Ars Mysteriorum

Hmm. There are quite a few jumps in logic here. I meant no argument nor was attempting to convince you that you were aware of something you were not. I only intended to distribute further information. I was only surprised that you haven't heard of these awards and perhaps my sarcastic manner of speaking is poorly represented in type-written form. I apologize for that. You can read more about the Indie RPG Awards here. I don't appreciate having such negative assumptions placed on my intentions, especially since I've shown little but enthusiasm for the release of this game and the work you've done to create it. I even felt compelled to make a thread entitled simply "YAY!" I believe you responded to that with a negative sentiment as well, which I find surprising from someone actually working on the book itself. I'll of course be purchasing this fantastic system, but this interaction has really left a bitter taste in my mouth about the whole thing. No arguments. I'm done posting here.

If by "obscure" you mean "award-winning," I agree. It won the Indie award for the best freely available RPG as well as being a runner up for the best support for an RPG. Certainly some people were giving it a look for it to receive recognition. We are speaking of the same book, and yes it is currently available as a pdf from the website (freely, as stated above) and from lulu.com.

And I eat my own words. Anyone heard of JAGS? Here, I'll post the pictures here for your viewing. From the title page of JAGS Revised, a universal RPG system by Marco Chacon (published in 2006). BRP's new logo. Compare the guns. Look at the tentacle compared to the tail. I am aware that the Vetruvian Man is a popularized image... but the similarities here are so much more than a little suspicious.

No Modern Horror or Modern Fantasy subgenres?

You know, it's a very pretty book, but the game somehow lacks the charm and depth (despite a ridiculously deep setting) of WFRP. Still, it's a game, the system works, the possibilities (within the limited scope provided) are manifold, the critical hit charts make me snort with happy laughter. Many people gripe about the limitations of the significantly reduced number of career paths. I disagree with all that. With a proper GM limiting players from taking absolutely every ability a path presents (which would really be ridiculous powergaming... I don't think players are MEANT to take every single skill, just like in WFRP), there are just as many possible takes on the careers to be comparable to WFRP. Also, by focusing on talents, rather than hard characteristic advancement, it makes what can be done with a character's characteristics much more robust. Yes, the base numbers look lower, but put a gun in the hands of a Guardsman acolyte with a 45% BS, and, with wise selection of talents in the Guardsman's advancement tree and the proper actions taken, the character is hot, projectile-fueled death with limbs a-flying. Ahem. Back on topic. I was well aware of the Vetruvian Man images in both books. Nowhere in my mind did the idea of books copying each other ever occur. It's a very famous drawing for its scientific and metaphorical examination of the possibilities of the human body. One of my favorite renditions of this was the DaVinci Virus in the movie Hackers. It had an Italian accent, after all.

I would trow rocks too, y'know?

Looking at the tidbits of info out already, now integrated to support epic characters and with a modular system for abilities, as well as the WoW-like terms, such as "tiers," I think D&D4e will not fall flat by any means. That said, BRP will be for the gamers like us. And I think Chaos & Catacombs is for gamers like us... and the switch to 4e will inevitably create more "gamers like us" as many decide that the game has lost the charm it once had when they were young, and they will turn to BRP. Like I did.

Back on the idea of vampires that don't suck, I fully agree with Steve Darlington's ideas of vampires from Night's Dark Masters for WFRP2e. Vampires have the classic weakness and strengths, but there's no telling which ones they have without proper research. This casts vampires in the role of a master villain. They're overwhelmingly powerful and inhuman (though just human enough to be creepy). By rolling on random tables, certain weaknesses are chosen. It's then up to the players to discover the weaknesses (perhaps by raiding the tomb of an ancient vampire hunter who nearly bested the vampire in the past and kept a journal which contains the weaknesses of said vampire), finding a workable way to exploit them, all the while fighting off the vampire's minions every step of the way. It makes for one hell of a dramatic endgame once the vampire finally reveals itself to the players.

You know, I love BRP. It's a system that manages to remain simple, yet has tremendous capacity for detail without bogging down the game horrendously. I can't wait to craft game worlds with this book, and threedeesix's book has me excited as well. All in all, even if there is a delay, it's coming. And that's something that makes me happy!

Gosh. My yay has been totally killed...

I'm wholly sold on this. This sounds more like the D&D I played than what the D&D rulebook itself tried to present itself as. I think it's brilliant.

Sheesh. Way to crap on my happies.

Vent your happiness at a very real and fast approaching release date for a long-looked-forward-to rendition of a great gaming system!

*Looks at his leather satchel sitting next to him, which is currently occupied by an RPG, a folder full of character and reference sheets, and a bag of 25 dodecahedrons necessary to play said RPG* You never know... I've yet to run into a game just spontaneously happened (especially at work), but dammit, I'm prepared!

Indeed, the pentagonal trapezohedron is NOT a platonic solid That's cuz Basic Roleplaying channels the SIXTH ELEMENT!

... you have decided that platonic solids really are the most beautiful of shapes.

Sunlight weakens paper.

When you size up someone, you mentally assign them statistics for their abilities and skills and compare them to your own.

They printed 420 copies. Yeah, I know. All I can think is pot.

I... I, uh... I... voted for pie. It's cheaper, and the joy is everlasting. I'm sorry everyone.

Sometimes I ask the party's Ranger to "decorate" my level kabillion Fighter with about 50 arrows. Scares the crap out of goblins.

What's D&D?

What about those of us who tout the virtue of Patience and yet privately have none? Screw what I said, I want the book! I want it NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW! NOWNOWNOWNOWNOW!!!!! There. I think I just turned back into a 4 year old.

Ah, thanks. I had been wondering about that!

What does the little x/420 mean in everyone's signatures? I've been wondering and just can't figure it out.