Welcome to my totally smurfy 'Behind the Smurfs' look at our 5 session Smurfs RPG mini-campaign, 'The Smurfs and The Palace of The Silver Princess', based on the Basic Dungeons & Dragons adventure of a similar name, designated module B3.
As I've expressed in [too few of] the posts recapping the game, this was an amazing games and one of the best Tabletop RPG experiences I've had online. In fact, given my commemorating 48 years of gaming last month, I would place this short campaign among the Top 20 of all time. It was that much fun.
This is the part where I attribute much of the game's success to the incredible efforts of our Storyteller (Stephen) and my fellow players (Andrew, Brandon, Heather, and René) and yes, they do deserve tons of credit for how well they pulled off their respective roles.
At the same time, I don't want to be remise in failing to give kudos to the game itself. The Smurfs Role Playing Game is a really, really good game. I mean REALLY good. I try out a lot of new RPGs each year. I like too few of them lately but a small number definitely have an impact on me. There aren't many I fall in love with. This game, this ridiculous premise for a licensed TRPG, is one such game. I absolutely adore this system and its handling of the IP. Fan-Smurfing-Tastic!
B3 or not B3? That is the question!
Palace of the Silver Princess is a module with a fascinating and sordid history. I highly recommend reading up on this most peculiar adventure if your at all interested in 'inside baseball' stories about the TRPG industry from 'back in the day'.
Stephen revealed that he'd initially picked this adventure because he'd wanted to "Run a group of Smurfs through a classic D&D scenario". He had played through this particular module years ago and recalled it having a distinctly fairytale quality.
All that said, our version of this scenario was a huge overhaul of the old adventure. The final result was definitely more 'inspired by' the original than a faithful rendition of it. In all honesty, as Stephen himself put it, "The adventure is Palace of The Silver Princess in name only. Many elements were burrowed but playing through this as we did was a completely different endeavor and experience from playing through the real B3 module."
Order of the White Drakes
Sir Ellis is a Knight of the Order of the White Drakes, though we never really learn much about who they are and what that really means. I forget whether or not the original module goes into it but our Storyteller Stephen worked out some details should the subject come up.
The basics were that the Order was from a nation far to the Northwest of Haven (likely the Netherlands or Germany), known for a rare breed of albino, fire-breathing dragons that live in their Southern mountains. Prospective Knights connect with one of these dragons and bond with it, enabling the two beings to sense each others whereabout and condition.
Though the Order is a bit secretive, they are also known to fight on the side of the good and the just.
Whistling While They Work
Originally, Stephen intended to have the Dwarves play a larger part and did some research on how the folklore and mythology of France and Belgium treat these now iconic Fantasy beings.
What he found was the Alsatian Dwarves, named for the Alsace region of Northeastern France, who are craftsman and artisans living deep underground. Heavily influenced by German and Norse legends, they are not too different from the concept of them we generally think of. There are some minor differences but more interestingly, there are other dwarf-like beings more akin to the German Kobold that might be fun to use in future Smurfs games.
Three Apples High
Beginning with Brash Smurf at 3 apples tall and going left to right, we have a Green Fairy Protector of Haven, a Growler, a Goeblin, a Dwarf, two average Humans, and an Ogre. In the upper left hand corner we have the original creature known as the Decapus, a monster created specifically for and appearing in B3 - Palace of The Silver Princess. In the background is Fellbane, the 'White' Drake.
As for the Player Character Smurfs, a funny running gag throughout the game was related to their height; they were all repeatedly referred to as '3 Apples Tall' even though they're also very clearly not the same size. Apathy is the shortest, followed by my character, Smurfcornflower. Brash is specifically noted as being 'average or standard height for a Smurf' so he alone is three apples high. Next is Smurfhoneysuckle and finally, Suave is the tallest.
***
Got to play a one-shot not too long ago but other than that I am definitely missing this game and really hope to be able to play Smurfs again in the near future. I would also love to game with this group again. What a great bunch!
Anyway, smurf you all soon,
AD
Barking Alien
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