NIGHT'S DARK AGENTS This is the second instalment of a series about role-playing the Ninjas of medieval Japan in AD&D, RuneQuest and Bushido. Creating and Playing Ninja Characters by Chris Elliott and Richard Edwards Last issue, we outlined the role of the historical ninja, and the range of skills andequipmentthat made possible their uncanny feats. This part suggests ways ‘of incorporating them into AD&D and AuneQuest, and expanding them as a profession in Bushido, As far as pos: Sible, this has been done within the orig: inal rules, rather than by creating new ones. This should make\t easier to integ fate the material with current campaigns. NINJA IN AD&D Both the assassin and monk character classes can be used as the basis for ninja characters, the assassin having skills of disguise and a secondary role as a spy, ‘andthe monk having skills derivedfrom the martial arts. We have, therefore, given rules which are based on a syn thesis of these two classes, The rigorous early training of ninja would be reflected in high attribute scores for dexterity and constitution, and overall we suggest the following, eh ch mow 9 5 Hitpoints should be rolledasfor thieves and assassins, nthe same table used for experience levels. The concept of sitgerpentss not one iat fs very wel ‘with this ort of character but the closest ISprobebiy that oftrue neutral, Wher a the druide reading this have tinshed Uirowing Fs, the teason for ths is that the ninja's use of any and every form of deceit and violent death sprang from professionalism rather than any corn fnitmentto the principle of evi and at ishigest thi fle aso ot a koe ors ofthe social balance in = society divided against itself ADBD fs biased cowardhumans,butwthinthe guidelines inthe Player's Handbook, there's no. reason why other races should nothave Similgr castes, although because of the clan basis on which they would also be organised, would be almost unthirk able fora non-human tobe accepted inte ahuman ninja cia, and vice versa ‘The tse of magie sticky, because Bithough all lsases in ABAD can use magi tems, only two can cast spells and the ninj are ether magicians Nor Driests. Aswith monks, they should be Ebieto Use enchanted weapons, rings, and the magie tems designed for thieves ond assassins, and poin the abil ity'o atempt scrolls a higher lov Whether or not they areallowedto learn NIGHTS DARK AGENTS some clerical spells to correspondtothe kuji-no-in (nine signs) is for you and yo. referee ta agree. Some suggestions ay given below if you decide 10 do this, Generally speaking, though, itis principle of classes other than MU Clerics using magic that unbala Which allows too rapid progre characters or the acquisition many magic items too easily Taprevent ninja characted supermen (or women) we ‘more specialised stil ‘extras which can be st expense of further progr basicabilities. This ing second level and abot ‘opt to leave a basic abil movement unchanged, ‘anewskill, Once thishai same decision must be ‘newlevel is gained, ieimprove abilities alraady gained, including specialist Skills with mora than one level, or gain Player characterninja mustalways be members of a clarvryu (schoo!) and this, should also apply to NPC ninja unless there are convincing reasons otherwise Any Wreasure and magic items acquired must be surrendered to the referee, act: ing as tha chunin (middle man) control. {ing the ninja, but items may be loaned back when needed for specific missions. NINJA IN RUNEQUEST The skills of ninjutsu can be simulated in RuneQuest without too many problems, butthe ninja need anon-Gloranthan set ting. While the guidelines below are compatible with the basic rules, there: fore, we have not tried to relate them to the Various cults and groups covered there and in the supplements, Because of their early training, even young ninja were already far above the average in terms of physical abilities, as well as having a good grounding in a daunting variety of spacialist stills. To reflect this in a character would mean starting them at advanced skill level and thus giving them an unfalCostume AD&D: The ninja’s costume (shinobi 10z0ku) isonly equivalentto ACO, and pif youuse theirtrick of sewing steel othe sleeves to block sword only becomes the equivalent 5, Armour was worn, But missions, and not valentto a parry with chainmalS but shouldn't be relied upon, Bushido: As well as concealing their tools and weapons in pockets of their costume, ninja also carried two types of soles for their tabi (shoes), One was a tubberigum compound, for grip, andthe other a cotton floss material for silence. Stgatth Skits These correspond to Move silently Hide n Shadtreoad Noor Noise. in the water, ninja should not receive penalties for combat, due to their training. By special breathing techniques, they could stay submerged for three minutes, or ten using an air bubble trapped in their costume, and indefinitely using a snorkle. Treat all as basic skills. RuneQuest: Use the thief skills of Camouflage, Hide in Cover and Move Quietly. Normal swimming rules apply, but bear in mind the comments above. ‘ould swim upright at the referee's dis: Binding, or hojojutsu,isasingle specialism, escape is a basic skil 3 are other applications of suppleness. The rules for climbing walls should be modified when climbing aids are used, 28 these will considerably increase the chances of success, AuneQuest: The normal daily move- ment rates should be adjusted to take Becount of the distances ninja could travel, while indoors a basic rate of 10 mavement units should bea good level. ‘Thenormal rules for climbing and jump: ing work well enough, but nawanuke jutsu and chakuzen jutsu (celling walk ing) can be treated as separate skills NIGHT'S DARK AGENTS. Bushido: Ninja used poles or spring: boards (pulled up after them to prevent discovery) to clear walls eight, nine, oF ten feet high, and this gained them 9 reputation for superhuman leaps. By Use of an acrobatic ‘ricochet’ technique, they couldin fact acty lengthways ina singh ‘Survival and Woodcraft Skills ‘ADAD: Ninja should be allowad track- ing skill equivalent to a ranger's, as a Il, and also the ability to live off ut not ina dungeon, ‘ations men making kito-gan, from ground rice, mi germ, potato flour, Job ‘of plant), carrot scraping gfass, and other secret ing hey provided field ration: alleged to delay thirst forup Martial Arts ‘ADD: Rather than using i combat rules on p72 of the O mailing, Grappling and Over iseasier touse the monk's characters opting to learg (nerve strikes) as a speg dd the VHP per lev monks, Those stud {arrow cutting Bonebreaking) treat the hands as Tight or heavy eesti, and progress as a normal weapon skill. Yubijutsu (nee strikes) can be treated as claw attacks, with each successive level increasing 1% the chance of a eritical hit which will isable the limb concerned. Bearing in mind the comments.on p100 of the basic rules, you can use statistics for the bas: tard sword, staf, sickle ete, for thelr ‘inja equivalents. Treat shuriken as throwing knives, using the rules for pitched shots, and for chain weapons assume a grappling attack is made to throw an opponent, without the chance for tham ta block a successful hit. They can also be used like a grain fall. Dave Morris’ article on RQ samurai in WO40 Suggests treating ja/jutsu as a skill reducing the strike rank of 2 sword with successive levels of mastery. ‘Bushido: Although itis nat listed as @ ninja bugei, you should include bojutsu (staff. twas characteristic of ninja Weapons that they were often disguised, and the simple traveller's staff could become a deadly weapon, or itself con: eal another, such as a chain or 8 blade, The nine shuriken (a lucky number) usu ally carried could be used as tools to dig, dril, and scrape, and an iron tobacco pipe could be just that, a weapon, or a Snorkel, Ninjutsu is anapproach, rather thanacollection of exotic hardware, an theninje were supremeimprovisors and adapters, Chemistry and Herbalism skills can be used to prepare ‘explosives, secrot Inks, and antidotes. It was com: water sources or leave od to trap ninja, and [suggestion [DAD players sleight of hand palowed ited resem use of Puldbeaspecilist rd level and f appropriate spells fe, tnd tres an Bell par level fe gained useable by a clerictwo wal require payment by service ek Pockets skill can be used Yor sleight of hand. Bushido players can treet hyp- ‘olism as a Task, witha value depend. ing onthe circumatences, and use a BCS forsieightofhandsimilartoother pract- cal skis, Don't make the effects too, powerful nether case Ninja Tactics Now you haves character with an arsonal of dirty tricks, the next question is how You use them. This is the subject of the third of these articles, which contains Information on strategy and tactics. The difference between life and death canbe ‘2 Small thing like forgetting to use insect repellent. Theninja, Kirigakure Saizo, was ‘speared through the floor by alert guards inthe room above, who had naticed ‘mosquitos hovering over his position, How da you slip past sentries asif Invisible, and confound pursuers by dis appearing into thin air? How, when you {are surrounded in a building which is then set alight, can you emerge unscathed? All this, and more, in the final part of Night's Dark Agents, next Issue!