Author: Marc Benson

Ran the opening session of our season 2 of Monsterhearts Friday.

Ran the opening session of our season 2 of Monsterhearts Friday.

Ran the opening session of our season 2 of Monsterhearts Friday. Been in panic mode the last two days planning and yet not planning. Trying to figure out the relationship dynamics of the town and highschool after a year of mystic shenanigans and a good 1/2 of the Professor Clayheart’s (admittedly small) class either getting killed or turned into some sort of supernatural.

The biggest problem I have is trying to figure out compelling interpersonal hooks for the players. That, and trying to ballance player egos and will to do things and not be stymied with the delicious drama of stymieing them. Any advice in this area from fellow MCs? I’d love to go more into detail. But i know at least one pf my players pays attention to this group.

I just wrapped up a 10 session campaign of Monsterhearts 2ed.

I just wrapped up a 10 session campaign of Monsterhearts 2ed.

I just wrapped up a 10 session campaign of Monsterhearts 2ed. And while I wish to take a break from MCing for a bit. I was wondering, how well do the skins from 1st ed. transfer over?I have a ton of playbooks printed off for fan made skins. And some of them I’d love to use as options for the next game . Just to throw some variety into the mix. But if it requires major rejiggering. I think I’ll pass.

Played our first session of a Night Witches campaign tonight.

Played our first session of a Night Witches campaign tonight.

Played our first session of a Night Witches campaign tonight. Our intrepid young ladies ( Lara, Hanna, Masha and Ira )managed to make it to Engels and through training. Making a name for themselves in some good and bad ways. They managed to make an enemy of Tatyana and her gang of lackeys by standing up to her bullying of the other girls. Impressed the captain with their initiative and pulled off their first bombing mission without a hitch. Now if they could just navigate the dangerous social waters as deftly as they do the night skies.

Now it’s off to the front, Galina and Alexandra in tow,To brave the Fascist dogs and strike back for the Motherland!

Not entirely on topic.

Not entirely on topic.

Not entirely on topic. However , seeing as many of the people who are interested in Night Witches are also at least mildly interested in history. I figured I’d link this interesting lecture. The title really says it all. And requires little expanding upon. either way the US Army War college has some wonderful lectures posted on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Clz27nghIg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Clz27nghIg

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwWT5ozw6aoDREh3bHJEbl9Qbkk&usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwWT5ozw6aoDREh3bHJEbl9Qbkk&usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwWT5ozw6aoDREh3bHJEbl9Qbkk&usp=sharing

About a month back. Right before a local con. I put together a selection of pictures to give to a good friend to use for portraits of pilots and NPCs in her Night Witches game. Another friend of mine used his graphic design skills to crop the photos down to Polaroid size and print them off in black and white. For use as visual aids in the game.

It worked out great (i guess). As I was not in her game. But, have been in games that used similar methods. And found that it added a lot to the enjoyment of the session. In the spirit of helping out the community. I offer the pictures up for people to use as they wish. I hope you get much enjoyment out of it. 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwWT5ozw6aoDREh3bHJEbl9Qbkk&usp=sharing

So, I ran my first session of Night Witches over the weekend at a con.

So, I ran my first session of Night Witches over the weekend at a con.

So, I ran my first session of Night Witches over the weekend at a con. When we changed duty stations I volunteered to take over GMing duties. And it was a blast.

 Though despite how hard I tried to make it grim and capture the vibe of the setting. Night Phase, no problemo. It was a brutal run of poor luck. With one plane shot down and another two damaged. I found that our Day Phase, while fun and productive. ended up, in many ways, feeling a bit like MASH. With the players trying to work around authority and the outright idiocy (at times) of the military. And backroom deals with unsavory people for black market goods. All in all it was great. If not exactly what I was shooting for. Anyone else have a similar experience? 

As a side note, I think part of the disconnect, at least for me, was the nature of it being a one-shot. Without a ton of time to get attached to the characters and have them become interconnected amongst themselves. That, coupled with the fact that they had their full bag of tricks to throw at the NKVD to thwart their designs. Which I’ll admit. I rather enjoyed watching the players scramble, pulling out every stop to dodge a full blown inquiry.

More photos I forgot to add from my trip to the museum.

More photos I forgot to add from my trip to the museum.

More photos I forgot to add from my trip to the museum. Rear view of the same plane. The Russian on the side translates to “Vengeance  for Duchia!” who was a pilot in the Night Witches killed in battle. The 23 on the tail fin was chosen to commemorate the 23 pilots who were awarded HSUs. 

The plane apparently came from Poland where it was discovered wrecked and restored by an aviation society. Before bought by Paul Allen. Not sure about the rest of the history surrounding it. 

In addition, right next to the PO-2 was a German searchlight and generator. Apparently the searchlights operated in three truck groups. One with a searchlight, one towed the generator and the third carried the visual range finding and sighting equipment and a audio direction finder. Operated by a  crew of 13 people.

After work today I ran across the street to the Flying Heritage Museum and snapped some pictures of their Po-2.

After work today I ran across the street to the Flying Heritage Museum and snapped some pictures of their Po-2.

After work today I ran across the street to the Flying Heritage Museum and snapped some pictures of their Po-2. The thing that struck me the most was the control mechanism is nothing more than an external lever that pulls a cable to adjust the flaps and ailerons. You can clearly see it on the middle of the fuselage. In addition to the flap elevation cables that run from the front to the rear. It’s very primitive with just foot pedals that pivot the wires via tension.

I was able to reach out and touch the wing. it’s about as sturdy as cardboard.I asked the museum people if I could get a closeup of the control panels. But, they wouldn’t let me cross the barrier to snap a picture. Much sadness.