Past Game Books – ACNI 2026

The game book contain lists of the players and GMs associated with the various games that have been selected for play over the years.

AmberCon NI 2026 Game Book

Tuesday – Slot 1 (Evening)

(7pm – Late)

Game 1/2: Six Sigma

GM: Kevin D
Cast: 4-6
System: LoGaS+
Genre: Spy Games

Description:

Six Sigma is a data-driven, disciplined business methodology that uses statistical analysis to improve processes by identifying and eliminating the root causes of defects and minimizing variation. The primary goal is to achieve near-perfect quality, statistically defined as a process producing no more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO). This is accomplished through a structured problem-solving framework, most commonly the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control) method, which guides teams to make informed decisions based on facts rather than assumptions, ultimately leading to enhanced customer satisfaction, increased efficiency, and significant cost savings.

You are an opportunity.

You’ve been bred, trained and forged. You serve the eternal Bastiano, Empire-Maker, Army-Builder.

You’ve been called for a very particular mission.

Characters:

  • What do you look like? Pictures please.
  • What are your key skills?
  • What is your schtick? Your special skill? Everyone has an often jealously guarded speciality or two!
  • Characters should be constructed using 105 points. Invocation is unavailable.

Players:

  1. George K
  2. Guy A
  3. Keith PM
  4. Kevin D (GM)
  5. Simone PM
  6. Stephen Q

Wednesday – Slot 2 (Morning)

(10am – 5pm)

Game 2/2: What the King doesn’t know…

GM: Simone PM
Cast: 4-6
System: ADRPish
Genre: Investigation

Description:

It’s been a challenge being one of Random’s most trusted agents, but you’ve acquitted yourself well, in Amber and further afield. However, there are some things which the King would rather not know about, and that’s where Caine steps in. It seems he has an off-the-books mission that he thinks you’d be ideal for.

Characters:

You are Random’s trusted agents. Whether you got here on your own merits, or because someone else engineered it, you have apparently proven your loyalty to the Crown and that’s a good thing, right?

Characters could be career military, explorers, sneaky bastards or other interested parties. Some minor powers and abilities available. Character creation details will be sent out later.

This game follows on from last year’s game, but new and existing characters are welcome.
This game uses the same general background and character creation as my Hostile Territory game, and existing characters from that game can be played in this one.

Players:

  1. Alan W
  2. George K
  3. Guy A
  4. Kevin D
  5. Keith PM
  6. Oli P
  7. Simone PM (GM)
  8. Stephen Q

Wednesday – Slot 3 (Evening)

(7pm – Late)

Game 3/1: A Fiasco In Amber

GM: Fiona W
Cast: 2-4 + GM
System: Fiasco
Genre: Farce

Description:

Fiasco is inspired by cinematic tales of small-time capers gone disastrously wrong. You’ll play Amberites (probably) with powerful ambition and poor impulse control. There will be big dreams and flawed execution. It won’t go well for them and, in the end, it will probably collapse into a glorious heap of jealousy, murder and recrimination. Lives and reputations shall be lost, painful wisdom shall be gained and, if you’re really lucky, someone else might end up with the crown upon their head.

Characters:

This is a game of Fiasco, using an Amber themed playset that I have created. Fiasco is a collaborative storytelling improv game where we figure out who are characters are and what the story is as we play. The only thing we know is that it’s going to be a complete and total fiasco!
No character creation or preparation is needed beforehand, but it might be useful to have a look at how Fiasco is played if you haven’t played before.

Gameplay Example:

Players:

  1. Becca D
  2. Guy A
  3. Keith PM
  4. Matthew B
  5. Natalie A
  6. Shadow A (GM)
  7. Stephen Q

Game 3/2: Death Stranding

GM: Alan W
Cast: 4-6
System: ADRPG
Genre: Post apocalyptic survival

Description:

“I worry that one day you’ll go missing
And who will notice when you’re gone?
I bet I’ll call you farther from afar
And break the news that you have vanished
Like a star.” [London Grammar]

Somehow, Amber managed to weaponize the countless Chaosian dead. The realm is fragmented; what remains of the government clings on while separatist factions try to pull it down. You are the last hope for Thelbane – the elite couriers of Bridges.chz make sure vital supplies get to where they need to be. Usually this is done solo, but for this mission, you have been brought together to form a team. What could this important?

Characters:

75pts, no Advanced powers, further details from the GM.

Players:

  1. Alan W (GM)
  2. Anna J
  3. Keith PM
  4. Kevin D
  5. Marieke K
  6. Stephen Q

Thursday – Slot 4 (Morning)

(10am – 5pm)

Game 4/1: Things There Are….

GM: Keith PM
Cast: 4-6
System: Modified ADRPG

Description:

Things there are that have never loved Amber and their ilk of Shadow nor those of Chaos and their vassals born of the Abyss. That have existed outside of the Dominion of the Courts of Amber and of Chaos Spheres. Long before their Trespassing Kindreds rents Stones from the shores of the Dreaming and brought Order to the curve of the Hills of the Far Shores and dug up Iron and other Bane’s from the very Bones of the Seeming and wrought their petty Chaos Tricks and Magiks against the Primordials, Spirits and Beasts that guarded the Boundaries and Hidden Paths of the Farwilds of the Dream. Binding some and Taming others.

So that once when the Dream had been the Heart of the Youngest of Days there had been The Mountains that Sang with Voices. The Great Lakes and Rivers from which flowed the Magic of the Dreaming, the Endless Forests of Whispers, The Fair Folk and the Fae Folk born of the First Cause and the Sea of Stars that boarder the Nightmare Realms of the Outermost Void from Once they had banish the Great Old Ones of the Time Before Time.

But the Trespasses of the Kindreds of Amber and Chaos grow more and more insistent, they have brought the bitter bite of Iron to the Trees and wretched stench of fire and smoke to the Dales along the Fastness of the Far Shores. They have tamed some of the humbler Beasts and drive the Ancient Spirits to grief and heartache. And they also the knowledge of good, evil and death for they were both virtuous and blind.

The High King Fanvarra and His Fairest Queen Onagh have called you Champions and Wise among the races of the Dream to go forth and see what might be done with these who trespass upon the edge of the Dreamworlds of Tír na nÓg.

Characters:

Characters are Sidhe, Yōkai, Feadh-Ree or Fairy kind spoken of in mortal myths and legends tasked with investigating and taking action against those that have grown more and more persistent in causing harm to the Dream. Characters will be built around 150 points plus 10 points for any short myths concerning them in the Otherside.

Players:

  1. Frey S
  2. Guy A
  3. Keith PM (GM)
  4. Kevin D
  5. Oli P
  6. Scott S

Game 4/2: Stargate SG-13

GM: Anna J
Cast: 4-6
System: None
Genre: Stargate

Description:

Okay so you may be the butt of a few jokes at the SGC (Stargate Command) for having the unluckiest call sign, but you’re part of a skilled Stargate team with a number of successful off-world missions under your belt. Sure you don’t get the same high-profile assignments as SG-1 but while they’re off getting most of the glory, the rest of the SG teams like yours are quietly getting on with the job, keeping the Earth a safer place.

Characters:

Background should include education, how you came to be in SGC (e.g. through the armed forces, NASA or because of a relevant academic background) and why you suspect you were passed over for a spot on SG-1.

Players:

  1. Alan W
  2. Anna J (GM)
  3. Fiona W
  4. George K
  5. Simone PM
  6. Stephen Q
  7. Vivek D

Thursday – Slot 5 (Evening)

(7pm – Late)

Game 5/2: The Helgram Game

GM: Trish H
Cast: 4-6
System: Modified ADRPG

Description:

The Helgram Game is a mission-style team-based game set in primarily in the Black Zone, based out of the Helgram Zócalo, the major area of “civilisation” in its particular region of the Black Zone. The Zócalo is a base and port of call for traders, refugees, businessmen, diplomats and travellers from a hundred Shadows. Pretty much anything you might care to buy is available in the Zócalo somewhere, and it’s often wisest not to ask where it came from.

Characters are Members in Good Standing of House Helgram, on their first assignment for the House, The PCs work for Duke Jowan, the Helgram Representative in the Black Zone, based in the Zócalo. They may occasionally be asked to undertake tasks back in the House proper, or the Courts, but the focus of the game is the Black Zone. This is a team-centred game, not one for lone wolves.

Characters:

Characters will have been born either in the last days of the Bleys as Grand Duke or since Ian Cushing-Helgram became Grand Duke. They will be no older than 40, and probably somewhat younger than that. Characters are built on 65pt with the basics of shape shift (inherent crisis management plus the basic four forms), or 75pt without, and need to be created before the con. All stats start at Chaos. Full character creation rules can be found here: https://helgramgame.org/character-creation/.

Preference will be given to returning characters from any iteration of the Helgram Game.

Players:

  1. George K
  2. Guy A
  3. Marieke K
  4. Oli P
  5. Tim H (GM)
  6. Trish H

Game 5/3: Powers of the Universe (Part 2!)

GM: Keith M
Cast: 4-6
System: ADROG

Description:

Logrus and Trump.

One game slot will focus on the Logrus and the second will focus on Trump. Players will decide which slot focuses on which Power.

Previously….

The Keep of the Four Winds had vanished. Then it was found and a Trump created with the aid of a person. The ramifications of this event continues…

An investigation into Chaos resulted in the rescue of Merlin deep in the Abyss. The ramification of this event will definitely be continuing.

Characters:

Players can play in either or both games but must play the same character.

Your character will come from Cymnean Space, Amber or Chaos or some area in Shadow with Power (some sort of major Power to be purchased).

Describe your character and a little background. Detail any important items as to what they look like and what they can do. What are the FOUR things that your hero is known for being exceptional at. Dagger fighting, Luck, Prodigious Strength, Fireballs, Flight, Sarcasm, Always finding a great beer, Crossword solver, etc. Whatever it is you are the best at it.

In addition you have 230 points to spend. You MUST buy a major power, be it Pattern, Logrus or Trump (or major Power). All powers from the basic rule book are available. You may detail your own personal Shadow for free as well as any allies unless you are bringing them with you.

The campaign is set somewhere around or past the Merlin series of books. Merlin is on the throne of Chaos and Random is on the throne of Amber. Other details may differ. Please get in touch if you are confused by any of the above information or if you just want to talk characters. The more I know beforehand the better the character fit in and you might even know some of the other characters.

Players:

  1. Anna J
  2. Edith B
  3. Fiona W
  4. Keith M (GM)
  5. Kevin D
  6. Scott S
  7. Simone PM
  8. Vivek D

Game 5/4: Despicable Amberites

GM: Pete M
Cast: 4-6
System: ADRPG & some homebrew
Genre: Humour (hopefully!)

Description:

It is the early days of Amber, Oberon is on the throne and Bleys is the latest addition to the Family. Osric & Finndo are still alive but have been packed off to a Military Academy. Benedict is in his early teens. Eric and Corwin bicker endlessly. Deirdre is Deirdre and Caine is next. Finally there is a 4 year old Fiona. Oberon is Oberon. Clarissa is Queen or maybe QUEEN!!! Caine is son of Rilga who is the current Nanny (What, you didn’t think Oberon would sleep with the babysitter? Have you been living under a rock?). Every one loves Nanny Rilga, everyone is scared of Oberon and everyone, including Fiona despises Clarissa. Just one big happy family

Characters:

All have somewhat different point values so we have
Benedict Age 14 Points 64
Eric Age 10 Points 60
Corwin Age 9 Points 59
Deirdre Age 8 Points 58
Caine Age 6 Points 56
Fiona Age 4 Points 54

Points All of you are too young to have Pattern, which also means no trump either (I rule that trump is a Pattern/Logrus/Sorcery based ability not a power on its own.) No more than 7 points total in items Good/Bad stuff limit is 5

Want to know more? Then sign up!

Players:

  1. Alan W
  2. Frey S
  3. Keith PM
  4. Mel M
  5. Pete M (GM)
  6. Rachel W
  7. Shadow A

Friday – Slot 6 (Morning)

(10am – 5pm)

Game 6/1: Somebody that I Used To Know

GM: Alan W
Cast: 4-6
System: ADRPG
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Investigation, World-building, survival, revenge.

Description:

Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I’d done
And I don’t wanna live that way, Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn’t catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know
[Walter Andre E De Backer]

The queen stalks across the field of battle, her long dark hair billowing in the wind. A little girl with a gossamer dress & fairy wings trots at her heels.

“This is our chance to make the world anew,” the queen says. “This is our chance to lay to rest his ghost for good. Come Flora, let us forge a path to victory!”
You are what remains of the Quadrumvirate. All else is ashes.

This game is a continuation of events in “I Will Survive” from ACNI2025

Characters:

75pt characters with free 25pt Pattern, new or returning players welcome. Partial powers available, details from the GM.

Players:

  1. Alan W (GM)
  2. Guy A
  3. Keith PM
  4. Kevin D
  5. Marieke K
  6. Scott S

Game 6/2: Things That Go Bump In The Night

GM: Stephen Q
Cast: 4-5
System: Diceless Nearly Worlds
Genre: Mystery, Conspiracy, Weird

Description:

A London in the year 1903. A city of fog, crime, and more fog. A city from which the new king, Edward VII, rules the greatest empire the world has ever known. A city vibrant with trade, diplomacy, crime, and fog. A city at the heart of technological innovation where scientists and engineers grapple to harness the new powers of electricity, magnetism and internal combustion for the betterment of mankind, or at least make more powerful weapons.

Protecting the law abiding are the men of the Metropolitan Police Force. Their sworn duty to protect the citizens of the great capital and bring criminals to justice. Their only solace in this endeavour – tea (and biscuits) (and cake if they can get it) (and the occasional bribe).

Will you join the men of Ramsbottom Street station’s blue watch and investigate loud explosions that have rudely disturbed a January night?

Characters:

Pregens will be provided.

Players:

  1. Frey S
  2. George K
  3. Keith M
  4. Rachel W
  5. Stephen Q (GM)

Game 6/3: Blandings and the Search for Silk

GM: Mel M
Cast: 4-6
System: Homebrew – a crossover of Amber and the novels of PG Wodehouse. Notes will be supplied for new players.
Genre: Wodehousian comedy with a side order of excitement (and parrots. Possibly)

Description:

Uncle Gerald sailed for Singapore with a clutch of the Barimen cousins in tow to settle a business problem. However, when they arrive at Rangoon, they found an urgent telegram from Aunt Flora.With the group weddings of various cousins coming up, she has completely run out of silk for bridesmaids and locally based guests (Aunt Flora runs the high lass dressmakers in Blandings Parva). Some of you will have to forgo the trip to Singapore and instead look into sourcing high quality silk in Siam, Macau and – if necessary – China. This means sailing the South China seas in the elegant steamboat that Gerard hires for your use in Rangoon. Elegant, but not particularly defensible. He also hands you a large wodge of bankers’ notes and various local currencies.
Some of you may have heard of warlords in China. Some may have heard of pirates in the South China Seas. But everything is certain to go well … isn’t it?

Please note that the game is a spin off of the ACUK game, Blandings at the Raffles Hotel. Players of that game should not repeat their characters for this game.

Characters:

100 point characters. Stats are Eccentricity, Sport, Tenacity and Money – all will be explained. The characters are children of the Blandings version of Amberites (except that Fiona and Flora are Aunts). Mirelle and Random Threepwood are too young to have adult children, so also out. Players will also have a special free skill for this game – it can be related to sailing or a knowledge of (or something related to) silks.Players may (or may not) wish to have a fight skill for this game. However, as that is something that would be perennially useful, if players wish to acquire such a skill, they will need to tweak their main character skills and send me an updated character sheet.

Full character notes will be supplied to new players.

Players:

  1. Claire M
  2. Edith B
  3. Mel M (GM)
  4. Tom M

Game 6/4: Once a companion…

GM: Anna J
Cast: 3-6
System: Not really
Genre: Dr Who

Description:

It’s been hard fitting back into the world and lonely – after all it’s not the same now that you know that time travel is real, that other worlds and aliens exist, that the universe is vast and dangerous and cold.

When you first spotted the poster for the support group, you thought you were seeing things – “Friends of the Doctor. For former companions to share their stories about their time travelling in the blue box and provide mutual support.” – but curiosity got the better of you and you went along only to find you were not as alone as you had thought.

It was some weeks after that you received the invitation. The embossed UNIT logo was the only indication of who it was from and it requested your secrecy and your presence at an urgent meeting in London.

Characters:

You are former companions of the Doctor (TV series, BFA, NA and EDA all permitted). First come first served on characters – returning players welcome. Please tell me how long it’s been and what you’ve been up to since you parted ways with the Doctor.

Players:

  1. Anna J (GM)
  2. Fiona W
  3. Pete M
  4. Simone PM
  5. Tim H
  6. Trish H
  7. Vivek D

Friday – Slot 7 (Evening)

(7pm – Late)

Game 7/1: Bronze and the advent of ploughshares – Writ in Blood

GM: Dave C
Cast: 4-6
System: Amber DRPG
Genre: Expansion, exploration, blaming siblings

Description:

The new place is coming together you think. Things to discover, stone to turn over and uncles to ponder upon. In the end though you probably still blame Dad. The children of Corwin in a new realm and too many questions still unanswered.

Characters:

100pts No advanced powers only ADRPG, no Shapeshift or Logrus.

No more than six points spent in total on items.

No item can cost more than two points. Items brought over from previous games will have become less powerful in the new place (exception, trumps as long as the artist is still alive).
Players may chose what powers are left in previous items and any point difference is held by the ref in a bank of “stuff”.

No good stuff.

Bad stuff capped at -5

No Shadows or mentors or similar if you had previously bought these the points are with the ref in the bank of “stuff”.

Please list any items you picked up in After Corwin or Sins of the Parent that you feel are significant otherwise they are lost once you crossed the Rubicon into the new place.

New Players – as above where pertinent but need to organise with the ref an intro mechanism, this is after all a strange and different place.

Players:

  1. Dave C (GM)
  2. Edith B
  3. Kevin D
  4. Mel M
  5. Pete M
  6. Scott S
  7. Trish H

Game 7/2: Aurellis (Mainline)

GM: Tim H
Cast: 4-6
System: House Modified ADRP
Genre: Individual Scenarios in a Continuing game

Description:

Aurellis is a complete Continuum, with an Amber, a Thelbane, a modern day Earth (2012) an Earlier Earth (1911) and everything else. Oh, and also the Abyss. Let’s not forget that. Because, if you go deep enough, and travel far enough in the Abyss, you will come across other Continuums, where there might be an Amber, a Thelbane and an infinity of other places.

There will be multiple Aurellis Sessions at the con, and depending on which returning characters sign up, or which new characters join in, each game will start somewhere, and quite possibly end somewhere else.

Aurellis is an R18 game.

Characters:

New Characters will be created ahead of the con via a quiz. Returning players may also chose to make a new Character for this session, also via the quiz.

Players:

  1. George K
  2. Keith M
  3. Marieke K
  4. Stephen Q
  5. Tim H (GM)

Game 7/3: Icarus

GM: Marieke K
Cast: 2-5
System: Collaborative storytelling

Description:

Icarus is a collaborative storytelling game about the fall of a great civilization. Every game begins in a city-nation known as Icarus at the height of its power where, in celebration, the city has decided to erect a massive, ever-growing monument in the centre of town to display its prestige to the world.

During the game, you will be stacking dice to represent the construction of this monument, drawing cards from a story deck to create the escalating events in the city, and influencing the outcome of those events through actions driven by your characters’ motives.

By combing the tension of Jenga with the world-building elements of games like The Quiet Year and Dialect, Icarus allows you to explore what it means for a great civilization to collapse, as they all do with time. And when the dice tower finally falls, your civilization falls with it and the game comes to a volatile end.

Characters:

No prep needed, the creation and downfall of Icarus is the game. Icarus has been described as a game for GMs without players, so be prepared to vocalise your creativity!

If you want to take a look, there’s a pretty good explanation of the rules here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdFzH_Au05s, but it’ll all become clear during play.

This game is shorter than most game-slots are, so it’s a good choice if you want to make an early night of it, or if you want to have some time to spend in the bar!

Players:

  1. Alan W
  2. Guy A
  3. Marieke K
  4. Rachel W

Game 7/4: Burning Coal

GM: Vivek D
Cast: 4-6
System: Cinematic Diceless, explained in game summary

Description:

It is the turn of the 19th century: The great imperial powers vie for dominance, fuelled by coal and steered by the industrial combines and their brass-and-steel difference engines:

But not all their conflicts are played out in the open, by displays of military might or commercial conflicts – there are other, more shadowy arenas where the Great Game is also played.

At the heart of the British Empire we find The Ministry (it has a name, officially, on paper – but never speak it. It is always just The Ministry).

Home to the freak, the monster, the superhuman, the undead, the spy, the assassin and the mad scientist* and those simply… less trammeled by ordinary moral considerations.

This means you.

The Society of Hypercognisant Artisans and Master Engineers prefers “Enlightened Engineer” over the vulgar and somewhat pejorative “Mad Scientist”.

Characters:

Players should pick an archetype or template to build their character on – Mad Scientist*, Monster, Super-spy, Werewolf, Golem, Demon-ridden Sorceress – feel free to plunder any and all of Pulp, Sci-Fi, Fantasy for an idea (or even come up with your own).

That’s who your character is. In addition there should be a reason the ministry would want to employ you some extraordinary ability, power or skill-set.

A reason you work for the ministry:
They might have stayed your execution for a crime (real or framed)
Maybe they pay you vast sums of money.
Perhaps they are the only source of a drug you need.
Possibly you’re just the right mix of patriotic and amoral that you want to.

One superhumanly strong stat or trait, eg:
Strong / Agile / Dextrous / Strong-willed / Perceptive / etc

0 or more additional strengths, each balanced by a weakness, eg:
Weak / Aged / Clumsy / Weak-willed / Vulnerable to iron / Berserk / etc

To be clear – your first strength is free. Only additional ones must be paid for.

Players:

  1. Anna J
  2. Claire M
  3. Frey S
  4. Keith PM
  5. Natalie A
  6. Simone PM
  7. Vivek D (GM)

Saturday – Slot 8 (Morning)

(10am – 5pm)

Game 8/1: Excuse Me, Are We Related?

GM: Stephen Q
Cast: 4-6
System: ADRPG
Genre: Investigation / problem solving mainly but who knows?

Description:

Set after the Patternfall war, King Random is concerned that there may be offspring of the royal family out there in shadow. This is not, in itself, a problem but Random’s worry is that one of them could become pattern aware and pose a threat to the pattern(s) or even Amber itself. So somebody needs to go and trek through shadow and find any of these missing family and deal with them appropriately. A task too trivial for any of his brothers or sisters but there several of his nieces and nephews knocking around the castle, getting in the way, eating expensive supplies, and occasionally causing mayhem on their forays into the city. Some of them will do. For returning players, there will be new scenarios.

Characters:

Characters are based on 100 points but must take pattern imprint so 50 points to spend. (After all, you are junior members of the family). Your parent may be any of the elder Amberites except for Corwin, Random, or Brand. Stuff is limited to +/- 5. Beyond that you are free to allocate points as you wish although it would be nice if your character had some of their parent’s characteristics.

Players:

  1. George K
  2. Guy A
  3. Keith M
  4. Keith PM
  5. Pete M
  6. Stephen Q (GM)

Game 8/2: Strange Little Girl

GM: Dave C
Cast: 4-6
System: LoGaS/ Amber/ Folly crossover.
Genre: It’s the end of the worlds silly.

Description:

There’s a girl, that’s the only term that makes sense. She’s scared and alone and in the dark, she had a clever daddy and a brave daddy and a silly daddy but she can’t find them. She needs to find them because something bad is coming and it isn’t scared of storms. Can you help her find one of her daddies? When she looks at you the gaze reaches into your heart like a lighthouse on a stormy night. For a moment there is safety in the light and then with the darkness, in the shadows you feel fear. You aren’t the sort to feel fear.

Characters:

LoGaS/ Amber/ Folly crossover.
250 pt characters.
No more than 10pts in artifacts or widgets.
Compelling and Channelling not available.
Previous characters in anything I’ve run always welcome as is anything new.

Players:

  1. Dave C (GM)
  2. Kevin D
  3. Scott S
  4. Shadow A
  5. Simone PM
  6. Trish H

Game 8/3: Inception

GM: Rachel W
Cast: 4-6
System: Modified ADRPG, probably
Genre: Heist

Description:

“An idea is like a virus. Resilient. Highly contagious. And even the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define or destroy you.”

In all the centuries that have passed since Dworkin created Amber, the realm has remained unreachable to the agents of Chaos. But finally, an opportunity has arisen. A Prince of Amber is paying a visit to this side of reality. All that is needed is to implant one simple idea into his subconscious mind – to destroy the Pattern.

Characters:

PCs are Chaosians with the ability to construct, infiltrate and manipulate dreams.

Players:

  1. Alan W
  2. Edith B
  3. Marieke K
  4. Rachel W (GM)
  5. Tim H

Game 8/4: Blandings Drone On!

GM: Mel M
Cast: 4-8
System: Homebrew – a crossover of Amber and the novels of PG Wodehouse. Notes will be supplied for new players.
Genre: Wodehousian comedy with a side order of excitement.

Description:

Uproar has erupted in the nearly sacred and not very ancient halls of the Drones club. “Buffles” Bruce-Partington, the club events secretary has been arrested! Now, the presence of the officers of the law is not so very rare an event at the Drones, but usually the discussion is in the nature of enquiries into the location of helmets, and not the taking into custody on suspicion of being a master jewel thief, in the nature of some sort of Moriarty or Fu Manchu!

The last couple of scavenger hunts have coincided with a spate of thefts and burglaries from properties and businesses in the vicinity. On the first occasion, during the ‘sign collection’ game, which incidentally left much of central London in a deadlock due to lack of signposts, and not a few near misses caused by vehicles going the wrong way up one-way streets, Faberge’s London shop, amongst others, was neatly de-egged via the back door, whilst the staff and customers were facing the streets to watch the chaos. The second occasion- the famous ‘Goose step Gambit’, when Goddie Godmorton lured the Egyptian geese in St James’s Park were taken on a ramble, through the offer of digestive biscuits, into central London. Alas, when the biscuits ran out, the Geese ran rampant in search of more, and several passers by were goosed, most fowlly. When local residents dashed out to assist the casualties, their homes were raided, and valuables stolen.

Acting with the speed and dispatch for which he is known (sic) the Inspector Japp of the Metropolitan police jumped to the conclusion that Buffles was the only one in the position to know the distractions would occur, and when, and thus has been arrested.

Those in a position to know the accused realise the impossibility, and at a recent club evening, one of the older members has suggested that ‘Something should be done’ to defend poor Buffles, and ideally identify the real culprits. And the cousins who are Drones have been tagged as ‘It.’ With the hope that they’ll bring along some more of their family.

Characters:

100 point characters. Stats are Eccentricity, Sport, Tenacity and Money – all will be explained. The characters are children of the Blandings version of Amberites (except that Fiona and Flora are Aunts). Mirelle and Random Threepwood are too young to have adult children, so also out. Players will also have a special free skill for this game – it should be something that will be useful to you when hunting Bradstock on a somewhat neglected estate.

Full character notes will be supplied to new players.

Players:

  1. Anna J
  2. Claire M (GM)
  3. Fiona W
  4. Mel M
  5. Oli P
  6. Vivek D

Saturday – Slot 9 (Evening)

(7pm – Late)

Game 9/1: The Crown Casino: Turn of a Friendly Card

GM: Trish H
Cast: 4-6
System: Modified ADRPG, as per the Helgram Game house system
Genre: Investigation/Mission Based

Description:

The Crown Casino is a new series of self-contained, mission-style games set and around in The Crown Casino and Hotel, King Random’s hobby project in Amber City, at the other end of the multiverse from the Helgram Game. Random has been King for about fifteen years and, on accession, promptly pulled Amber’s tech level up to Steampunk. He is happily married to Vialle and they have one son, Gwillym, who is currently in his early-forties.

Random is a less formal Monarch than Oberon. He’s aware that young Amberites need to get some life experience in a “safe” setting, before launching out on their own, or being given a formal job in the Amber government. He also feels that, unlike their parents, they ought to have some experience of working together in a non-world shattering situation. Being Random, he believes this can best be achieved by them spending a few years helping to run a casino: the Crown Casino and Hotel.

After a young Amberite has walked the Pattern – usually between 21yo and 25yo – and has sworn allegiance to Random and the Unicorn, they are assigned to work as lower management at the casino for a few years, to meet folks from all walks of life, and to co-operate to solve any issues that might arise.

The first series happened as written, ending with the Patternfall War. In the years that immediately followed, Amber occupied the Courts until a peace could be brokered between them. This was achieved about three years later, and was made possible because, much to everyone’s surprise, King Swayvill and King Random get along.

Characters:

This game is set at the Amber end of the same universe as the Helgram Game. Will they ever meet? Who knows? But the Character Creation systems are similar to save the GM’s sanity. Characters are young Amberites, aged 25-30, and were born during the Regency of Prince Gérard. They may have been born in Shadow, but were brought to Amber by their parents at a young age during the Patternfall War, for their own protection.

Characters are built on 50pt, with all stats starting at Amber. In addition, all of them have walked the Pattern, and know how to use Pattern defence and manipulate probability (you need to know when people cheating the casino!), and need to be created before the con. Select the area of the casino you want to be working in (for example, overall management, security, pit boss, dealer, accommodation, food and drink, entertainment, or whatever takes your fancy in a casino setting). If two or more people choose the same area, then the first one to select that area will be the senior among the PCs. Full character creation rules can be found here: https://helgramgame.org/character-creation/.

Resources will be provided on the Aurellis-Sable Discord server. Invites will be sent to those players who are in the game.

Players:

  1. George K
  2. Guy A
  3. Pete M
  4. Rachel W
  5. Stephen Q
  6. Tim H
  7. Trish H (GM)

Game 9/3: The Invisible Library

GM: Anna J
Cast: 4-6
System: None
Genre: Invisible Library

Description:

Following the events of the Silk Slipper and the restoration of most of the universe (apart from the denizens of Old New York) there have been some turbulent times in the world and in the Library. With so many of the senior dragons and Fae gone overnight there have been power struggles and intrigues among the Fae and more subtle manoeuvrings among the dragons. The Library too has had a change of leadership and there have been quiet mutterings among the librarians about a mysterious new door that wasn’t there before. As no-one seems to quite know where it is, most have dismissed it as rumour. However, the idea that all might not be as it was is more plausible that you would care to admit…

Characters:

Speak to me before the con.

Players:

  1. Anna J (GM)
  2. Fiona W
  3. Frey S
  4. Mel M
  5. Natalie A
  6. Simone PM
  7. Vivek D

Game 9/4: Powers of the Universe (Part 2)

GM: Keith M
Cast: 4-6
System: ADRPG

Description:

Logrus and Trump.

One game slot will focus on the Logrus and the second will focus on Trump. Players will decide which slot focuses on which Power.

Previously….

The Keep of the Four Winds had vanished. Then it was found and a Trump created with the aid of a person. The ramifications of this event continues…

An investigation into Chaos resulted in the rescue of Merlin deep in the Abyss. The ramification of this event will definitely be continuing.

Setting:

The game is set in a Pattern-based world, but the world and NPCs are specific to the Sable Game. Sable itself is somewhat British, 1940s but with magical-based technology and industry, although its associated Shadows vary. For an idea of the feel of the game, Randall Garrett’s Lord Darcy world is a pretty good analogue. For more information, take a look at the “New Players Start Here” section of the game website at: https://sable.org.uk/new-players-start-here/.

Characters:

Players can play in either or both games but must play the same character.

Your character will come from Cymnean Space, Amber or Chaos or some area in Shadow with Power (some sort of major Power to be purchased).

Describe your character and a little background. Detail any important items as to what they look like and what they can do. What are the FOUR things that your hero is known for being exceptional at. Dagger fighting, Luck, Prodigious Strength, Fireballs, Flight, Sarcasm, Always finding a great beer, Crossword solver, etc. Whatever it is you are the best at it.

In addition you have 230 points to spend. You MUST buy a major power, be it Pattern, Logrus or Trump (or major Power). All powers from the basic rule book are available. You may detail your own personal Shadow for free as well as any allies unless you are bringing them with you.

The campaign is set somewhere around or past the Merlin series of books. Merlin is on the throne of Chaos and Random is on the throne of Amber. Other details may differ. Please get in touch if you are confused by any of the above information or if you just want to talk characters. The more I know beforehand the better the character fit in and you might even know some of the other characters.

Players:

  1. Alan W
  2. Dave C
  3. Edith B
  4. Keith M (GM)
  5. Kevin D
  6. Marieke K
  7. Oli P
  8. Scott S

Sunday – Slot 10 (Morning)

(10am – 5pm)

Game 10/1: There’ll be Tears Before Bedtime

GM: Dave C
Cast: 4-6
System: Game rules prior to Con.
Genre: Folly’esque/ Mythic London

Description:

In old London time is compressed like resin into amber, things shift through this viscous confluence of then and now. Rivers you see, they’re a thing – that’d be a capital R Rivers, tributaries to Mother Thames and one of them has gone missing. The Nightingale and Peter from the Folly would normally be called to assist but they’re elsewhere and that leaves you. The also rans, the broken the and I say this with love in my heart the not quite good enough. The Slough Hearses.

Characters:

Investigation in a mythic London – Folly, Neverwhere, Slow Horses, and of course Boudicca never forget how much a pissed off Essex girl can mess with your life.

Players:

  1. Dave C (GM)
  2. Kevin D
  3. Pete M
  4. Scott S
  5. Simone PM
  6. Trish H

Game 10/2: Aurellis (Mainline)

GM: Mel M
Cast: 4-6
System: House Modified ADRP
Genre: Individual Scenarios in a Continuing game

Description:

Aurellis is a complete Continuum, with an Amber, a Thelbane, a modern day Earth (2012) an Earlier Earth (1911) and everything else. Oh, and also the Abyss. Let’s not forget that. Because, if you go deep enough, and travel far enough in the Abyss, you will come across other Continuums, where there might be an Amber, a Thelbane and an infinity of other places.

There will be multiple Aurellis Sessions at the con, and depending on which returning characters sign up, or which new characters join in, each game will start somewhere, and quite possibly end somewhere else.

Aurellis is an R18 game.

Characters:

New Characters will be created ahead of the con via a quiz. Returning players may also chose to make a new Character for this session, also via the quiz.

Players:

  1. George K
  2. Keith M
  3. Marieke K
  4. Oli P
  5. Tim H

Game 10/3: Blandings and the Irish Celebration

GM: Mel M
Cast: 4-8
System: Homebrew – a crossover of Amber and the novels of PG Wodehouse. Notes will be supplied for new players.
Genre: Wodehousian comedy with a side order of excitement (and parrots. Possibly)

Description:

Your cousin Dolores (aka Dolly), daughter of Bleys, recently married Philip, the Irish Duke of Dunster in Westminster Abbey. The tenants of his estate at Dunster Castle were disheartened that the wedding didn’t take place in Ireland, so Philip promised them a special celebration, and a party to remember. The Barimen cousins are all invited, and can either stay with Philip and Dolly at the Castle, or with Great Aunt Harla and her children, Delwin and Sand who appeared in Wake Up, Blandings: https://blandings.fandom.com/wiki/Wake_Up,_Blandings!

N.B. the cousins who kidnapped Philip before his wedding and brought the elephant to Westminster Abbey might be advised to stay with Harla. For details of this TirCon game, see: https://blandings.fandom.com/wiki/A_Wedding_is_announced.

Strange things are happening at Harla’s home (as ever). Sand has declared she has heard the wailing of a banshee – a harbinger of death. Is it an omen for the party? Or is it something else entirely?

Characters:

100 point characters. Stats are Eccentricity, Sport, Tenacity and Money – all will be explained. The characters are children of the Blandings version of Amberites (except that Fiona and Flora are Aunts). Mirelle and Random Threepwood are too young to have adult children, so also out. Players will also have a special free skill for this game – it can be related to sailing or a knowledge of (or something related to) silks.Players may (or may not) wish to have a fight skill for this game. However, as that is something that would be perennially useful, if players wish to acquire such a skill, they will need to tweak their main character skills and send me an updated character sheet.

Full character notes will be supplied to new players.

Players:

  1. Anna J
  2. Claire M
  3. Edith B
  4. Mel M (GM)
  5. Vivek D

Game 10/4: Monster Evolutions

GM: Keith PM
Cast: 4-6
System: Amended ADRG Rules

Background:

You’re an animal. You know some people would prefer if you were a girl, for the troupe. And you’re hoping you will live long enough to evolve. You’re not sure why every animal you know is a reborn, reincarnated, transmigrated, or transformed being now living as an animal in a rural fishing village but that the life you have now. Perhaps you are from the ‘old world’ before the apocalypses, but only the elves remember that.

You weren’t always an animal, but you are now, you had hopes and dreams once to be a famous adventurer or perhaps a court mage and you’re living your best animal life you can or perhaps your always were a house cat but had delusions of grandeur but why risk your life when the humans pamper you, feed you and provide your every desire.

No silly “Quests” or “Systems” are going to control you! But with you and your animal friends living in a fishing village with numerous inhabitants and care givers starting to go missing …Until they do. Unfortunately, time waits for no man, and it certainly waits for no animal, and you find that out the hard way. Now, stranded alone on an island surrounded by monsters, you need to fight for your life to survive and return to the mainland!

…Or just pig out and nap and sometimes slap some monsters around. Either works. But there’s one thing you’re not going to do: swim. And that makes escaping the island a bit more of a challenge than it needs to be. Meanwhile, the gods and the system are brewing up… something. As gods tend to do.

Description:

Britain is riding high with its technology and industry delivering advances in military prowess as well as for the economy. The power of steam, advances in clockwork and creation of difference engines have delivered not just economic changes but also social and environmental ones too, even resulting in flight. But there is no room for complacency though as other countries and empires seek opportunities to advance their various causes usually at the cost of others.

For various reasons which are unique to each character, you are working for the Government, in particular Viscount Lord Melbourne (nephew of the Queen’s first PM). You have been chosen because of your exceptional if not unique abilities and prowess which Lord M, as he is affectionately referred to, puts to use when awkward complications arise.

Players:

  1. Alan W
  2. Fiona W
  3. Frey S
  4. Guy A
  5. Keith PM
  6. Rachel W

Sunday – Slot 11 (Evening)

(7pm – Late)

Game 11/1: The Void

GM: Scott S
Cast: 4-6
System: ADRPG (but with a caveat)
System: Investigation

Description:

The Guardian 22 Dec 2024

“Poisoned Heart,
I alone exist,
Cries are heard,
Nothing remains,
To the Dark”

An area of shadow is growing. Fiona noticed it initially, an area she could not see inside. Mandor tried to look as well and was also blocked. An anomaly surely, nothing to worry about…

Then it grew, absorbing the shadows around it.

Agents sent in didn’t come out again.

Then it grew again.

Spells left running in surrounding shadows to send information failed.

It grew again.

Agents left in surrounding shadows to be absorbed did not send anything out.

And again.

Someone finally told Random.

He wants someone to investigate.

Characters:

  • Returning characters and new characters welcome.
  • Players will have 140 points to spend (that’s 10 points more than last year)
    (Existing characters can adjust their sheets within reason)
  • Pattern is free – you do not HAVE to take it but you get no extra points for NOT taking it
  • I need to confirm any items
  • I also need 3 things that your character regards as Secrets. These need to be important to the character or the world

NOTES

  • In my universe you have to have at least AMBER in ALL stats to have the pattern
    (No “I walked it then got shot in the knee so one stat is low now”)
  • Any Amber parent except Random is OK (we have one child already and for my own reasons I want them to be an only child)
  • For THIS GAME ONLY, I will allow someone from chaos, if you want to play this talk to me and we can work out something to reduce the cost if you want Logrus. This character is unlikely to be allowed in subsequent brandyverse games.
  • NO ONE can have Pattern and Logrus – anyone trying explodes.
  • Given I have had issues overrunning if we hit midnight, I will set a timer and the game WILL end within 30 minutes.
  • Finally – this is the riskiest mission so far, you may not make it out so if people want to play a new character instead of their existing one that is fine.

Players:

  1. Alan W
  2. Dave C
  3. Fiona W
  4. Frey S
  5. Guy A
  6. Keith PM
  7. Kevin D
  8. Scott S (GM)

Game 11/2: Aurellis (Mainline)

GM: Tim H
Cast: 4-6
System: House Modified ADRP
Grenre: Individual Scenarios in a Continuing game

Description:

Aurellis is a complete Continuum, with an Amber, a Thelbane, a modern day Earth (2012) an Earlier Earth (1911) and everything else. Oh, and also the Abyss. Let’s not forget that. Because, if you go deep enough, and travel far enough in the Abyss, you will come across other Continuums, where there might be an Amber, a Thelbane and an infinity of other places.

There will be multiple Aurellis Sessions at the con, and depending on which returning characters sign up, or which new characters join in, each game will start somewhere, and quite possibly end somewhere else.

Aurellis is an R18 game.

Characters:

New Characters will be created ahead of the con via a quiz. Returning players may also chose to make a new Character for this session, also via the quiz.

Players:

  1. George K
  2. Oli P
  3. Pete M
  4. Simone PM
  5. Tim H (GM)

Game 11/3: Burning Coal

GM: Vivek D
Cast: 4-6
System: Cinematic Diceless, explained in game summary
Genre:: Spy

Description:

It is the turn of the 19th century: The great imperial powers vie for dominance, fuelled by coal and steered by the industrial combines and their brass-and-steel difference engines:

But not all their conflicts are played out in the open, by displays of military might or commercial conflicts – there are other, more shadowy arenas where the Great Game is also played.

At the heart of the British Empire we find The Ministry (it has a name, officially, on paper – but never speak it. It is always just The Ministry).

Home to the freak, the monster, the superhuman, the undead, the spy, the assassin and the mad scientist* and those simply… less trammeled by ordinary moral considerations.

This means you.

The Society of Hypercognisant Artisans and Master Engineers prefers “Enlightened Engineer” over the vulgar and somewhat pejorative “Mad Scientist”.

Characters:

Players should pick an archetype or template to build their character on – Mad Scientist*, Monster, Super-spy, Werewolf, Golem, Demon-ridden Sorceress – feel free to plunder any and all of Pulp, Sci-Fi, Fantasy for an idea (or even come up with your own).

That’s who your character is. In addition there should be a reason the ministry would want to employ you some extraordinary ability, power or skill-set.

A reason you work for the ministry:

  • They might have stayed your execution for a crime (real or framed)
  • Maybe they pay you vast sums of money.
  • Perhaps they are the only source of a drug you need.
  • Possibly you’re just the right mix of patriotic and amoral that you want to.

One superhumanly strong stat or trait, eg:

  • Strong / Agile / Dextrous / Strong-willed / Perceptive / etc

0 or more additional strengths, each balanced by a weakness, eg:

  • Weak / Aged / Clumsy / Weak-willed / Vulnerable to iron / Berserk / etc

To be clear – your first strength is free. Only additional ones must be paid for.

Players:

  1. Anna J
  2. Edith B
  3. Keith M
  4. Marieke K
  5. Mel M
  6. Rachel W
  7. Trish H
  8. Vivek D

Monday – Slot 12 (Morning)

(10am – 5pm)

Game 12/1: On His Majesties Secret Service

GM: Kevin D
Cast: 4-6
System: ADRPG+
Genre: Spy Games

Description:

“Far up, Far out, Far more!”

You were hand picked for the King’s Secret Service. The Aureate. Which King you might ask? Well, there really is only one King worth serving: His Imperial Majesty, Mandor I. The only problem… actually, let’s not kid ourselves, there’s a whole host of problems….

Did I miss anything important? The list could continue on indefinitely but we don’t have time for more. You’ve been summoned and you’d better not keep the King waiting.

Characters:

You’re a loyal agent, maybe even a special agent, of the only true King of Chaos and all shadow… and you have a particular set of skills.

What do you look like? Pictures please.

Why are you loyal to the King?

Why were you summoned?

What is your schtick? Your special skill? Everyone has an often jealously guarded speciality or two!

Characters should be constructed using 250 points. Returning players can have an extra 5pts of advancement.

As Chaosians, Power Words, Sorcery, Logrus and Shapeshifting are common. Trump Artistry is available though less common. Conjuration is simply a time consuming application of the former abilities. Demons are Chaosians too and you can choose to play one. The King is very likely to have contracted you, bound you or otherwise brought you into his service. Construct creation is a particular pleasure of the King. If you want to play one, he is very likely to have made you, brought you to life or otherwise created you. Pattern, while existing, is not available. Broken Pattern is, should you wish to embrace the utter madness of it. If there’s another power you want, speak to me and I’ll cost it.

Players:

  1. Alan W
  2. Guy A
  3. Keith M
  4. Keith PM
  5. Kevin D (GM)
  6. Oli P
  7. Scott S
  8. Simone PM

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