tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post1215365683000666980..comments2024-03-24T23:53:40.568-04:00Comments on In Places Deep: Unfocused Thoughts: Medieval RPGMirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03768774662263638305noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-83221020664177726942012-05-27T17:35:22.046-04:002012-05-27T17:35:22.046-04:00Oh, if you are looking for flavorful magic systems...Oh, if you are looking for flavorful magic systems inspired by medieval research, you should look into <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Wargaming-Bruce-Galloway/dp/0812828623/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338154376&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">Fantasy Wargaming</a>. I've heard claims otherwise, but it appears unplayable but fascinating nevertheless.redbeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600098550347299095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-18357228668387890132012-05-27T17:31:44.264-04:002012-05-27T17:31:44.264-04:00A quote from the thread on the rpg.net review:
&qu...A quote from the thread on the rpg.net review:<br />"The place, the Iberian penninsula. The time, the second half of the fourteenth century. Five kingdoms, Castile, Aragon, Granada, Navarre, and Portugal, live constantly on the edge of war and intrigue, each trying its best to outwit the other. Two kingdoms, Aragon and Castile, have been at war for decades each one secure in the knowledge that with the grace of God it will become the supreme power in the land. Its the lower Middle Ages, an age of disasters, an age of passing, of strong lords, rebellious peasants, prejudice and enlightenment.<br />But the history books lied to us. There is another world, older and by far more savage than the petty cruelties of man. A world of fantasy and legend, of magic and madness, deeply hidden in dark wilderness from the prying eyes of the rational. A world nonetheless capable of invading, by night and by dream, the new cities of Man. We speak not here of simple magics and desires, but of feits that bring endless power, of spells that rend the fabric of one's sanity, of inhuman servants, sexual acts of uncompromising fulfillment. Here we speak of darkness, here we speak of the Devil.<br />With Aquelarre you will live adventures precariously balanced between two worlds; in a land forgotten by the scholars and history books alike, but nonetheless illustrated in hundreds of songs and legends. All you need to play is this book, dice, paper and pencil.<br />... And so the vampires ride, freely mingling with the White Company that will sack Castile; the Lobisme howls in Galicia, while ghouls ply the tombstones like dark snakes in the land once called Al-Andalus. Lamias haunt ill used roads, waiting to devour the careless. Pedro the Cruel conspires in lofty castles with the Black Prince of Wales, conspiracies that may just cost him throne and soul alike...<br /><br />And the Devil laughs, while his witches prepare the Aquelarre!" <br /><br />Sign me up. Geez, a kickstarter for translators, editors and license?redbeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600098550347299095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-80557417717546013442012-05-13T23:09:10.287-04:002012-05-13T23:09:10.287-04:00Alright, here's the Dragon magazine (October &...Alright, here's the Dragon magazine (October '92) review of Aquelarre; I copied the whole Review section, because the other two games reviewed are of possible passing interest as well:<br /><br />http://www.mediafire.com/view/?sh7fi91zf62n3kxDavid Larkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04133630988557116729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-53609139437801251812012-05-04T02:22:56.799-04:002012-05-04T02:22:56.799-04:00As Kelvin said, Aquelarre is based on a version of...As Kelvin said, Aquelarre is based on a version of BRP.<br /><br />The magical system and bestiary is based on spanish mythology and old texts from spanish medieval. <br /><br />The game is one of the "classic" spanish games and its very will known and respected in the spanish RPG comunity.<br /><br />I don't know if it has been transalated to english, this version maybe it hasn't but its possible other versions (i think this is the fourth edition) had. I suggest you to try to contact the editorial and ask them.<br /><br />If you need more insight about the book or any details (even some help with transalations), just let me know I have it on the shelve next to me :)Ragnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06712843169626273107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-43056309418359013232012-05-01T21:20:56.645-04:002012-05-01T21:20:56.645-04:00I remember reading a review of Aqualarre in an old...I remember reading a review of Aqualarre in an old Dragon magazine. Later tonight I'll see if I can dig that up and copy-pasta the text to you. It might give some more clues and details about the nature of the game and/or the mechanics.David Larkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04133630988557116729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-47130625902926852562012-05-01T20:03:28.145-04:002012-05-01T20:03:28.145-04:00Maybe it's dependent on placing the item with ...Maybe it's dependent on placing the item with the desired value on the target by mundane means, then enchanting the item until it encompasses the target along with it?Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873430636366896071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-4848252853135888072012-05-01T18:24:35.896-04:002012-05-01T18:24:35.896-04:00I don't know if it helps, but as I understand ...I don't know if it helps, but as I understand it -- from a Spanish acquaintance -- <i>Aquelarre</i> is more or less a modified <i>BRP</i>.thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-83175862243346518542012-05-01T18:11:05.509-04:002012-05-01T18:11:05.509-04:00The asymptotic platonism of the spell system is pr...The asymptotic platonism of the spell system is pretty easily represented by just having spells increase or decrease already existing values, perhaps with thresholds for certain kinds of effects (like stone burning) that can achieved only by magical augmentation. It's when you move to the combination of forms like setting the man on fire, that you're going to have trouble <br />(IIRC, IRL Platonic philosophers mostly reject the concept of the admixture of forms, as opposed to their complex combination).John Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17318244888477546773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-25973259096113060692012-05-01T16:43:08.579-04:002012-05-01T16:43:08.579-04:00I'm feeling a bit under the weather so wish I ...I'm feeling a bit under the weather so wish I could give more serious input right now, but YES YES YES this is something I've been thinking along the lines of, please keep us informed!Jason Jutahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07109751465009519029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-9181482117815188242012-05-01T16:39:59.033-04:002012-05-01T16:39:59.033-04:00I'm not that familiar with it either, but I...I'm not that familiar with it either, but I'll have to check it out. Might be good for ideas at least.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10745062840676790649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-52195500853773320232012-05-01T16:37:48.000-04:002012-05-01T16:37:48.000-04:00See my response on G+.See my response on G+.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10745062840676790649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-13334577636784569732012-05-01T16:37:25.449-04:002012-05-01T16:37:25.449-04:00I don't have any experience with Deadlands, bu...I don't have any experience with Deadlands, but the idea of "debts and obligations" would definitely be something I'd want to be a part of nigromancy.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10745062840676790649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-27215072110455900862012-05-01T16:35:26.855-04:002012-05-01T16:35:26.855-04:00I use SBVD's version of criticals in my Nightw...I use SBVD's version of criticals in my Nightwick Abbey game. It's not my go-to flavor of WFRP though because I basically have a fetish for percentile dice.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10745062840676790649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-21186803351199882392012-05-01T16:32:54.725-04:002012-05-01T16:32:54.725-04:00That's a good question. I mean eventually I&#...That's a good question. I mean <i>eventually</i> I'd want it to be close to 100% (assuming I use the system often), but I imagine it'd be closer to 25% the first couple of times I run the game - with players making lots of suggestions.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10745062840676790649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-89814298911794197732012-05-01T16:22:18.312-04:002012-05-01T16:22:18.312-04:00I'm not overly familiar with it, but the magic...I'm not overly familiar with it, but the magic system sounds like Ars Magica (hermetic / neo-platonic). <a href="http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=AG0204" rel="nofollow">Free PDF of 4th edition over at Steve Jackson Games.</a>zhu bajieehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004498036257289234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-59109901918714825052012-05-01T15:14:57.660-04:002012-05-01T15:14:57.660-04:00addenda: it has the bonus of forcing magic users t...addenda: it has the bonus of forcing magic users to do research kinda like i presume you want your wizards to in the game.<br /><br />They come back and go "Ok, I got a stormbringer spell that is 70% of the way to the top of the system and requires a Type 3 sacrifice, what do I have to do , DM?"Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-54508066203864530432012-05-01T15:12:46.976-04:002012-05-01T15:12:46.976-04:00I think unless you want to Story-Game it, the magi...I think unless you want to Story-Game it, the magic system is an exciting and difficult goal.<br /><br />Basically: in any D&D like system, the list of spells is always going to be the part requiring the most brute force.<br /><br />But perhaps there is a gordian solution here....<br /><br />Ok, here's one:<br />YOu can use any spell from any game system. You have to go and find it yourself. However: different kinds of rituals would have to be performed depending how far the system is from the base system. In kind and intensity.<br /><br />So: Rolemaster spells would be like tapping the Platonic, Warhammer ones would require blood sacrifice, etc.<br /><br />Higher the spellevel (within the referred to system) the harder it is to resist insanity while casting and the bigger the goat has to be... hmmmmmZak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-50736293420319801142012-05-01T15:11:58.450-04:002012-05-01T15:11:58.450-04:00Reading about your ideas for ritual magic and neop...Reading about your ideas for ritual magic and neoplatonism reminded me a bit of how Deadlands dealt with shamanic magic. You'd curry spiritual favor through rituals then use that to power your magical abilities. Spirit animals allowed you to store up favor for use later, usually by keeping true to whatever the spirit cared about. That kind of system of debts and obligations seems like a lot of fun to me, especially when that puts you at risk for immolation.grinnockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14674681921186084738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-6575117363464433982012-05-01T14:59:46.730-04:002012-05-01T14:59:46.730-04:00i like it, i like it alot. i especially like the m...i like it, i like it alot. i especially like the medieval bestiary idea. <br /><br />i have recently been looking at A SMALL BUT VISCOUS DOG over here http://vaultsofnagoh.blogspot.com/2011/04/small-but-vicious-dog.htmlAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164338064534438655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831219200072513986.post-64111317951303670192012-05-01T14:56:08.457-04:002012-05-01T14:56:08.457-04:00In terms of magic systems:
How much do you want t...In terms of magic systems:<br /><br />How much do you want to be "hard wired" before play? Carcosa's magic being 100% hard-wired, and story game "just take narrative control with the spell!" being 0%?Zzarchovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07714805545939725730noreply@blogger.com