Duel: Captain Blood vs. Levasseur

Sometimes the best way to learn a new role-playing game is to create some characters and engage them in a conflict of some sort. One way to learn a role-playing game that emulates a literary genre is to adapt some characters from the literary source and play a scene from it. With this in mind, I have decided to start a series I call "Duel" in which I take two characters from a swashbuckling film or novel, translate them into game terms, and present them as adversaries.

For the first installment, I will be using two characters from the 1935 film Captain Blood (directed by Michael Curtiz and based on the novel by Rafael Sabatini). This film is notable for showcasing one of the first great fencing scenes in the history of swashbuckling film. It was performed by Errol Flynn (as Captain Blood) and Basil Rathbone (as Levasseur).

The duel occurs on a beach. Honor and innocent lives are at stake. Blood and Levasseur have had an uneasy alliance as the two most renowned pirate captains in the Caribbean, but they are allies no longer and only one will leave the beach alive.

The following character interpretations were created using the rules of All for Me Grog, the pirate role-playing game by Ryan Shelton (available in PDF and print).

Dr. Peter Blood a.k.a. Captain Blood

 

Attributes

Bloode: 3

Skull: 4

Grog: 2

Salt: 9

 

Vocations

Captain: 4

Doctor: 3

Swordsman: 5

Pistoleer: 3

 

Embellishments

Doctor's Bag: 2

Splendid Hat: 1

 

Concept

An Irish doctor with past experience as a mercenary, he was wrongfully accused of treason and sent to Jamaica to be sold into slavery. After escaping, he embarked on a new career as a pirate.

(Portrayed in the movie Captain Blood by Errol Flynn.)

Levasseur

 

Attributes

Bloode: 3

Skull: 2

Grog: 4

Salt: 9

 

Vocations

Captain: 4

Swordsman: 4

Pistoleer: 3

Pirate: 3

Rake: 1

 

Embellishments

Unknown: 3

 

Concept

A proud French buccaneer and captain of his own pirate ship, he was formerly an ally of Captain Blood.

(Portrayed in the movie Captain Blood by Basil Rathbone.)

Vocations of a Piratical Nature

This is an expanded list of sample vocations for the swashbuckling role-playing game, All for Me Grog (also suitable for Fudge, Risus, D6, and many other games). Use it as a random generator, a list from which to choose, or a combination of both. Different vocations or entirely new ones may be substituted for any result.


Vocational Categories

Roll 1d6

1. Nautical Vocations 1
2. Nautical Vocations 2
3. Questionable Vocations
4. Combat Vocations
5. Miscellaneous Vocations 1
6. Miscellaneous Vocations 2


Nautical Vocations 1

Roll 1d12

1. Captain
2. Master
3. Boatswain
4. Gunner
5. Quartermaster
6. Carpenter
7. Mate
8. Doctor
9. Purser
10. Able Seaman
11. Able Seaman or Ordinary Seaman
12. Able Seaman or Landsman


Nautical Vocations 2

Roll 1d12

1. Cartographer
2. Cook
3. Cooper
4. Diver
5. Fisherman
6. Hunter
7. Navigator
8. Netmaker
9. Ropemaker
10. Sailmaker
11. Shipwright
12. Signaler



Questionable Vocations

Roll 1d12

1. Burglar
2. Drinker
3. Filcher
4. Forger
5. Gambler
6. Grifter
7. Pickpocket
8. Pirate
9. Privateer
10. Rake
11. Smuggler
12. Spy


Combat Vocations

Roll 1d12

1. Axe Wielder/Thrower
2. Brawler
3. Brute
4. Grenadier
5. Harpooner
6. Knife Wielder/Thrower
7. Musketeer
8. Pikeman
9. Pistoleer
10. Pugilist
11. Swordsman
12. Wrestler


Miscellaneous Vocations 1

Roll 1d12

1. Acrobat
2. Artist
3. Baker
4. Brewer
5. Butcher
6. Carver
7. Clergyman
8. Diplomat
9. Farmer
10. Innkeeper
11. Juggler
12. Lawyer


Miscellaneous Vocations 2

Roll 1d12

1. Merchant
2. Musician
3. Naturalist
4. Nobleman
5. Potter
6. Scholar
7. Shopkeeper
8. Singer
9. Smith
10. Storyteller
11. Tailor
12. Vintner

[All for Me Grog is a piratey role-playing game by Ryan Shelton available in PDF and print.]

[Edit: "Criminal Vocations" was renamed "Questionable Vocations."]

All for Me Grog and Grog for All

Any whisper on the wind of a piratical role-playing game always piques my interest, and when word of such a scheme reached me from the shores of The Savage Afterworld, I knew it bore further inspection. The game in question is All for Me Grog by Ryan Shelton, available at RPGNow in PDF, print, and PDF/print formats for a very low price (with the PDF currently at $3.00 and the PDF/print combination at a mere $5.00). Having purchased and read the PDF (and awaiting the arrival of the softcover), I can confirm that the rules look promising and I am eagerly anticipating the chance to test its seaworthiness. I'll belay a review of my own until then, but in the meantime, I direct you to Shiver Me Timbers! A Review of "All for Me Grog" Cinematic Pirate RPG by renowned sea dog Tim Snider.