplar: Although the scope
is limited, Ragiks are by far
the most public Hassassins; a
burden they have trained to
carry. When making a social
skills test, they can reroll one
d20, but must accept the new
result.
nn Loyal Unto Death (2 Heat):
Hassassins never let
themselves be taken alive.
If the player characters try
to capture a Hassassin, a
Heat point spend allows the
Hassassin to take their own
life (with a concealed cyanide
capsule or similar method).

SUMMER 2017 57
 Mad Jack McMasters

SECRET WAR HEROES

WRITING: John Houlihan
ART: Dim Martin

A new series exposing

Achtung! Cthulhus
greatest heroes and
villains, beginning with a
one-man army considered
one of the Allies most
dangerous weapons

58 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
L
ieutenant Colonel Mad Jack McMasters
VC, DSO, MC + Bar (Sept. 1906-March 1996)
was a highly decorated and ever-so-slightly
deranged Allied hero, whose absolutely
fearless nature, ability to inspire men and
deep loathing of the Order of the Black
Sun made him one of the Allies most potent weapons in
Achtung! Cthulhu's Secret War.
McMasters was born in Edinburgh and educated at an
obscure public school before attending the Royal Military
College, Sandhurst. There he graduated top of his class
and was subsequently dispatched to learn his trade
as a soldier and diplomat in India, where he served as
commander of a squadron of Kashmiri Lancers.
A superb horsemen and athlete, though a somewhat
middling musician, it was in that ancient land that he
first acquired his mastery and enthusiasm for a host of
ancient weapons such as the broadsword, longbow
and lance, though it was apparently his inept handling
of the bagpipes which struck most fear into the
native inhabitants.
McMasters was stationed along the troubled North West
Frontier and distinguished himself in several minor actions
against bandits and rebellious tribesmen in the high Kush.
McMasters also served as an agent in South Waziristan
during the short lived Pinks War, where he penetrated
deep into the interior before releasing carrier pigeons to
guide British bombers to their targets.
During his time in India, McMasters played a major part
in the suppression of several devilish cults devoted
to the darker gods which held the local villagers in
thrall. McMasters, fearless to the point of recklessness,
led several raids into these cults hidden temples and
forbidden tombs. It was there he first acquired his
nickname and his distaste for what he called blasted
magic and superstition, which keeps the common man in
bondage. He also made enemies of powerful local
princes (who were rumoured to be in league with the
cults) and became a thorn in the side of his superiors,
who refused to believe his reports of dark gods and
blasphemous monsters.
McMasters left the army in 1934 and moved to America,
where he renewed his childhood friendship with screen
idol Robert Taylor, became a jobbing actor and stunt man,
and deputised for many of Hollywoods leading actors.
Between takes, he found time to represent Great Britain at
the World Archery Championships, though he refused to
go to the 1936 Olympics on the grounds that Hitler was an
absolute blighter and Ill be damned if Ill take part in a
Nazi-sponsored tournament.
With the outbreak of World War Two, McMasters was
re-commissioned and served as part of the British
Expeditionary Force in France alongside his younger
brother, Tom. It was during this campaign he formed his
famous opinion that an officer is never properly dressed
without sporting a sword and always wore his distinctive
basket-hilted highland broadsword, nicknamed 'Nelly',
during operations.
The audacious McMasters brothers volunteered for several
reconnaissance missions to thwart the German Blitzkrieg
and it was there that he first encountered the dreaded
Order of the Black Sun. Captured by a Black Sun patrol,
Mad Jack bet his and his brother's freedom that he would
prevail in single combat against the masked Canon who
commanded them. But the Canon fought the younger
brother first and killed the unfortunate Tom in a prolonged
and very deadly single combat.
Incensed, Mad Jack slew both the Canon and the rest
of his captors, and it is said he kept the Canon's head
preserved in a box which apparently accompanied
him on his campaigns throughout the rest of the war.
Sometimes, during the long vigils of the night, he could
be heard conversing with it, reinforcing his reputation for
deep eccentricity. His brothers death certainly fuelled
his implacable hatred of the Black Sun and he made it
his mission to seek out and destroy its representatives.
Soon after this incident, McMasters was recruited by the
secretive British Section M and became one of its most
trusted operatives.
After several subsequent bruising skirmishes, McMasters
realised that cold steel and a dead eye would not be
enough on their own to combat the horrors which the Black
Sun employed as both familiars and living weapons. An
encounter with Professor Richard Deadman led to Nelly
being enchanted with wards and sigils and his arrows
inscribed with the Elder Sign, so that both weapons could
damage supernatural creatures. Despite his distrust of
magic, McMasters deemed this a necessary evil, to
combat the ultimate evil.
SUMMER 2017 59
 Used to operating deep behind enemy lines, McMasters
was seconded to several successful commando operations
in the early parts of the war and served with distinction
in theatres as varied as Norway and North Africa, where
he joined the Long Range Desert Patrol Group. However,
he was an eager volunteer for any and all missions which
involved direct operations against the Black Sun and
conducted several covert raids alongside Eric Badger
Harriss commandos.
As part of Operation Archery in 1941, a raid on a secret
Black Sun base near the Norwegian town of Vgsy, he
is said to have given the signal for the attack by playing
(badly) the March of the Cameron Men on his pipes at
dawn, startling several seals and not a few unsuspecting
SS sentries, before charging in to slay several Black Sun
operatives in hand-to-hand combat. Mad Jack was awarded
the Military Cross and bar for his part in this operation. where he became a passionate surfer. He was the first
As the US entered the war in 1943, a chance encounter
with an old Hollywood colleague in the newly formed
Majestic gave McMasters a chance to serve alongside
the Tlingit, or Pathfinder demonhunters. Sharing their
fondness for melee weapons and a burgeoning hatred of
occult horrors, McMasters felt a particular affinity with the
Native Americans and was seconded to several Majestic
missions in the Far East and Pacific theatres.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL MAD JACK MCMASTERS, AGE: 33
60 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
As the war drew to a close, McMasters returned from
the East and became a consultant on the operation in
Antarctica against the Nazi base at the end of the world
that came to be known as the Assault on the Mountains of
Madness. It was there, while taking a stroll one morning to
go ice fishing, he recorded historys last known longbow
kills, when he surprised a Black Sun assassination squad on
their way to attack Allied HQ. McMasters shot half of them
down with his arrows, then charged the rest with Nelly,
fighting until none remained. Heavily wounded and almost
left for dead on the ice, he recovered to be awarded the
Victoria Cross for his endeavours.
By wars end, McMasters had earned the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel and retired from active service. He
appeared in the 1946 movie Ivanhoe as an extra alongside
old friend Robert Taylor, then spent a year in Australia,
man to surf the river Severns tidal bore and explored and
mapped much of Britains finest surfing coastline, including
the then little-known resort of Newquay, detailed in his
book Seeking the Perfect Wave. His life-long reputation
for eccentricity was cemented when, on the train home
to Surrey, he would often apparently leap through a train
window into his own back garden, explaining that he
preferred this shortcut to the roundabout walk home from
the station.
Description: Lieutenant Colonel 'Mad' Jack McMasters
(VC, DSO, MC + Bar) is a much decorated and ever-so-
slightly deranged Allied hero, whose absolutely fearless
nature, ability to inspire men and deep loathing of the
Order of the Black Sun, has made him one of the Allies'
most potent weapons in the Secret War. McMasters has a
profound love and fondness for ancient weaponry and will
often use his longbow on stealth and infiltration missions,
he likes nothing better than duelling Black Sun canons or
mythos horrors with his broadsword Nelly. He is said to
keep the head of the Black Sun canon who slew his brother
preserved in a box and when one of his occasional fits of
madness overtakes him, he can be heard talking to and
even and crooning to this macabre trophy.
Character Notes: Fearless, deranged, inspiring,
leader of men, furious.
Call of Cthulhu 6th Edition Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

STR 17 CON 17 SIZ 14 INT 15 STR 85 CON 85 SIZ 70 INT 75

POW 17 DEX 15 APP 11 EDU 15 POW 85 DEX 75 APP 55 EDU 75

SAN 50 HP 16 SAN 50 HP 16

Damage Bonus: +1D4. Damage Bonus: +1D4

Build: 1
Skills*: Climb 40%, Close Combat 65%, Command 65%,
Cthulhu Mythos 20%, Disguise 20%, Dodge 50%, Espionage Mov: 9
30%, Fieldcraft 65%, First Aid 50%, Listen 50%, Occult 20%,
Magic Points: 17
Parachute 50%, Ride 60%, Sabotage 25%, Spot Hidden
45%, Swim 40%, Tactics 60%, Throw 60%, Track 50%. Luck: 90

Language Skills*: English (own) 80%, Hindi/Urdu 65%,
Sanskrit 40%, German 50%, Japanese 20%.
* These values represent the characters skills at the time
of the Assault on the Mountains of Madness campaign.
Adjust as necessary for events taking place earlier in the
Secret War.
Skills*: Climb 40%, Command 65%, Cthulhu Mythos 20%,
Disguise 20%, Dodge 50%, Espionage 30%, Fieldcraft 65%,
Fighting (Close Combat) 65%, First Aid 50%, Listen 50%,
Occult 20%, Parachute 50%, Ride 60%, Sabotage 25%, Spot
Hidden 45%, Swim 40%, Stealth 75%, Tactics 60%, Throw
60%, Track 50%.

Language Skills*: English (own) 80%, Hindi/Urdu 65%,

Weapons: Webley .38/200 service revolver (Handgun)
Sanskrit 40%, German 50%, Japanese 20%.
60%, damage 1D10, atts 2, base range 15 yards.
* These values represent the characters skills at the time
Sten Mk.1 (Submachine Gun) 55%, damage 1D10, atts 2 or
of the Assault on the Mountains of Madness campaign.
burst, base range 30 yards.
Adjust as necessary for events taking place earlier in the
Nelly Claymore, Scottish basket-handled broadsword Secret War.
(Melee Weapon Sword) 70%, damage 1D10+4 +db, atts 2
(enchanted to be able to damage Mythos and supernatural Weapons: Webley .38/200 service revolver Firearms
entities, ignores armour), base range touch, HP 40. (Handgun) 60%, damage 1D10, atts 2, base range 15 yards.

English Longbow (Archery) 75%, damage 2D10+4 (arrows
enchanted to be able to damage Mythos and supernatural
creatures), range 300 yds.
Special Abilities: When Nelly inflicts damage on a
spellcaster, all their subsequent rolls are at Hard difficulty.
This penalty lasts for three hours. Mad Jack relishes close
quarters combat and a chance for Nelly to weave her
spell. As well as his formidable double attack, he receives
up to two chances to parry per round at no penalty.
Sten Mk.1 Firearms (SMG) 55%, damage 1D10, atts 2 or
burst, base range 30 yards.
Nelly Firearms (sword) 75%, Claymore, Scottish basket-
handled broadsword, damage 1D10+4 +db, atts 2, base
range touch (enchanted to be able to damage Mythos and
supernatural entities, ignores armour).
English Longbow Firearms (Bow) 75%, damage 2D10+4
(arrows enchanted to be able to damage Mythos and
supernatural creatures), range 300 yds.

Special Abilities: When Nelly inflicts damage on a

spellcaster, all their subsequent rolls are at Hard difficulty.
This penalty lasts for three hours. Mad Jack relishes close
quarters combat and a chance for Nelly to weave her
spell. As well as his formidable double attack, he receives
up to two chances to parry per round at no penalty.

SUMMER 2017 61
 INTO
THE WASTELAND
As Modiphius prepares to render Bethesdas
post-apocalyptic video game series in glorious
32mm detail, we sneek a peep at the beasts
and bots headed to your tabletop.

SCULPTS: Domingo Daz Fermn, Jonny La Trobe-Lewis,

Ana Romn Pea, Jamie Phipps, and Luigi Terzi

I
n Fallout: Wasteland Warfare,
players will build their own crew from
a wide range of factions including the
Brotherhood of Steel, Super Mutants,
Fallout: Wasteland Warfare includes an
Survivors, Raiders, The Institute, and The
entire campaign arc as well as unique random
Enclave. Youll be able to add allies and
missions with narrative-style objectives, while
well-known characters from the Fallout series,
Crew Caps recovered in missions can be used
and play in games of 3-30 high quality 32mm
to improve the crews perks, weapons, gear,
scale resin miniatures through a huge variety
and upgrades for the next encounter. In either
of iconic scenery and settlement buildings,
Player vs. Player or Tournament mode, players
from the Red Rocket to Sanctuary Hills,
try to survive the tabletop wasteland.
Nuka-Cola vending machines, gas powered
turrets and wrecked vehicles.
The game also includes a customizable solo-
Settlements will include
play AI deck to control enemies that play
buildings, defenses and
to their strengths and replicate a factions
resources that impact
tactics, while attempting a narrative mission
the crews army list
or perfecting settlement-building strategy.
and abilities in
Growing your forces with expansions grants
the wasteland.
you more AI cards, adding further challenges
and variety to the battlefield with new
wasteland encounters. Add creatures and
robots to your collection with Sentry Bots,
Deathblows, Rad Scorpions, Protectrons and
more, ready to make your survivors day hell!

The first releases include the Two-player

Starter Box featuring 11 miniatures of
Survivors and Super Mutants, 10 dice,
90 cards plus rules and counters to get you
playing. Then expand your factions with
either the Brotherhood of Steel, Super
Mutants or Survivors box sets, with more
factions to follow.

62 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
Through the forthcoming Campaign boxes,
players can also team up with a friend to
build and defend actual settlements
or explore narrative missions in
cooperative games against AI
forces or the post-apocalyptic
dangers of the wasteland.

Follow the development at

www.modiphius.com/development-blog
and watch out for the pre-order launching
soon at www.modiphius.com/fallout. n

SUMMER 2017 63
 THE
REMOTE
GAUNTLET
TEXT: Bjrn Hellqvist

ART: Simon Stlenhag

Copyright 2017 Simon
Stlenhag and Fria Ligan AB

PAARHUFER MK 79
SEMI-AUTONOMOUS SERVICE UNIT
Manufacturer: Paarhufer Industrie Walking time: 6 hours (patrol)
GmbH, Dsseldorf, West Germany
Lifting capacity grip claw: max
Height: 20.5 (6.2 meters) 1750 lbs (800 kg)

Weight: 5 tons Control unit: remote gauntlet,

range 550 yards (500 meters).
Power Sources: 4 Ziegler-Strohm
Weight of backpack unit + remote
552-X electric motors + gasoline-
gauntlet: 15.5 lbs (7 kg)
powered emergency drive

Speed: 7.5 mph (12 kph) (patrol),

22 mph (35 kph) (sprint)

64 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
P
aarhufer Mk 79 is a
maintenance robot that can
handle simpler routine tasks
independently, but can also
be used by an operator with a
remote control unit (remote
gauntlet). Since its introduction in 1982, the
model has become commonplace in the Loop
area and in the rest of the industrialized world,
used for example on construction sites and
in forestry. It needs relatively even ground for
moving around, but is durable and enduring
in most environments. It is available in both a
civilian and a military version, but the latter is
not used by the Swedish Army.
The robot is ideal for work in radioactive or
chemically contaminated environments, and
the electronics are protected from anything
but the most powerful Gdel pulses. It is
programmed to look for a charging station
when the battery charge drops below 10%,
but if it stops before that, an operator can
manually start an emergency drive so that the
robot can reach the nearest charging station.
The remote gauntlet has a transmission range
of 550 yards (500 meters), but for practical
reasons, the operator rarely stays further
away than 110 yards (100 meters) in order to
see what he is doing. The sensor units consist
of TV and thermal vision cameras, and the
programming allows the robot to detect if a
person is in danger zone. To avoid personal
injury, the robot is paused when someone is
within 10 (3 meters) in a 30 degree sector in
front of it, but if the remote gauntlet is used,
the safety function is switched off. A sensor in
the back can detect obstacles, but it is poor at
detecting humans. A pair of forward-looking
headlamps are used for work in the dark and
poor lighting conditions.
The main tool is a claw for heavy lifting, but it
can be replaced with, for example, a felling and
delimbing attachment for forest harvesting.
A newer version, Mk 81, was introduced in
1984, and has two robotic arms for improved
manipulation capability, and consequently has
two remote gauntlets connected to the control
unit. This version is equipped with a camera
and can be remote controlled from a control
center up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) away.
Paarhufer Mk 79 is a successful design,
and is expected to be in service for many
years to come. New versions are planned,
but economically advantageous upgrade
packages can also extend the working life of
older robots. n
MYSTERY SUGGESTIONS
nn Its Friday and school is over for the weekend. The characters
find a service robot. In an unlocked shed next to it, is the
remote control unit. The robot is out of charge, and needs to
be connected to the nearby charging post. Will anyone miss
the robot before Monday?
nn A Paarhufer runs amok in town. It wrecks cars and people flee
in a panic. Somebody has to stand somewhere and control the
robot with a remote gauntlet. Who does it and why?
nn The characters are out in the woods when they encounter a
smoking service robot. Theres a large metal box with warning
text in its claw. There is no sign of any operator. If you work it
for a while, the box can be pried from the grip of the claw.
What might it hold?
SUMMER 2017 65
 Sieging the Solar System WRITING: Marc Langworthy, Bill Heron the Prophet
ART: Paul Bonner, Stefan Kopinski

F
irst things first: we did it! We
successfully made it to the
end of the Mutant Chronicles
Kickstarter project, and what
a ride its been! I (and this is
Mark speaking) personally
came fully on board the project around the
time the Dark Legion Campaign rules were
being written, which seems so long ago now.
Modiphius has gone from strength to strength
since, which resulted in the team dynamics
altering to accommodate the rapid growth,
but we took it all in our stride and worked
hard to ultimately deliver an amazing array of
sourcebooks and material.
Our focus since has been on delivering the
crossover rules that will allow the roleplaying
game to be played using Siege of the Citadel
components in a more tactical environment.
What does that mean? The third edition of
Mutant Chronicles is a more narrative form
of RPG than its predecessor by design;
for instance, combat is played out across
loose Zones rather than tactical grids, with
movement and range tracked in a more

66 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
abstract fashion that requires no measuring of
distance. By offering mechanics that integrate
with the tactical grid, the crossover rules have
been designed to bridge the gap between
the two styles of play. Having been a fan of
the setting since its first edition, Im personally
very excited to see how the rules are received
as there is plenty of flavour from those earlier
editions in there.
Although it ended some time ago, there is still
a chance to join in on the hugely successful
Siege of the Citadel Kickstarter through the
Modiphius website. Not only will this great
opportunity allow you to pick up a huge
range of miniatures that will further enrich
your games, it will also provide you with the
opportunity to experience the setting through
a different and dynamic medium.
Were also all set to launch the Living
Campaign, so make sure you sign up for
updates over this exciting opportunity to
shape a part of the rich history of Mutant
Chronicles. Beyond that, we have a tactical
update planned which will offer variant 2d20
rules to bring the system in line with iterations
for other settings (such as Conan and Infinity),
plus some cool campaigns that will bridge the
gap between the different eras of play.
In the words of the Doomtroopers themselves:
There is nothing that cannot be defeated by
relentless determination and unfettered
valour. Fear naught, for we are humanitys
salvation.
SUMMER 2017 67
 METROPOLITAN PROPHET
One of the most insidious threats of all to
Humanity, Semais Metropolitan Prophets
Metropolitan Prophet (Elite)
are massively muscled humanoids born from ATTRIBUTES
the Ritual known as the Seed of Semai.
Strength Physique Agility Awareness
Usually covered in the gore of their host,
the taut muscles and tendons of their face 12 (+1)/15 (+2) 12 (+1)/15 (+3) 9 8
form a rictus grin that exposes their teeth in
Coordination Intelligence Mental Strength Personality
a feral snarl.
8 8 8 5
Born from a Ritual known as The Seed of
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
Semai, the one-way transformation brings
forth the corruption of an individual in the Combat Fortitude Movement Senses Social Technical
most visceral way possible. Heretics volunteer
EXP FOC EXP FOC EXP FOC EXP FOC EXP FOC EXP FOC
for the blessing, often to conduct suicide
missions or as a safeguard against capture, 2 2 - - 1 - 2 - 1 - 1 -
but cults of Semai have been known to target
Wounds: 10/14 Soak: Toughened Hide (All 1/All 3)
specific individuals in positions of power who
are well-placed to carry out acts of terror
ATTACKS
and sabotage.
nn Fists (melee): 2+ 6/3+ 7, 1H, Knockdown,
Metropolitan Prophets remain human in Stun
appearance until the change is triggered,
nn Metropolitan Handcannon (ranged):
though their muscle mass increases and they
Range M, 1+ 6, Automatic, 2H, Ammo
become freakishly dense; more than one
(Black Bullets), Vicious 1
untransformed Prophet has been given away
by a vehicles suspension straining under
SPECIAL ABILITIES
their mass. This has caused some Heretics
to disrespectfully call the creatures Hydes. nn Fear (2)
With but a thought when the time is right, the
nn Feed Upon Fear
Seed can be activated to transform the host,
showering anyone nearby with the gore of nn Inured to Pain
their flesh as it is ripped asunder by muscles
nn Inured to Poison
and skeleton that tauten and thicken. The
change to a Metropolitan Prophet is a one- nn (Monstrous Creature)
way ticket; to all intents and purposes, the
nn Night Vision
human host no longer exists and death is the
only release. nn Slave to Symmetry (1)

nn Supernatural Physique (1[2])

nn Supernatural Strength (1[3])

nn Flawless Infiltrator: When clad in a human

form, a Metropolitan Prophet is largely
indistinguishable from an ordinary human
being and fully able to pass unnoticed. Any
tests attempting to discern their true nature
or intent while operating in human guise are
increased in difficulty by two steps.

68 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
SUMMER 2017 69
 THE SEED OF SEMAI
(RITUAL)
Much like Dark Gifts, rituals are cast using a
Willpower test, which includes the fact that the
roll is effectively an attempt to resist mental
trauma. For more information on rituals, see
the Mutant & Heretics Source Book.

DIFFICULTY: Dire (D3)

TARGET: One object or willing Heretic

nn Reading the Flows: Thanks to visions COMPONENTS: One Object

born from the direct infusion of Symmetry
TIME: 3 Hours
during their transformation, Prophets gain
a preternatural insight during combat. CORRUPTION: 3
Metropolitan Prophets always act first
EFFECT: Semais ways are those of subtlety
during a combat round (they do not need
and guile. His rituals are no different. This ritual
to spend Dark Symmetry Points to do so).
allows the caster to use the First Voice to
If another creature possesses a similar
embed the Seed of Semai directly into a willing
ability, the creature with the highest Agility
Heretic or into an item of some kind.
acts first.
For items, the caster holds it over their head
nn Vile Dissolution: Thanks to mortuary
while intoning invocations to Semai, meaning
enzymes, a Metropolitan Prophet reduced
the ritual is often used on smaller objects such
to zero Wounds dissolves into a pool of
as jewellery or business cards. This object is
foul-smelling goo that quickly evaporates.
then passed to the chosen victim, often under
the guise of a gift. If freely accepted by the
DARK SYMMETRY SPEND
victim, the Seed of Semai gradually takes root;
nn Carnivorous Birth: For one Dark Symmetry like an inner voice, it begins whispering to the
point, the Metropolitan Prophet bursts victim in dreams, encouraging non-Heretics
forth from in a shower of gore. Anyone along a path of corruption.
viewing the Carnivorous Birth must make a
Each day, the victim must make a Challenging
Challenging (D2) Willpower Test or suffer
(D2) Willpower Test, increased by one
a mental assault. When transformed, the
difficulty for every Corrupted Mental Wound
creature benefits from increased strength
they possess (maximum of Epic (D5)). Failure
and physique these are noted as the
means they increase their Corrupted Mental
secondary statistics in the profile above. It
Wounds by one. Once all of their Mental
also gains the Monstrous Creature special
Wounds are corrupted, the Seed of Semai has
ability (noted in parentheses, above). The
taken root and the Metropolitan Prophet lurks
Prophets Handcannon remains disguised
underneath the victims skin. Heretics do not
as a fairly innocuous item until the
need to make a Willpower Test the Seed of
transformation is triggered.
Semai takes root automatically. n
nn Creature of Symmetry: As powerful tools of
Semai, Metropolitan Prophets (and Heretics
prior to the change) may use the following
Dark Gifts: Sense Weaves of Power, Dark
Curse, Stir the Dark Heart, and True Fear.

70 MODIPHIA ISSUE #2
 So, Lets
Hear From
S
o, that wraps up another one.
We hope youve enjoyed this
second issue of Modiphia.
We are trying to pack each
one full of all the very best
content for the increasing
range of Modiphius games, and to give you a
glimpse into whats new, whats coming and
whats happening. All things being equal,
well be back in a few months time with a
pre-Christmas edition to whet your appetites
some more.
Id like to thank everyone who has helped pull
this sun-bleached summer edition together,
especially contributors like John Houlihan
and Alan Paull, who are very much our go-to
lets get the ball rolling writers.
But those guys are bound to take a day or two
off eventually, so Id like to remind all readers
that wed love to hear from you, both in terms
of what content youd like to see in future
issues, but also to see your creative ideas for
any of our games. There are a few items in this
issue created by fans, and we would like to
see that grow as we move along.
As an additional incentive, any fan contribution
published by the magazine will earn its creator
YOU...
a $30 voucher which can be spent through the
Modiphius.com online store, meaning youll
have even more games you can write about,
earning still more vouchers its the path to
gagillionaire status.
Some of the games Modiphius publishes are
done under license, so just be aware that the
sooner we see your ideas the better, because
we might need to get them checked for
copyright issues, or somesuch.
Send your words n pics to:
support@modiphius.com, and they should
find their way to the crowded editorial desk
here at Modiphia.
Right, were off to the beach. Have a great
gaming summer, and well see you sometime
in the fall. n
Paul Cockburn
Editor
SUMMER 2017 71