Major Magnos - Witch Stalker

Here's a slightly different cast for 7TV. It's quite impressive that a rules-light game like this focused on stuff like The Sweeney can do Major Magnos spot on, with the rules pretty much as written. I suppose the rules of adventure drama in 7TV trump the rules of military simulation. We knew that anyway, but it's interesting to see by how much.

Name			Role		Billing	Ratings
Major Magnos			Flamboyant Agent		Star	63
Move	Def	Hits	Str	Agi	Int	Mor
6	4	3	4	4	4	5
Special Effects
Gadgets Luck (2) Seduce Military Training Leader (1) A Good Offence Pressure Point Signature Weapon (Silver Sword) Vehicle (Horse)
Making Their Own Luck
Weapon		Range	Hit	Str	Notes
Brawl		Melee	4+	4	Stun
Sword		Melee	3+	4
Matchlock Pistol		8”	4+	3	Pistol, Gunpowder, Move or Fire

Name			Role		Billing	Ratings
Doctor Proust			Crackpot Inventor		Co-Star	40
Move	Def	Hits	Str	Agi	Int	Mor
6	4	2	3	3	5	4
Special Effects
Boffin (2) Gadgets Sidekick (Magnos) Luck (2) Vehicle (Wagon) Medic
Weapon		Range	Hit	Str	Notes
Brawl		Melee	6+	3	Stun
Electrical Apparatus (Stun Stick)		Melee	5+	5	High Tech, Stun

Name			Role		Billing	Ratings
Kiera			Plucky Assistant		Co-Star	20
Move	Def	Hits	Str	Agi	Int	Mor
6	4	2	3	4	3	4
Special Effects
Concealment Luck (1) Plucky Sidekick (Magnos) Screamer Seduce Heroic Surge
Weapon		Range	Hit	Str	Notes
Brawl		Melee	5+	3	Stun

Name			Role		Billing	Ratings
Marius			Dependable Deputy		Co-Star	33
Move	Def	Hits	Str	Agi	Int	Mor
6	3	2	3	4	4	5
Special Effects
Luck (3) Sidekick (Magnos) A Good Offence Vehicle (Horse) Medic
Weapon		Range	Hit	Str	Notes
Brawl		Melee	4+	3	Stun
Sword		Melee	4+	3

Name			Role		Billing	Ratings
Soldiers (8)			Soldier		Extra	12
Move	Def	Hits	Str	Agi	Int	Mor
6	3	1	3	3	3	3
Special Effects
Military Training
Weapon		Range	Hit	Str	Notes
Brawl		Melee	4+	3	Stun
Sword (Hand Weapon)		Melee	4+	3
Musket		16”	4+	3	Gunpowder, Move or Fire

In the early ‘70s, during a break from writing for The Daredevils, Brian Clements wrote and directed this movie for celebrated horror house, Clobber Films.

The film is set in an unspecified central European country in the 18^th Century. Major Magnos and Doctor Proust seem to be experienced witch (and other strangeness) hunters, although their past or which war Magnos has been recently retired from, is never explained.

At the behest of old friend Marius, the pair come to a rural village and Magnos takes his top off and is seduced by Kiera, a village girl. They discover that many of the most attractive villagers are being drained of their youth. Proust uses his arcane knowledge and techniques to track the evil to the house of the aristocratic Dunwoods. He also creates a silver sword for Magnos believing silver to be the evil’s weakness.

Lady Dunwood has been using the villagers’ life energy to bring her husband back to life as some sort of vampire. Accompanied by some local soldiers, Magnos and his sidekicks get past a gang of villagers who have been paid by Lady Dunwood to hamper them, and make their way to Dunwood House. Kiera distracts the Dunwoods so that Magnos can kill them with his sword.

The movie was a success and helped support Clobber which was ailing financially. It has since established itself as a cult, widely regarded as one of the best Clobber movies and also one that exemplified many of its signature elements.

This success meant that a number of sequels were slated at Clobber but financial troubles meant that none of them left the drawing board. Outlines still exist for Major Magnos - The Witch’s Mark, Major Magnos – The Ghouls’ Tomb, and one simply called ‘The one with the devil.’

In The Witch’s Mark, Magnos and Proust were to hunt down a dangerous coven that has been terrorising a rural village. Magnos takes his top off and is seduced by Klara, a village girl who turns out to be a witch herself. And in the finale, it is discovered that every woman in the village is a witch.

In The Ghouls’ Tomb, Magnos and Proust were to come to a rural village that is being plagued by creatures from the nearby war-cemetery. Magnos takes his top off and is seduced by Katie, a village girl. Using Proust’s arcane knowledge the three of them make their way to the crypt at the centre of the cemetery in order to end the Ghouls’ curse.

In the one with the devil, Magnos and Proust were to investigate strange visitations in a rural village where there is said to be a gateway to hell. Magnos takes his top off and is seduced by the devil’s thirteen daughters.