Bath Imaginable

This year I’m participating in the Appendix N Jam. My prompt was Warriors of the Bleached Basin.

I spent the first hour of this game jam wondering if I should design a gladiator arena for Mausritter about a sink in an old garage filled with dangerous human junk. You know, mice fighting in a dusty dome called The Bleached Basin–sometimes the mice flood it for aquatic battles (picture it: two mice on each handle turning on the water, mice and other rodents cheering and screaming for blood, a fat cat watches from a shelf on high). As cute as that sounds, I decided it’s outside of the scope and spirit of this jam, which is supposed to reflect mid-century pulp novels.

Like with barbecue (not grilling, barbecue; another skill I’ve been trying to dial-in this summer), I’ll probably get the best results for my first ever *game ham* if I keep things as simple as possible.

Warriors of the Bleached Basin (for Cairn 2e)

I’m picturing a science-fantasy setting in a dried up river basin. There’s a mountain, a salt-stained valley, an ancient lighthouse, and a mysterious ancient gate (it’s missing a huge piece, and it no longer functions).

1. Reptilians–the Warrior tribes protecting the last of the muddy water from exploitation.
2. The Sea Hag–Hiding in the flooded remains of her ancient lighthouse, casting desperate magics for the water to return.
3. The Basilisk–Slithers in the deep, dried up ravines throughout the region. A single, apex predator. Leaves a trail of petrified victims.
4. The Roc–Perches on the mountain top. Hunts the reptilians below.
5. Root Goblins–Live throughout warrens in the thick, dead brush of the ravines.
6. Industrialists–Pump water from below with rusted machines. Live in odd, square houses. Travelled through the gate.

Industrialists
4 HP, 1 Armor, 12 STR, 12 DEX, 11 WIL, firewhipper (d6, blast)

• Interlopers with advanced knowledge of metal working and manufacturing. Groups of four or more are a detachment.
• A detachment always travels with a leader holding an heirloom boomstick (d10).
• On taking Critical Damage, the industrialist’s fuel tank explodes in a fireball (d10, blast) igniting flammable objects around them.

If I’m being honest… I’m not in love with my idea, but I’ve been sitting on it for like a week now letting it take root and at a certain point you just need to commit to *an* idea and hope you fall in love along the way.

Today I’ll be working on the map: I only have four A5 pages for the whole adventure, and I’m kind of keen on doing a cover, so I’ll need to keep it a simple map for legibility. Stay tuned.