Band of Blades is a game of military science fiction. The players portray an elite military unit that is retreating in the face of an overwhelming undead army, the minions of the Cinder King. You must keep ahead of the horde while scavenging for recruits and supplies in hopes of reaching Sundagger Keep before the Cinder King does. It is the one place you can hope to hold off his army long enough for winter to freeze his minions and put an end to his advances for a while.
BoB has an unusual structure in that player portray both individual soldiers as well as the Legion’s leadership. There are resource management elements as well as undead crushing action.
Find out if you’ve got what it takes to join the Legion here!
GM (me): You’re continuing to keep an eye on the undead detachment when you see movement in the darkness. Some small group, perhaps four or five individuals, appears to be heading in your general direction.
Scout: Can I make out what kind of undead they are?
GM: Their shape isn’t familiar to you. As you watch them, you begin to hear their very heavy footfalls. They break out of the underbrush and into the moonlight. The silver rays shine on something you’ve never seen before.
Rifleman (speaking out of character): Well, *that* never ends well.
GM: These things are no taller than a normal human, but they are massive. Their built like the heaviest sumo wrestlers ever, and their bodies are wrapped with heavy canvas or linen bandages, like some enormously bloated mummies. Their mouths and noses are sewn shut with heavy black thread, but their eyes gleam with that familiar undead green.
Scout: Are they armed?
GM: Yes, they each are clutching a large, pointed knife, almost like a cut down machete. They appear to be heading towards the house.
(The rest of the team was breaking into the house to extract a person who could be of great help to the Legion. The Scout was on guard to divert unwanted attention)
Scout: Well, time to earn my pay. I jump out in front of the creatures, slap my ass and take off running.
GM: They immediately give chase. You quickly realize you are faster than they are, so you’re in no immediate danger. But, as you know, the undead don’t get tired.
Scout: Yeah, but once they’re away from the house I can hopefully lose them.
(The Scout exits stage left, pursued by monsters)