Pulp Alley Wargames Illustrated Scenario

Background

Through your network of contacts, you trace the location of a strange serpent relic to a small curio shop in Morocco. Unfortunately, by the time you arrive, the shopkeeper has just been murdered and his store ransacked. There’s a good chance the thief is still close, so it may not be too late. Time is of the essence. Others are in pursuit of the relic, and some would do anything to possess it…

This scenario is designed for Pulp Alley but can easily be converted to other rules. It may be played as a standalone scenario or as part of the Tomb of the Serpent campaign. If you are playing it as part of the ToS campaign, this scenario is intended to fit between the end of Chapter One and the beginning of Chapter Two.

Solo Play – You may play this scenario using the Pulp Alley Solo Deck and using the Serpent Cult league for the opposing side.

Multi-Player – The scenario is designed for up to 4 players. If you have two or more players, one player is expected to play the Serpent Cult as their league.

Co-op Play – Co-op play is not available in this scenario.

Scenario Set-Up

Resources — Roll for Associates and gather/select Resources.

Random Event — As normal, each player rolls for one random scenario event.

Place Terrain — Take turns placing 7 to 12 pieces of terrain on a 3’x3’ table to represent the shops, stalls, cafes, alleys, and so on of Casablanca.

Perils: Each player may place up to one perilous area (3” dia.) during set up.

Special: Place one Police Roundup marker in the center of the table. This marker represents the center of a 12” diameter area where the local authorities are actively questioning suspicious characters.

Minor Plot Points — Take turns placing 1 minor plot point marker until all four are placed. Each marker must be placed within 12” of a corner (one per corner) and over 3” from any table edge. See Special Rules for more details.

Starting Initiatives — Each player rolls 1d6. High roll begins the scenario with the Initiative.

Deployment — For this scenario, the leagues are scattered around Casablanca. The player with Initiative places the first character, then players take turns deploying one character at a time.

All characters must be deployed within 12” of the Police Roundup marker.

No character may be placed within 6” of a plot point or within 1” of an enemy.

Turn Limit – At the end of 8 turns, the local police descend on the area en masse, arresting all foreigners, rounding-up the usual suspects, and bringing the scenario to a close.

Scenario Summary

A Pulp Alley scenario for Wargames Illustrated magazine.

Players/Leagues = 1 to 4

Characters per League = Normal

Table Size = 3’ x 3’

Deployment Zones = Scattered

Estimated Play Time = Less than 2 hrs.

Rewards Stack = 1 x It’s a Trap!

1 x Red Herring

1 x XP Reward card

Plot Point Markers = 5+

Pulp Alley Wargames Illustrated Scenario

Special Rules

Where’s the Thief? (Minor Plot Points) – Each minor plot point represents a well-informed local who may have information you need:

The Fat Man: Roll 2 successes with Might or Finesse to complete this plot point.

The American: Roll 2 successes with Finesse or Cunning to complete this plot point.

The Captain: Roll 2 successes with Cunning or Might to complete this plot point.

The Rat: Pass a random challenge to complete this plot point.

All plot points are perilous. In addition, all minor plot points have four special rules:

Bound: The minor plot point markers are bound to the table and cannot be removed until the Serpent’s Eye is claimed. As such, each minor plot point may be completed by multiple leagues.

Reward: Instead of drawing a random Reward card for completing a minor plot point, you must place one Thief marker on the table. See Major Plot Point below.

One-and-Done: A league cannot complete the same plot point more than once.

Safe Area: A character within 3” of a minor plot point cannot attack or be attacked. In addition, a character within this safe area does not count as an “enemy” to any other character in play.

Catch the Thief (Major Plot Point) – Over the course of this scenario, it is possible (even likely) that more than one Thief marker will be in play at a time. When you place a new Thief marker on the table, it cannot be placed within 6” of your characters or the edge of the table. Note, any character, from any league, can go after any Thief marker once it is on the table. So be careful where you place a Thief!

This major plot point is extremely perilous and may be completed by passing a random challenge. When you complete a Thief challenge, draw one random card from the Rewards stack:

The Serpent’s Eye (Reward): If you draw the XP Reward card, you claim the relic. Immediately remove all Thief markers and minor plot point markers from the table. As normal, the relic could still fall into enemy hands, so watch out!

Red Herring (Spoiler): If you draw the Red Herring, then you have been led astray and did not find the relic. Move this Thief marker 2d6” in a random direction and then return the Red Herring card to the Rewards stack. A Thief cannot move off the table.

It’s a Trap (Spoiler): If you draw this card, then you did not find the Relic. This character is now Wanted by the authorities for the remainder of the scenario. Replace this Thief marker with a new Police Roundup marker, and return this card to the Rewards stack. Note, there cannot be more than 3 Police Roundup markers per scenario.

Wanted! — The Police Roundup areas are extremely perilous for all Wanted characters. There are two ways to become Wanted:

When It’s a Trap is drawn from the Rewards stack, the character that completed the challenge becomes Wanted.

If you attack an enemy while they or you are within a Police Roundup area, you become Wanted.

Rewards & Aftermath

If one of your characters has the relic at the end of the scenario, you are the victor! If the relic thief evades capture, he flees to Egypt and may reappear in the Cairo Caper scenario.

Victor: You gain +3 Resource points of your choice and +3 Reputation. If this is part of your Tomb of the Serpent campaign then you may take one of the unclaimed relic cards before proceeding to Cairo, Egypt.

All Others: You gain +1 Resource point of your choice and +1 Reputation.

Pulp Alley Wargames Illustrated Scenario

Cards & Counters

The counters and cards on this page are provided to use with the Serpent’s Eye scenario:

Serpent Cult — This league includes four of the Faceless characters.

Spoilers — You will need one Red Herring and one It’s a Trap to complete the Rewards stack.

Thief Makers — Players are encouraged to use appropriate models to represent the possible locations of the relic thief. In a pinch, please feel free to use the counters below.

Police Roundup Counters — Players may want to use a police constable, legionnaire, or some of model to mark the center of the Police Roundup area. As needed, the counters below may also be used.

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Pulp Alley Free Scenario