GM Tips: The Last Reichsritter

My grandfather was a part of the D-Day invasion, so I've always been interested in World War 2 as a setting. 

This is one of the first One-Shot adventures I put down on paper. It was originally the opening adventure for a longer horror campaign set in World War 2. The campaign started on the beaches of Normandy, went to the Battle of Stalingrad, and concluded in Palestine (now Isreal) at the ruins of Masada. Perhaps, one day I'll publish the rest. 

Here are my tips for GMing the Last Reichsritter. 

1. This adventure is really about moral choices - do the means justify the ends? Am I justified in choosing not to help someone if I'm pursuing what I believe to be a greater good? All of the NPCs in this adventure represent different points of view. Father Sebastian is all about the ends justify the means, while Adelie represents the opposite. The NPCs soldiers fit somewhere along the spectrum.  Encourage debate amongst the player's when they reach critical points where they must make a difficult choice. 

2. While it might be tempting to prolong the attack on the beach, after play-testing I decided to keep the number of combat rounds to a minimum and focus on pacing. If you remember Saving Private Ryan, the beach scenes are hectic, disorienting, and over before you know it. Try to keep the same philosophy. Focus on momentum and moving forward. 

3. I added the Sherman tanks and the 88mm gun to add some variety to the beach attack. Initially, it was an all infantry battle. Keep the tank battle and infantry battle separate - the hedgehogs will prevent the tanks from advancing. On my first playthrough after adding the tanks, everyone playing an infantry character hid behind them and drove up to the bunker - not the desired outcome.

4. Don't get hung up on the historical accuracy regarding gender roles, etc. I had a player who wanted to use a female sniper as a character, and it added welcome variety to the game. The most important outcome of a game that your players enjoy it and the type of character they play is a big part. If I need to change something to make that happen, I change it.  

5. If you want this game to run longer, you could have the Reichsritter escape the castle in a Nazi convoy. The characters could grab some vehicles and give chase, perhaps all the way to Paris and into the catacombs beneath the city. 

6. This one is I'm repeating for each each Mini-Quest. Don't limit yourself to just the dialogue included. I put written dialogue in my adventures to give you sense of how conversations should go, and to make sure NPCs are not forgotten. Try not read it verbatim off the page - make it your own. 

7. While some of my One-Shot adventures try and limit equipment and ammunition, this isn't one of them. Don't get too hung up on counting bullets. 

8.  Throw in more enemies at the characters if things are going too easy and less if it's too hard. Adventures are dynamic, and you can't predict the die rolls or character actions. Depending on how it's going, don't be afraid to change it up. Maybe two half-tracks arrive in Saint Vesly or the characters arrive at Castle Opprimer at the same time as a convoy of Nazi reinforcements? 

9. As with all One-Shot adventures, I encourage getting into the roles for both players and the GM. Play Father Sebastian as a near-fanatic, determined to destroy the Reichsritter. Varying your voice and posture can add depth to the NPCs. Maybe Father Sebastian always shakes a clenched fist at the characters when he speaks. Encourage the players to do the same. When the characters are walking from the beach to Saint Vesly, for example, encourage them to engage in idle banter with each other and the NPCs.

10. Do your best to separate either Father Sebastian or Adelie so the Reichsritter can possess one of them. The ending just doesn't have the same impact if the Reichsritter is possessing some random SS officer. You want the characters to be faced with the realization that they'll have to kill someone they know in order to complete the mission. 

Feel free to leave a comment below or contact us with any questions.