cjbowser

From RQ3, I vaguely recall that it was to escape having a sapient creature have an INT less than 8, or an adult human have a SIZ less than 8. In RQ2, I think every stat was a straight 3D6.

I haven't opened those books in ages, though; I can double-check when I get home.

In addition to what Frank said, I always thought it was because INT was used in determing skill points and SIZ is one half of the formula for derterming hit points.

I was wondering about that. Have you seen the character sheets in the download section? The opacity of the Vitruvian Man is the same on those too. I can pull it back a notch there too.

I didn't notice it the first time I checked, but I think that's because it was primarily user entry fields over the dark areas, so there was little text to contrast.

I can definitely see how pencil marks could get lost on the background of the character sheet.

It looks cool and seems useful, but I'd consider ghosting the Vitruvian man a bit more. The text can be hard to read in some places, particularly across his chest.

A couple of things confused me when I read through the monograph guidelines

1) No use of third party mapping programmes, since campaign cartographer ( for example ) gives express permission to use the software in both private and professional work, how does the licensing problem occur ?

2) All artwork must be original. If for example I was doing a monograph on the Etruscans, does this mean I can't use public domain photo's and artwork, would I laboriously have to draw every single vase, falchion, bronze helmet etc etc from scratch, when there is ample open source/public domain artwork out there which is miles better than anything I'm ever going to be able to produce? What's the reasoning behind this ?:confused:

Since the majority of monograph authors are amateurs with little to no experience in the industry, I imagine that making blanket statements like that is the easiest way Chaosium has to protect themselves from copyright suites. If you know for a fact that Campaign Cartographer allows for professional reproduction of the maps and that the photos are truly in the public domain I don't see it being a problem, just be ready to back it up if necessary. Numerous monographs have used photographs and at least one has used Campaign Cartographer maps.

I will, however, say that in this monograph the CC maps came out horribly dark and muddy. I think that's more because of the printing/reproduction process than anything inherent in CC. If you have a way of producing line art maps that would probably turn out better visually.

If I recall, the Chaosium License basically gives you the right to create and publish material for BRP, but you're the one responsible for printing and distribution. No money changes hands between you and Chaosium-- instead you give them a certain amount of copies (or the right to sell a set amount of pdfs).

That is the Chaosium Licensee License, NOT the Monograph guidelines. The Chaosium Licensee License effectively means you're an independent publisher who puts out books that use some aspect of BRP.

A monography is a book where the author does the layout, artwork, proofing, etc. and sends the completed work to Chaosium. In turn, Chaosium pays $250 for the right to sell 500 copies through their website -- it will not enter the normal distribution channels.

There's a third option. You can always approach Chaosium or one of its licensees with the idea (or manuscript) and see if they want to publish it as a proper supplement.

Monographs are hard work, at least to do them right.

Does anyone know how Chaosium and Pegasus do it for Cthulhu? They often use old pictures and maps from books and I doubt that they get permission for every single one.

A lot of Chaosium's images, at least for the Dark Ages books come from the Dover Design series. They produced printed books of images and give the purchaser of their book the permission to reprint 10 images from any one book in any publication.

In other words, if you buy Dover book A, you can use 10 images in your Book 1, 10 images (can be the same or different) in your Book 2 etc.

If you buy Dover book A and Dover book B, you can use 10 images from A and 10 images from B in your Book 1, 10 images from A and B in your Book 2, etc.

Dover also has a lot of free stuff on their website you can use without buying their books.

Thank you. You would think that a zombie-apocalypse scenario would be one of the easiest scenarios to pull off successfully. But that's not always so. Rise of the Dead seems to be a case in point. I guess I'll just have to keep waiting eagerly for Deadworld

Blood Brothers and Blood Brother II both have zombie apocalypse scenarios by Ben Monroe. D.O.A. in Blood Brothers is better than D.O.A. II in Blood Brothers II, but they're both entertaining games to play.

Agreed! Does anyone know when Deadworld is coming out? It can't be that far away surely :confused:

Their blog states they are still planning to release at Wizard's World in 2009. It looks like they need some help, though.

Is there any update on this project? It looks like its been a year since anything was posted here.

I'm wondering because I'm starting to plan a viking based game and want to use BRP Deluxe for it, so this would be a tremendous time saver.

My game, by the way, is going to be a sort of half-historical, half-fantastical game set around the establishment of the Earldom in the Orkney Islands.

I have an article in an upcoming Worlds of Cthulhu on the Settlement and Commonwealth Eras. It provides information on life, culture, history,and most importantly, outlawry!

It about 98% history and 2% Cthulhu Mythos and I did my best to keep the two separate so the historically minded BRPer would have something to use.

Woah! The modern stuff sounds ok, but the Justice Rangers stuff with The Coachman, Gunslinger and The Locomotive sounds seriously awesome!

I agree 100%. I would definitely buy a BRP Wild West Superhero setting book.

Bloody Krampus!!! You mean to tell me all these years there has been a convention in High Point, NC? Me mum lives there and I visit often enough. Grrrr.

PK

1 in High Point.

2 in Greensboro (1 of which is completely free).:thumb:

It's called MACE. I don't think the guy running the game has any affiliation with the publishers, but browsing the game schedule is where I learned of Hellas.

I'm starting to learn toward the single system theory as well. It makes life so much easier on the GM and players alike.

Once I get a chance to read the book, I'll let you know.

My first thought when I read about the game was, "That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard." Then, as I thought about it more, "There might be some potential..."

As time went on, I mentally warmed to the idea more and more. I realized my initial disgust was because, based on the name, I thought it would be a historic/mythology game. A Mythic Greece: Roleplaying in the time of Pericles, if you will. I'd been thinking that a BRP treatment of the Illiad and the Odyssey would be awesome.

I downloaded the pdf this morning. I haven't read it yet, but my wife is now intrigued by the setting as well, so I'll end up playing it.

It's being run at a local con here in November, I may try and get in a game then.

Which two supplements are you guys talking about? I went to Chaosium's website and found 'Ashes to Ashes' and 'Berlin (#?)' as downloadable pdfs, but didn't see anything for paper publication. I'm hoping for more spells, and powers, that kind of thing...

Those are the two supplements currently available. The printed version of each isn't available yet.

The supplements seem to be slowly trickling in and Chaosium is selling them as pdfs while the hard copies are being printed.

So.... what's the first game going to be?

Well, if the Chronopia setting you mention is the same as Target Games' "Drakar och Demoner: Chronopia", then there already is a BRP-clone: Drakar & Demoner v. 5. Unfortunately (for most people) it's in Swedish and it's also out of print...

I've often wondered if that was the case, but have no ability to read Swedish, so I couldn't verify. Since the first edition of the wargame was made by Target Games, I imagine the setting is the same.

In that case, I'll back up and say I'd like a BRP version of Chronopia in a language I can read. Or, learn Swedish. Whichever comes first.

I would not mind seeing a BRP conversion of Chronopia.

I liked the minis game and got a kick out of the setting.

Darn them! They tempted me into picking up things I wasn't really planning on getting...

Oops! I go to Chaosium site to order the (dead tree) book and it seems it is unavailable now. Any idea why?

More than likely it's because the monograph is currently out of stock. Monographs are printed in very small print runs, and the product disappears from the catalog when out of stock.

Once they have more printed up, it'll show back up in the catalog.

An out of stock notice would be nice...

Is there an official errata somewhere?

Sure is: http://basicroleplaying.com/forum/basic-roleplaying/750-brp1-errata-clarifications-wiki.html

There is also a write up for Dark Age Constantinople in Worlds of Cthulhu #5. Granted it is very oriented to CoC. It may however, spark some ideas.

Anyone can write,

And anyone can draw. What's at stake is the quality of the end product.

That being said, a good artist can really help bring a setting to life. However, good art can't overcome shoddy writing.

One of the first things I do when I receive a new RPG book is flip through and look at the art and often wish I could draw/paint that well. I can't. I'm lucky to produce stick figures.

As for writers and artists working together, I've had no say whatsoever over the art for any book I've submitted for professional publication. The publisher sources the art and make the final decision on what art is appropriate. Usually I'm pleasantly surprised with the quality and evocativeness of the art. It far surpasses what I was imagining as a 'nice piece.'

For fan produced material and companies where the above anecdote may not hold true, a really talented team could produce top shelf material.

A couple other things to add to Jason's excellent list that I've picked up in years of running demo games for various systems.

- Each character should matter. Since you'll likely be using pregens, this shouldn't be too difficult. In a nutshell, every player should be able to contribute in a meaningful way, and you can handle this by crafting the scenario and then spreading the truly useful skills and powers among the various pre-gens. The last thing you want is somebody sitting there twiddling their thumbs because more vocal players have characters with the same skills and this particular player isn't willing to speak up over his fellow players.

- If you know the majority of players will be WoTC fans, take the time to craft a scenario that highlights all the elements of BRP that you feel truly differentiate it.

- At the same time, the victory conditions in the scenario should not be predicated on a specific die roll. For example, the players should not have to make a Spot roll to see the one clue that tells them what to do. That clue should be out in the open; or one of the pre-gens better have a very high Spot and still be breathing.

- Keep the characters alive as long as possible. While I'm not advocating fudging die rolls, create the scenario is in such a way that it's not overly fatal. At least not until the very end.

- If characters do die, let them go out heroically.

- Have a tight plot to the scenario that allows them to feel they've accomplished a lot, but still leaves a couple loose strings. That way, if these players really like BRP and want to continue playing at a later date, you've left an opening...

Chinasaurs?

Something like that, but different.