Nevermet Press's Blog, page 30
October 28, 2010
Grit, Steampunk & Fantasy – Sources of Inspiration
October 25, 2010
The Old School Toolkit
There has been a lot of buzz over Warrior, Rogue and Mage since it debuted a few months ago. For those familiar with RPGs, it feels open-ended and light. It seems to be perfectly suited for quick games as well as enduring campaigns. I even wrote a post creating a few spells and a gun-toting mage.
Part of its allure, however, comes from the perception that it can be expanded into any genre. I thought about creating a Metabarons type setting with the rules. Mark Meredith is creating an espionage type of game. One of the bloggers on the author's blog is working on another genre of his own. There's something about the ruleset that suggests an ability to expand it in any direction you choose.
When I saw Mutant Future as an extension of Labyrinth Lord I had the same feeling. LL is flexible enough for an post-apocalyptic game without changing too much. Other game systems will work as well, there's Microlite20, ZeFRS and my favorite, Risus. Still, seeing Labyrinth Lord brings back all the gonzo action of my old high school group. It gives me a chance to bring out all the crazy mecha meets airships meets ethereal plane meets clockwork stuff crammed in a few design notebooks in the corner of my books. I hope that after twenty years, experiences in other game systems can transform those scribbles into something fun.
This upcoming series in the design journal is an effort to contribute to the OSR. It won't be focused on restating older rules, but will be oriented towards new directions for a trusted ruleset that I enjoy quite a bit. The aim is to present suggestions for things like aerial combat and psionics as well as provide a framework to construct just about anything. Some of the work already in progress includes a universal vehicle creation system, a race/class creation system and a cornucopia of random generators. Other ideas include introducing a d20 style wizard/sorcerer dichotomy with psionic characters, creating tactical and anime style mecha, clockwork systems and lots of setting examples.
To provide a good idea of where this series is going, here is an example mecha. This mecha is intended for a more tactical style of play common in FASA games. It is a product of the universal vehicle creation system.
Reloxus
Standard Class Mecha
Movement: 6 hexes or 900′ (300′)
Armor Class: 2
Hull Points: 960
Attacks: 5*
Damage: See below
Cost: 1,761,300 Cr
Weapons Range (hexes) Damage
Mark VII Laser Cannon 20 4-32
175mm Mass Driver 15 7-70
75mm Mass Driver 15 2-24
LR Swarm-10 Missile Battery 10 4-40
SR Cloud-12 Mortar Cluster 6 6-72
The Reloxus class mecha also comes equipped with a Mark III Sandcaster Anti-Missle Defense System that provides 40 points of missile damage reduction.
The Reloxus has set the bar for standard class mecha. It has a high level of shielding to protect against the heavier lasers of assault class mecha as well as a tremendous amount of missile attacks to quickly eliminate attacks from light class mecha. The Reloxus is an older design that does not feature newer types of weapons. Tests with innovative weapons systems have yielded negative effects.
October 23, 2010
The Weekly RPG Buzz for October 23, 2010
For those that do not already know, I update my Google Buzz frequently throughout the day with links and thoughts that deal with many things Geek. In order to make all of this information more user friendly, here are the highlights for the buzzes that are related to role playing games.
Sage Advice
Someone has compiled a list of 680 questions and answers from the Sage Advice column from Dragon Magazine. Looking at how questions were answered can tell you almost as much as the answer itself. For example, when asked about their thoughts in regard to 1000th level characters fighting deities, the response was:
Not much. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I will repeat: A forty-plus-level character is ridiculous.
The Roleplayer Daily
EnWorld has created a daily Instapaper type of site populated by the blog, tweets, and videos of selected individuals in the RPG world. You're sure to find something you like.
Linky Links
Alex Schroeder maintains an RSS feed of Old School blogs called Old School RPG Planet. I get a lot of my OSR fix from this feed. In a recent post, he also pointed to a few other collections of blogs. He continues to post more Old School Blog lists.
Cyclopeatron's RPG Blog List – a very long list of blogs for old school-style gamers including the number followers as reported by blogger.com
Strange Magic – a short list of blogs by Stuart Robertson
RPG Bloggers – a longer list of blogs by Stuart Robertson including blogs listed by Jeff Rients
Savage Bloggers Network – news and blog posts featuring or discussing the Savage Worlds RPG by Kristian
Using OD&D for Cyberpunk
Koren n'Rhys is working on a Cyberpunk set of rules for Swords & Wizardry. Although my choice is slightly different (Labryinth Lord), it's neat to see that I'm not the only one that sees the old rules as a platform to cover new genres. You can keep up with Koren's progress on this thread from the OD&D Discussion Board.
Inspirational Posts
There were quite a few posts this week that started the creative juices. I hope you'll find them equally inspiring:
Seeing a Turner's Cube evokes images of planar travel and/or horror.
Coruscate is a word that means to emit vivid flashes of light. I could see a creature like this using blinding attacks as well as having some sort of energy immunity. N. Wright of Lawful Indifferent was also inspired by this word. For him, it evokes images of sea-raiders.
Two sets of house rules showed up this week, complete with several hidden gems. One of my favorites talked about magic-users creating mushroom men. It gave me an idea for two kinds of specialist spellcaster: one is a wizard that specializes in golem construction, the other is a type of cleric/theurge that pursues the creation of life in reverence to their deity.
From the Hill Cantons, Swords & Wizardry House Rules Compendium
From the Warlock's Home Brew, the Player's Handbook of the House Rules
Here are some things you will see in a fantasy city.
Sometimes a magic item simply has to behave exactly as advertised. Here is the Falling-Down Stick, complete with lolcat sound effects.
Free paper minis for Tekumel. You can download them here.
Lastly, using the fourth dimension has always been intriguing to me.
Here is a post that describes using the fourth dimension (and maybe the fifth) in fantasy terms. Very beautiful idea. For more on tetraspace and the possibilities in a game, read the Adventures of Fred, Bob, and Emily series at this site.
Epilogue
As always there is much more in the feed than what is shared here. To get a drink from the firehose for yourself, I can be found on Google Buzz here.
October 22, 2010
A Brief History of the Elves, Part 1
Lucien was born the son of Alcaneus Tinuvir and his second wife Janwen, her first. His father was titled Feylord Alcaneus, and he ruled over Shal'Tavoor, a wine region in the Known World[1], for more than a century. Lucien was brought up with all the luxury that could be afforded to a king's prince, and with it an insatiable lust for life.
As a second-wife child, he knew at an early age he would never rule unless his four siblings from his first-mother were removed. He also knew that to become a Feylord himself he would need the support of his elven brethren who lived in the region. So, as Lucien aged, he planned his course with care, and cultivated all the skills and traits needed for someone destined to be a usurper.
Being the son of the reigning Feylord, Lucien studied under the best tutors his family could find and spent years memorizing the Elven Traditions. He was a good student, but his interest in the Classics waned and by the time he had reached the end of his adolescent years he wanted something different. By chance, Lucien met a human diplomat who had come to his father's estate on some political matter. The young elf's curiosity about Human culture and history peaked, and made an impression on his father. Being an astute ruler, Alcaneus thought it wise for his son to learn about Human history and culture, if only only as a matter of study. He hoped that one day Lucien would serve as a special counsel on all matters related to the Humans, and how to deal with them. Alcaneus recalled this diplomat, Morcant Denarius, and employed him as a special tutor to his son Lucien. Little did he know, however, that Morcant was a Ritual Master and a leader among those who were fighting against the elven oppression.
Morcant agreed to teach Lucien the culture and history of the humans, in the hopes that the relations between the two races would improve over time, or perhaps to gain some advantage over Alcaneus. Once the tutor had gained Lucien's trust, Morcant made a secret deal with him: he would teach Lucien what he knew of the secret Druidic Traditions – a form of ritual magic not known by any of the Elves at that time. In return, Lucien would in turn provide Morcant with everything he knew about the Elven Traditions – their magic, sorcery, and crafting secrets. They became mutual traitors for each of their peoples, and this secret bond helped keep them together – as student and master – for over three decades.
In time, Lucien became a Ritual Master in his own right. He, along with his tutor Morcant, had developed their own form of magical art too. It was a fusion of two cultures, a true blending of magical theories that, scholars say, had no right being intermingled. It was powerful, but unstable. The people who witnessed it dubbed it "Lightfire", after the human trade-tongue translation of Lucien's name. They were breaking new ground, and they looked to the future. Lucien had not lost his appetite for taking his father's place. If anything, his success only emboldened him.
Eventually, Lucien's role as student ended. The two wizards, now essentially equals by all accounts, agreed to part ways. There were rumors of the two forming a formal school – but Lucien's aging father forbade him from doing so and instead insisted that he take on his role as a diplomat to the Humans whom they ruled over. It was the last thing Lucien wanted to do, but fate and time would stay his hand for a while longer.
Lucien proved to be an uncompromising and sharp tongue diplomat. Soon after he set out, the humans of Shal'Tavoor rose up against Alcaneus's rule. What followed was a long and drawn out civil war fought in the hills and valleys of Shal'Tavoor that lasted nearly seven years. Thousands died, but eventually the rebellion was quelled and a peace was reached. In the end, Lucien was removed from his post and the humans gained several important concessions from Alcaneus including a seat at the Lord's Council. The man who was chosen: Morcant Denarius. The human's had won – and Lucien's dream of leading his people was now slipping away.
Fearing that the human tribes and clans would eventually overthrow the elven ruling class, Lucien went to work. He was now free of his official post in his father's court, but now had the connections and support of the several lords of the council. He also had the secret support of several military generals, as well as the High Caretaker Anwen Neirshen of the Convocation of Shal'Tavoor[2]. He firmly believed that his elderly father, as well as his siblings (who were unaccomplished and ineffectual sycophants), would do nothing to stop him. A quiet revolution within the Elven Court was soon underway.
With his supporters in line, Lucien mounted a campaign to gain the power he had longed to have for so many years. First he appealed to his people directly by publicly speaking out against the concessions for the Races of Man. He reminded everyone who would listen of the otherworldly superiority of the Elves and the promise of immortal life in the Feywyrd after death[1]. He also took his rhetoric further by charging that his father, and the children of his first-mother, had succumbed to a spell placed on them by Morcant Denarius. He turned on his former master as well as his family, and declared that they must step down at once. He demanded that the council elect a new leader for Shal'Tavoor, and that this leader should be none other than himself -Lucien Tinuvar.
It was a massive blunder.
Lucien's appeal came on the long tail of a bloody war, and the people had little appetite for additional strife and bloodshed. Not only had Lucien outed several important figures as corroborators in a potential coup (which they later all denied), he also made himself public enemy number one. So, dispite the support of Convocation and several military leaders, Lucien soon found himself in prison.
In the years that passed, the humans slowly made more inroads with the elves. Although some wanted a total revolution to teardown the elven aristocracy, Morcant choose to take a more patient path. Soonafter Lucien disappeared, a second human was handed a seat at the Lords Council – this time it was Hierophant Wöden Gaibyu, the religious leader of the humans who lived in Shal'Tavoor. Together, Morcant and Wöden formed a secret cabal that cast a wide net of influence over the unprepared Elven Court.
The history books are unclear as to what happened after this. What little we do know suggests that after a decade Lucien managed to escape from prison and, with new found support among the elves, he was able to raise an army and dispose his father from the throne. Morcant Helfay then revealed himself to be the wizard many had long suspected, and together with Wöden's druidic sorcery, they led an army against Lucien's.
The people cried out for blood, and a bloody war ensued. Lucien, with the help of the Convocation, led the elves to victory. After two years of fighting, Morcant and Wöden were dead, and with it the spells they had weaved for years among the Tinuvar family vanished. The humans were broken, and the elves returned to ruling them with an iron fist.
" With blood, comes reward. And vengence ." – Elven proverb.
Eventually word reached Loaerth City of the atrocities occurring in Shal'Tavoor. It is unclear who managed to assasinate Lucien, but it was believed to have been an highly skilled Edgemaster from Loaerth City. No one claimed responsibility, but everyone knew they were the only ones who could have possibly been talented enough to make the killing.
When Lucien was found dead in his palace, a cry went out across all the Known World. Elves across the globe mourned his loss and he quickly became a martyr for elves of all walks of life. His reputation grew, and he soon was regarded post-humonously as an Elven Herald, Feylord Defender, Saigant of the Convocation, and the Lord of Lords. Who Lucien was in life became overshadowed by myth and legend, and the legend of Lucien Tinuvar soon became synonymous with the entire elven racial identity. He was more than a martyr, he became a saint, an angel, and eventually a god.
But how did this happen?
Passing through the Veil, Lucien's soul felt a great surge of anguish, anger, and vaishing hope from his people. These feelings fed his soul, and once he reached the Feywyrd he knew he was already on a course towards immortality. The sentiments, thoughts, and veneration given to him by the mortal elves who dwelled in the Known World gave his soul power beyond anything he dreamed possible. His power surged, and he found he could manifest it in the Known World. Lucien Tinuvar had become a god.
Legend says that Lucien's first manifestation was to High Caretaker Anwen Neirshen of the Convocation of Shal'Tavoor. She had been one of his key allies during his life in battles against the humans and his father's cacotopic empire. He annointed her as the First Priestess of his church, which grew like wildfire among the elves. Now for the first time the elves had a diety to whom they could place their eternal trust into, and this new god promised them a world without the Races of Man.
And so began the Elven Scourge…
[1] Shal'Tavoor was a place know to Mankind as South Dawning, a bucolic region about seven hundred miles south of Loaerth City. It was known for its fine wines, and extremely rich fishing waters. The Tinuvar family ruled the region like kings and eventually their rule led to several uprisings that led to their downfall.
[2] Each elven region was assigned a Convocation of Practitioners, masters of the elven ritual magic traditions. Given that, up to this point, the elves had no gods but were instead Caretakers of the Feywyrd, in the Known World, Practitioners were often the ones who controlled who gained access to the Veil and were permitted to pass through the Veil back into the Feywyrd. The were, for all intents and purposes, much like priests the humans and trolls have – although their "churches" were more akin to schools where tradition and history was taught, memorized, and practiced. Once Lucien ascended to godhood, most of the Convocations converted en masse into churches dedicated to his worship.
[3] The artwork at the top is by Matt Lichtenwalner, and was reused from a post here at Nevermet Press from 2009. The logo, as you might have guessed, indicates that this is a post for Loaerth & Feywyrd.
October 20, 2010
453 People Entered to Win Open Game Table, Volume 2 – But Everyone Wins!
That's right – we had 453 people enter into the Goodreads.com book giveaway for Open Game Table, Volume 2. Five people won the drawing – and we'll be sending out print copies of the book to them today! To the Winners – CONGRATULATIONS!
For everyone else – you can get a free copy of Open Game Table, Volume 2 simply by making a donation to Doctors Without Borders through RPGNow.com. Currently, a few dozen publishers – including Nevermet Press – have banded together to give away their books to raise money for the victims of the Pakistan Floods. For a $25 Donation to Doctors Without Borders you will get over $700 worth of RPG books!!! So far, they have raise over $21,000! Everyone WINS!
So – hop over there right now before the charity promotion ends and make your donation!
October 18, 2010
A Game within a Game
There are times when a description is not enough to provide the flavor of a location. This location could be as small as a person's home or as large as a subcontinent. Pictures can help, too. In some of the best games I've been in, the GM provided a vignette. In a small scene, we would see the people within a location doing things. Many times, these vignettes featured everyday life. Other times, people would be engaged in rather extraordinary actions. In one game, the GM described walking up a wall as if it was the sort of thing that was perfectly normal.
In some of my sessions, I would include a vignette showing various non-player characters playing a game. Dice games were common – this also provided a way to find information and make a quick buck. Some encounters, though, required something that would encourage the characters to interact. At times like this, I would either have the NPC offer a game of bridge or chess. These two stuck out to me as a chance for players to dialogue with an important NPC. I would impart the perspective of the culture, pass along information, and display a few mannerisms while playing chess. For my players, they ended up learning a lot of things about the locale that would later help them foil traps, find the loot, kill the big bad, etc.
When development on Shayakand began, I wanted to include something similar. Shayakand already has a few unusual ideas, the most prominent one being "what if the photocopier was developed instead of the printing press". Knowing that, however, doesn't give you the flavor of the entire cultural phenomenon of the library, much less the impact of the average Shayakandi citizen.
So I developed a variation of chess with an alien board and simple pieces. I want players that choose to use the game to be able to play it quickly. Instead of making alien rules, the visual of the board should suffice.
In this game, pieces move a number of spaces according to the number assigned to them. Pieces with the number 1 can move one space. Pieces with the number 2 can move two spaces and so on. The R pieces is the King. The J piece can jump to the next space of the same color. Otherwise, play continues just like chess. Here is a link to the game and a graphic of the board.
Here's an example of using chess to set characters into Shayakand. I assume a bit in the telling of this vignette. This assumes that I (as the GM) am playing the character in this version of chess while we play out the encounter.
A Bite to Eat
Outside the garmadala, patrons are filing out of the wide exit to find a table to eat their meal. As is typical for midday, many of the customers are eating midly spiced lentil soup. The smell of curry and mint waft into the street drawing in more people in search of a quick hot meal.
Scanning the clientele, you notice a number of bureaucrats and librarians scattered throughout the tables. With such upper class customers, you feel assured that above all else, you will not get sick eating here. Once in line, you can see the six large pots in an L-shaped table that hold the choices of meals. The two closest to the entrance have the mildly spiced lentils, but the last pot has a spicy chicken that is all but irresistible. The serving woman pours a generous helping in your bowl. Paying at the end of the L-shaped bar, you hope that the extra silver for a meat dish will be worth it.
As you make your way to the tables, you see a man dressed in the way that is currently fashionable for members of the librarian class. Looking at the insignia on his shoulder, you recognize that he works in the largest library in the city. You think to yourself that if anyone can help you in your search, this is the best man to consult.
Sitting at the table, you greet him in the proper manner and ask if he has time for a game of chess. The man looks you up and down and replies that it has been a while since he has played a merchant in anything, but that he certainly has the time. Reaching into his bag, he reveals an expensive set of pieces inlaid with small blue gems and pearls. You place your pieces on the table as well – finely crafted silver pieces that normally earn a second look appear to be shabby by comparison. Noting the librarian's overconfidence, you decide that you will not quickly dispatch him.
The librarian offers you the first move which you kindly accept. In the first opening moves, the librarian's smug countenance has soured into a look of great concern. He quotes a Vedic proverb saying, "The humble have the least to lose,"
Taking the opportunity, you complete the passage saying, "and the haughty have the least to gain."
"What other secrets do you have, merchant?" quizzes the librarian.
"What is not secret is my name. You may call me Pavo," you reply.
"Pavo, I am the high librarian for Basha Dende. For providing me with a worthy challenge, I will tell you that my name for now is Indrapahl."
As play continues, the librarian's forces dwindle. The raja is scarcely protected. His only hope appears to be a lone pawn reaching the far end of the board. He hopes the promoted piece will give him the upper hand. You are certain that there are only four moves left in this contest. You decide to push for the information you seek.
"Sa. Indrapahl, may I inquire about a certain hymn? I hear from my servants in Daayata that the Song of the Mpura is in high demand. A certain man named Kuvaja was there last month talking to the priests."
The librarian chuckles to himself. "You seek the ancient Shapers as well, I see."
He makes a move leaving his Raja open to capture.
The librarian continues, "We cannot talk much here, however, I can provide a copy of an ancient Amanakshi scroll. The lizardmen of the south still hold the secret to shaping. It's no secret that they can pull iron from the red clay soil in their swamps. What isn't commonly available, however, is how their weapons are made."
You do not end the game, instead you make a defensive move to in the hope of gaining more time to talk. You feel a bit unsettled that he is offering you information so quickly.
"You show proper respect," says the librarian. "For that alone, I believe that we can help each other. Come to the library in an hour. Request a copy of this book that I will give you. In exchange for what you know of Kuvaja, I will provide a scroll that you may find interesting."
Making a final move, the librarian is able to promote his pawn. The promoted piece leaves you trapped with no possible moves. As the librarian rises to leave the table, he places a thin red book in the center of the table. It is bound with a simple leather strap.
"Bandakha-roh, merchant. I'll see you in an hour."
