"Beat the boredom!" Episode 7: "Blood Is Thicker" by Sean Korzeniewski and Russell Thurman

The "Beat the boredom!" series is slowly coming to an end. I've enjoyed it immensely, but it's time to return to my usual writing schedule. Plus I want to write about other things than scenarios!

That said, today I will review another WFRP adventure - "Blood Is Thicker"! Written by two authors, it takes place in a small village of Neubühl, which normally isn't even present on any map. Yup, it's that small. Just a tiny hamlet, somewhere in one of the deep forests of the Empire. Lately there's been something going on with the villagers living within its premises. They've begun to act strangely and hostile. Once Neubühl was a welcoming site to any traveler, but now it's full of unpleasant people who don't like strangers and are generally unwelcome to almost everyone. That's not all, however, as more and more citizens of this village go missing, and there is talk of rampant mutations amongst the populace of the town...

The PCs find a dead body on their way to Neubühl, and are soon engrossed in a plot to save the village from a bloody and brutal end. Their only ally is an old priest of Sigmar, Jocob Ludovic, but even with his help the battle for Neubühls soul won't be easy, as every villager is hostile, including the Headman, Aldheim Borgmann! Time is running out and if something won't be done soon, the Blood God shall have his due...

And no one wants for that to happen!

Korzeniewski and Thurman didn't create a masterpiece of storytelling. They've simply wrote a decent, interesting and quick to play scenario, much like all of the others that I've talked about before. "Blood is Thicker" should take approximately 1-2 sessions ot finish, and there's really only two combat encounters, with one being completely optional. It's a filler scenario, and yeah, I know - it seems like I'm only reviewing this kind of adventures lately. But the thing is that a lot of people skip modules like this one and they really shouldn't. WFRP is not only represented by huge campaigns like "The Enemy Within", and it should not be. Some of my best RPG experiences are with running a series of short, quick scenarios like "Blood Is Thicker", which weren't connected at all. It was like a on-the-road adventure TV series, enjoyable, non-pretentious and chilled. I don't see too many people out there doing something like that anymore. Lately it's been all about the epic campaigns, and plots in which the fate of world is at stake. 

Don't get me wrong - I love these kinds of games, but sometimes I want something more. Or rather, less, in that matter. It's good to take things slow, from time to time. Do yourselves a favor, take things slowly for a while. Drop the world-encompassing plot and concnetrate on finding a missing chicken in a tiny, Middelnad village, or find out what exactly is hiding in well, in some half-forgotten town in eastern Stirland. Sometimes less is more, and smaller-scale scenarios can really enhance the tabletop experience. That's why I encourage you to try out "Blood Is Thicker" - it'll be worth your time, even if it won't redefine the TTRPG genre.

Next week will I'll be writing the finale to the "Beat the boredom!" series. I'll be reviewing an official scenario from the 2nd edition of Warhammer Fantasy. I've read it a couple of times, but never played it before. That said - no spoilers! Drop in next Monday to find out more!

All right, all right - here's a little hint...

Until next time!

Xathrodox86