Tuesday 28 April 2009

[HeroQuest 2] Publication News!

This has just been announced by Rick Meints of Moon Design.

Some good news!

Quote:
HeroQuest 2009: We're back!!!

Hello all,

To begin, thank you all for your patience as Moon Design got through its quiet phase, mainly due to the trying economic times that face many of us. Work and travel overseas took its toll on my schedule, but that is largely all sorted now. Production is gearing back up and many things are getting back on track. My first announcement deals with an addition to the Moon Design Team. Jeff Richard is now my partner with the specific task of developing all Gloranthan HeroQuest products. He is the single point of contact for all authors.

As for publications, here is the latest on what is in the works:
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HeroQuest: Core Rules (2nd Edition). The long awaited book is finally here! This is Robin Laws' innovative, dynamic and flexible rules engine suitable for play in any genre or setting. It presents a simple and flexible system that allows Game Masters to make decisions the way authors and screenwriters do when creating novels, TV episodes and movies. HeroQuest encourages creative input from your players, resulting in an exciting, unpredictable narrative created through group collaboration. Its resolution methods and scalable character levels make it equally suitable to any genre, from epic fantasy to satirical soap opera. Whether your next game idea draws on horror, war, westerns, martial arts, pulps, cyberpunk, cliff-hangers, giant robots, super-powered heroes, space opera, cop action, corporate intrigue, furry animals, swashbuckling adventure, Greek tragedy or drawing room comedy, HeroQuest can resolve its scenes of conflict, both big and small. You could even use HeroQuest to emulate a musical—although it won’t do any of the singing or dancing for you. Completely rewritten by the original designer, this new edition opens and details running the core system for any genre. 160 pages. Available in June 2009 (including the Tentacles convention).

The Sartar Book. In progress since 1980 (!), The Sartar Book is the largest Gloranthan sourcebook ever published and contains in one BIG volume (nearly 400 pages!) everything you need to run a Gloranthan campaign set amongst the storm-worshipping tribes of the Kingdom of Sartar; how to create Sartarite characters and clans, magic and religion of the Sartarites (including new HQ writeups of the cults of Orlanth, Ernalda, Humakt, Chalana Arroy, Issaries, Lhankor Mhy, Elmal, Urox and Yinkin), Orlanthi heroquesting, background information about Sartar and its people, an an epic campaign arc with love, vengeance, and mythic adventure - including adventures in the Upland Marsh and a major Heroquest through the Underworld. Tons of new material that has never been printed before - this is a hefty load of pure Gloranthan Gold. Most importantly, your heroes are the center of this saga! Although we are still working on final edits, art and maps, a special limited edition pre-release version will be available at Tentacles.

Next up:
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The Pavis Book. The first supplement to the Sartar Book, the Pavis Book is an update of the classic Pavis and Big Rubble setting, revised for the HeroQuest rules. But this is not a reprint of the old material - the Pavis Book contains new adventures, new information, and insights into some of the secrets of the ancient Walled City. Contains writeups of the cult of Pavis, Yelmalio, the Seven Mothers and others.

Whitewall: the Last Rebel King. Yep, you heard right, we are going to put your heroes right in the middle of the great battles of Whitewall and Iceland.Contains background on the Hendriking, Volsaxing and Heortland, as well as astory arc that puts your heroes in the middle of the action.

Other manuscripts are still in the production pipeline, including Ian Cooper's Coming Storm Campaign, Distant Shores, the Aldryami Book, and Heroes of Malkion. More on their publication dates will be announced
later this summer.

Rick Meints
Publisher, Moon Design

Monday 27 April 2009

To GM or not to GM: That is the question?

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of heavy game criticism,
Or to take arms against a sea of system backlash,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
Of a lack of players, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream of a great home group: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of no games to GM what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off to a convention for games?


So I am having a little bit of a crisis at the moment as far as my GMing games goes. I seem to have lost faith with my ability to GM at conventions as I have fallen under some heavy criticism

I am really struggling to keep my home group together. I have had some excellent players join over the last couple of years yet they seem to find excuses when to next session is scheduled not to come.
Now I am a good host – I provide a cooked meal and snacks as well as a full fridge of drinks [beer and soft drinks], I run a reasonable game with a good story, I am well organised with nice maps and handouts. The setting is fairly cool though I do know that many people do have an issue with Glorantha as a setting.

I do also know that many people dislike the HeroQuest system, but I didn’t expect it to the point that several people have condemned my games on the RPG con circuit here in the UK. This is just not an attack on HeroQuest but my games in general. Now it could be just rumours but having heard this from two different sources is troubling. Bad-mouthing my games seems a little bit cruel and vindictive and the rumours are appearing to spread by word-of-mouth.

It is now getting to the point that I may have to give up GMing games at conventions all together.
I plan to run a few HeroQuest games at Tentacles Omega, a RPG convention that takes place in Germany at the end of May this year, and get some detailed feedback from those games.

I may just attend less RPG conventions in future; I’ll just concentrate on help organising some conventions that I am involved with instead.
At Furnace I'll not run any games for instance.

I am just not sure what else to do?

Sunday 26 April 2009

Sunday Scimitar - 09

Another slender blade with a round curve that makes it good at slashing. This also has a sharp double edged point that is great for stabbing with, that is directly matched to the handle.
There is a knuckle guard and the pommel is claw shaped to enable to do a backhand swipe or stab.


Scimitar-09

Wednesday 22 April 2009

Midweek Character - Sabra Hillard

So I have realised that I haven't posted up a HeroQuest character for a while so without further ado I post another female character.
This is Sabra Hillard, pilot of The Betty, from Alien: Resurrection film, written by Joss Whedon.
Though the character had a small part in the film she does play a big role in the game. As pilot she controls the ship but also she is heart of the group. When her character is absent the group does seem to be more aggressive and commit more atrocities [part of the fun of the games is committing atrocities of one sort or another].

She also has a good dose of Badass!

Hillard


Hillard's Story
"Nobody is left behind. Not even you Johner!”

“No, There’s got to be another way”

Sabra Hillard is the Betty's pilot. A feisty, captivating woman, she is also tender and dignified. Flying is in her blood as she was trained as a commercial pilot before enrolling into the Alliance military, piloting every known class of ship. Hillard knows every operating tactic and procedure and how to circumnavigate them as well as out-manoeuvring and escaping any other flyer.

Hillard served with Elgyn but like him she refused to commit the atrocities ordered by the Admiralty command. She cherishes the freedom that being a freelancer brings almost as much as she loves Elgyn; she shares both the perils and the rewards of their current smuggling lifestyle.

109 words.

KeyWords

Former Alliance Pilot 17

Smuggler 15

Flaws

Refused to Commit Atrocities 15M

Hates Being Confined 12M

Personality

Conceited 1M

Dignified 19

Feisty 5M

Impetuous 17

Loyal 8M

Rash 17

Relaxed 17

Superior 17

Relationships

Alliance Pilots [Contacts] 19

Commercial Pilots [Associates] 19

Alliance Admiralty [Adversary] 19

Battle Unit [Former -Member of] 17

Former Comrades [Friends of] 17

The Betty’s Crew [Loyal to] 19

Black Market [Contacts] 15

Underworld [Contacts] 15

Elgyn Rane [Lover ] 20M

Abilities

Captivating 19

Cherishes Freedom 19

Circumnavigate Enemy Tactics 1M

Commendable War Service 19

Dirty Fighin’ 12M

Enrolled into Alliance Military 19

Escape Pursuit 5M

Flying is in Her Blood 19

Knows Every Class of Ship 19

Knows Every Operating Tactic 19

Knows Operating Procedures 5M

Know Ship’s Capabilities 5M

Knows Smuggling Lifestyle 19

Out-manoeuvre Other Flyer 19

Persuasive 18M

Pilot Spaceship 15M

Served with Elgyn 15M

Shares the Perils 19

Shares the Rewards 19

Think Quickly 15M

Wealth

Standard of Living: Common 13

WEAPONS:- Knife, Pistol, Shotgun, SMG, Spare Ammo..

ITEMS:- Ident Card, Fake Permits, Assortment of loot, Pilots Licence, G-suit


Sunday 19 April 2009

3D map of Dragon Lands of Glorantha

So here is a map I did a while back.
It is of the Dragon Lands of Dragon Pass in Glorantha and is the setting for my HeroQuest campaign.

I was fairly happy with it but it still unfinished and doesn't quite convey the combination of flat lands, swamp, peaks and craggy hills.




Dragon Lands of Glorantha

I have sketched out an isometric grid and drawn some of the new map already.

So here is the pencil sketch I have done so far.
I am trying to get an isometric view of the landscape showing the hills, mountains and flatlands.



Dragonlands-01
Dragon Lands of Glorantha - isometric sketch -01



Dragonlands-01
Dragon Lands of Glorantha - isometric sketch -01 Thumbnail.

The labels are just temporary at the moment just to give an idea for comparison of the two maps.

I still have quite a bit to do to finish it off.

One thing I may struggle with is doing the large swamp as I haven't got a clue how to represent it.
Any ideas?

Sunday Scimitar - 08

This scimitar is a Saif [ سيف], a curved Arabian sword. Double edged and slender it is a deadly weapon.

Scimitar-08

Friday 17 April 2009

My HeroQuest 2.0 games I am running at Tentacles Omega.

0 Tentacles Omega 2009. Castle Stahleck, Bacharach, Germany.
Friday 28th May - Monday 1st June 2009.
http://www.tentacles-convention.de/


Here are my games that I'll be running at Tentacles Omega.

+



'Street Urchins of Ancient Pavis' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Mythic Glorantha: HeroQuest 2.0 adventure for up to 6 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Abandoned by Family, Ancestors and the City itself, the street urchins have a very hard existence in the shattered remains of Ancient Pavis. They live on the discarded scraps from the city dwellers and *other* denizens of the Rubble, a place where life is very, very cheap.
The only future they have to look forward to is a quick death somewhere in the unforgiving ruins of this once splendid city.
The River Flock has a nice hidey-hole under the Sculpture Garden, a safe haven in this deadly world. Yet many of the street urchins are turning up dead, their bodies discarded.
Now a stranger in red is poking around the upper entrance.
Just what is he after and is he responsible for the deaths of the other urchins?"

+



'Cropcircles and Lights Out' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Supernatural: HeroQuest 2.0 adventure for 5 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Police reports are coming in from Fulton County, Georgia of cars driving at night without their headlights on. When helpful members of the public flash their lights in courtesy to warn the drivers they become victims to the drivers.
All that seems to be left are the abandoned cars with their headlights smashed out. No trace of the occupants have been found. Forensic reports do confirm that the blood found in the broken headlights is canine, not human.
Are these incidents related to the gang tags found in the recent spate of crop circles that also plague the area?"

+
Birkebeiner-02.jpg picture by DarranSims
"Winters Warriors" by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Mythic Glorantha: HeroQuest 2.0 adventure for up to 6 players.
Newcomers Welcome.
"As initiates of Inora, Goddess of the Mountain Snow, normally you are on the fringes of society as solitary hunters or warriors of the mountains. But now Orlanth is Dead! The land is locked in winter. Suddenly the 'Winter Warriors' are require to save the clan and its tula in the mountains. The dangers of winter are magnifed as ice demons roam the peaks, snowfall cuts off all the lodges and the food stocks are running low. On top of that vast columns of smoke rise from the flat lands and they are getting closer and closer. Villages are being burnt down and destroyed.
Are the Lunars responsible?
Can the winter warriors stop their advance?"

+

Wednesday 15 April 2009

Cut-away Orlanthi Steadhouse

Here is an Orlanthi steadhouse in cut-away form that I have been working on. The Orlanthi are the barbarian culture in Glorantha.

This one is a small farm house type structure with half the stead given over to animal stalls with a stone water trough. The younger family members sleep in the 'attic' above the animals while the more important family members sleep in the rooms at the back on beds. The main living room has a central fire pit for cooking, a large communal table and the walls are adorned with weapons and winter survival gear.

Hand drawn with ink in an isometric view.

Photobucket
The Orlanthi Steadhouse

Photobucket
The cut-away of the Orlanthi Steadhouse


More to follow.

Sunday 12 April 2009

Sunday Scimitar - 07

So here is another scimitar drawing I have done.
A simple curved widening blade with a solid guard and heavy pommel.

Scimitar-07

Sunday 5 April 2009

Sunday Scimitar - 06

A nice Chinese ring sword next.
A leather bound hilt with sword-catcher guards and the large curved blade with two fullers to give more flexibility.

Scimitar-06

Friday 3 April 2009

Midweek Character - Captain Elgyn

So the next Midweek Character is Captain Elgyn. Portrayed by Michael Wincott in the dark and moody Alien: Resurrection film, written by Joss Whedon, he is a larger than life character.
Though he is the leader of the group he is flawed with avoiding endangering the crew as well as his own incompetent manner. Also trying to reign-in the other characters is a job and a half, just keeping Johner away from the weapons locker is a tough!
He is often the first choice for the games as most players prefer him over the other player characters.

Elgyn as seen by the Alliance



Elgyn’s Story

“Hey son, I’ll give you my authorisation code. Its E-A-T-M-E.”

“Drink, Elgyn?” “Constantly.”

“Hey, don’t cut thrust till about 600 metres. We’ll give ‘em a little scare.”

Elgyn Rane is the captain of The Betty and has the kind of authority that doesn't need to flaunt itself. Smart, resourceful and charismatic, he is a former Alliance officer who discovered more challenge and profit in the murky world of space smuggling. Elgyn has used his commendable war service with the Alliance Space Corps, his associates in the Alliance Civilian Guard and his contacts with the Alliance Admiralty to gain lucrative jobs.

With his network connections he evades capture but is mistrusted by the criminal underworld of the rim.

It is his loyalty to his crew that stops Elgyn taking on the more dangerous missions.

106 words.

KeyWords

Former Alliance Officer 15

Smuggler 17

Flaws

Mistrusted by Criminals 12M

Avoid Endangering Crew 12M

Personality

Arrogant 15

Brave 1M

Callous 1M

Charismatic 19

Cunning 17

Devil-May-Care 17

Loyality To Crew 5M

Resourceful 19

Self-Centered 17

Self-Confident 15

Smart 19

Relationships

Alliance Space Corps [Contacts] 8M

Alliance Civilian Guard [Associates] 3M

Alliance Admiralty [Contacts] 19

Battle Unit [Former Member of] 15

Former Comrades [Friends of] 15

The Betty’s Crew [Loyal to] 19

Black Market [Contacts] 17

Underworld [Contacts] 17

Sabra Hillard [Lover] 12M

Abilities

Assess Situation 15M

Authority that doesn't Flaunt 10M

Avoid Endangering Crew 10M

Charismatic 19

Commendable War Service 5M

Conceal Contraband 5M

Dirty Fighin’ 8M

Discover Challenges 19

Evade Capture 19

Exert Authority 20M

Gain Lucrative Jobs 19

Hates Dangerous Missions 15M

Issue Orders 5M

Kind Authority 19

Knows Murky World 9M

Loves Profit 19

Mistrusted by Underworld 19

Network Connections 1M

Wealth

Standard of Living: Common 13

WEAPONS:- Knife, Pistol, Shotgun, SMG, Spare Ammo..

ITEMS:- Ident Card, Fake Permits, Assortment of loot, Bill of Ownership of The Betty.