Darius West

On 11/17/2022 at 5:05 PM, Eff said:

Orlanth is as we have made him,

Actually he is as Greg made him, and the same goes for the other deities.  Barthes is dead to me.

2 hours ago, EricW said:

I've always wondered, why are the Lunars so intent on destroying Orlanth? Why not follow Lokaymayadon's footsteps and try to subjugate Orlanth? Surely Tarsh would be the place to attempt such an experiment?

Both claim the Middle Air.  Also Rufelza is a chaos deity.

On 12/2/2022 at 8:27 PM, Oleksandr said:

That's my idea, when twins turn 7 they recieve minor random directed trait toward each other - + to Love (family), Honest, and maybe Trusting - around 1d6-2 or 1d6/2-1, with a minimum of 0.

I think this is a great idea.  I once had players who rolled identical stats in RQ so we had them become identical twins.  It was fun.

I hope it is updated to include all the new things we know now.  Glorantha has changed a lot.

1 hour ago, Mugen said:

I agree with this, but, on the other hand, Uz have a CHA value of 3D6, and I don't think they looked more attractive to humans in the eyes of the people who did the first stat blocks.

I seem to recall that the writers of Trollpak reached a similar conclusion as we did.  The writers of Broos and Tusk Riders, not so much.

1 hour ago, Mugen said:

I really don't think that's necessary, and I'm fine with CHA as attractiveness. Also, I think which attributes are appealing depend on each individual.

Except that the RQG rules specifically tell us that CHA is not about attractiveness, so there in fact is no Attractiveness stat.  According to the present rules Hon-Eel the Artess can only have a strong will and ability to lead.  She may well have a face like a robber's dog according to RQG.

As to beauty being an individual choice, nothing in Anthropology bears this out.  Beauty standards are remarkably consistent across cultures, with the notable exception that the Middle Easterners used to be "chubby chasers" prior to 1900.  And before anyone says anything, please remember that Kink Shaming is my kink.

On 7/17/2022 at 8:24 PM, Nick Brooke said:

The weather is better in Tarsh.

That depends largely on your definition of "better".

As it is soon after release, now is the time for new players to tell us who their first characters are.  This is always interesting as a survey of how people are choosing to play the game and may give other people ideas for NPCs or spins on characters that they might want to play.  I will put in my own character after a few other people have done theirs.

Presently the only criticisim I have of the Rivers of London RPG is that it is clearly built for people starting the hobby, and from reading "between the lines" in the magic system I can tell that it was originally a lot more complex and was toned down and simplified.  Some of us like complexity however, and are not new to RPGs, and would love the opportunity to tinker with Newtonian magic using the Rivers of London as a setting.  Is this in the offing guv? 

On 12/10/2022 at 2:52 AM, Gallowglass said:

If you could set a game in Glorantha in any time period, even before time begins, where would you set it and why? As an example, King of Dragon Pass is set during the resettling of Dragon Pass (1300's I believe). It's an overwhelming thing to contemplate, but over the years I've fixated on a few ideas- 

1. The fall of Pavis (either for the Pavis survivors or the Praxians under Jaldon, perhaps even for Trolls?)

2.  Arkat's Campaign.  (Or at least one portion of it, before Arkat jettisons them for a new fighting force)

3.  The last years of Tarsh (Can the player characters  change history?)

4.  Balazar goes into the Elder Wilds. (A Yelmalio campaign)

5.  The Rise of Carmania

On 12/10/2022 at 7:00 PM, Agentorange said:

I'm curious why these CHA scores for these and other races are so incredibly low...especially for Tusk Riders.

This is a fair question.  Frankly there is this hang over from D&D that Charisma is somehow attractiveness when in fact it is a measure of leadership and strength of personality.  This makes charisma sound more like a Willpower stat.  RQG Page 52 goes on to say that it should not be mistaken for mere attractiveness.  

Now, to be fair, perhaps we need to create a derived attractiveness stat?  I would suggest that we divide each of CON (healthiness is a fundamental of attractiveness, if you aren't healthy you are not at your best, and wan looking droopy sorts are not in fashion during the Hero Wars), DEX (human beauty standards across all cultures tend to favor the gracile look which is indicated by high dexterity), and finally CHA (personal magnetism matters).  Divide each by 3, rounding up each fraction, and add them together, then halve if you aren't human or at least human-like in facial appearance.

Arguably there is no reason why a tusk rider or troll might have less leadership and strength of personality than a human.  The fact that their charisma is low is purely a result of bad writing imo as it reflects only that they're ugly, which is exactly what the rules say should not be the case for assigning CHA.

On 12/10/2022 at 9:22 PM, Akhôrahil said:

Ducks get the full 3d6. 😉

This needs to change.  2d4+1 max for ducks

On 11/18/2022 at 1:27 AM, Ali the Helering said:

Sorry guys, but December 25th was the festal day of Sol Invictus. 

Since the mid-8th century there has been some discussion as to whether Christianity appropriated it, but no actual evidence for it.

Agreed. It was also Saturnalia, Dong Zhi, Toji, Shab-e Yalda, Yule, etc.  The fact is, the Winter Solstice is always going to be celebrated by someone with the nouse to know when it is.

On 11/18/2022 at 1:27 AM, Ali the Helering said:

There is an huge problem with 25th as Jesus' birthday as recorded in the Gospels, though.  No shepherds in their right minds 'abide in the fields' with their flocks in late December in the Judean hills.

Jesus' birthday, if myths are anything to go by falls around Pesach which is March/April.  In all likelihood we should be celebrating the birth of Jesus on 1st April, no jokes.

21 hours ago, metcalph said:

Isidilian is not a Dwarf Hero but a True Mostali,  a demigod if you will.  People claim he is Openhandist but I think he predates Openhandism.  He is a relic of the days when Stone was Alive.  He has no suspicion or distrust of outsiders because he was made in the days when there was no suspicion or distrust and he cannot deviate from that without repudiating the World Machine.  Openhandism is a philosophy that came after as inferior dwarves tried to emulate Isidilian's behaviour to survive the Gods War with limited success.  Openhandism is simply the observance of an obsolete code ill-suited to the Modern Age.  

I like this interpretation a lot.  The idea that Openhandism effectively predates the present interpretations of the Decamony is novel, and you express it in a way that fits.  On the other hand, it does bring into question whether Openhandism is in fact a heresy at all.  Perhaps the Decamony are the heretics, given that they have closed themselves off from the world to live in a permanent siege mentality.

12 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

Let's say the PC's ambushed and massacred a full file of the Lunar Pavis Garrison or say the Lunar Survey Team with Dalamides and Hazphar? Maybe they kill Erianda the Red and her cronies? (Forget about the other clan's response for now.)

How would the PC's keep from being found out? I am guessing due to Divination unless the PC's were masked and or disguised they would be known and named outlaws and a bounty placed on them but how much and who besides those being killed would be sent? Assassins, Moon Masks an entire company of troops?

I am starting to realize that concentrated missile fire with a bit of magic boosting it can really ravage a caravan or adventuring group quite quickly.

Additionally any killed Lunars of a certain social status would be resurrected like Halcyon (unless their heads were taken or the body destroyed, maybe cremated) and likely come after the PC's as well?

Your thoughts and thank you all.

The Empire has a vested interest in keeping order in its far provinces.  This sounds like it is taking place in Prax.  The Empire's grip on Prax is not as strong as they might like, but not inconsiderable all the same.

When I GM I play that there are quite a few Lunars who have mustered out relatively early, and many of them hang around in Prax for various reasons.  They become swords for hire, or Rubble adventurers, or sign on with the likes of Duke Raus.  Many of them will see the opportunity to claim a bounty as an excellent prospect, naively assuming that they are tougher than their adversaries, or relying on the idea that "a mouse may overcome a lion if it strikes from surprise".  Essentially waging guerilla warfare on wanted rebels, thinking they are Johnny Rambo or some Lunar equivalent, when they are likely closer to his victims.

I also have a number of Sable riders who deal on the same margins as these mustered out Lunars.  In particular I make use of a character called Artasta the Manhunter.  She is a daughter of Roneer the Hue, a Sable Khan.  She foresook the path of Eiritha to adopt the Seven Mothers, but has used her position with the Sables to gather a party of hardy Waha and Seven Mothers braves who specialize in hunting bounties for the Lunar Authorities.  To this end, they have adopted non-lethal Praxian weapons like bolas, nets and pole lassos to bring criminals in alive.  Artasta has a sick habit of picnicking beneath her captives while they die of crucifixion after their trial.  Her father Roneer will later side with the White Bulls, but for now is yet to accept the prophecy and sides with the Lunars.  His daughter's fanaticism in the Lunar cause and her eventual fate may play a role in this.  Artasta has an uncanny knack for tracking people down, as she can put herself in their position and think the way they think.  I call this skill "read fugitive", she has it at 65% and it can be used to put her on the right track.  Artasta likes to take her enemies alive, and is fond of using mind blast for this reason.  Her picnic ritual seems to increase her Life and Death runes.

I also like having morokanths play a role in hunting fugitives.  They are skilled man-catchers who favor the dark.  They are specialists at catching humans, whether as slaves or escapees, and fugitives from justice are just another opportunity to obtain coin.  Human misery is Morokanth profit.

The fact is, the Lunars are eager to catch fugitives, but they don't often have the home town advantage they need.  The Antelope Lancers are quite good, but without tip-offs they are as likely to wander into an ambush as catch their quarry.  There is also an impetus to keep the garrison forces alive, as losing large numbers of troops looks bad on reports, but not reporting losses would be even worse as there would be no reinforcements.  Far better to let mercenaries and freelancers solve these problems from the perspective of the Lunar Authorities in Prax.  This may be the perspective more of Sor-Eel than Halcyon Var Enkorth however.  Sor-Eel didn't take rebellion as a personal affront, while Halcyon thinks everything is about him personally, as he is a malignant narcissist (or at least that's how I play him as a GM).  Duke Raus' brief tenure as governor actually saw a drop-off in all manner of crime and rebellion, as he tried to do the right things for the right reasons, and largely achieved this.

In retrospect,  we might ask what makes a Mostali orthodox and what makes them heretical?  Is it merely a matter of numbers?  Can we show that there is a true mostali path?  Do Mostali live forever if they keep true to their programming like the Brithini?  Does this mean that individualists cannot take part in this blessing?  I think not.  Isidilian. for example, is a Dwarf hero and he is also unquestionably an Openhandist, and immortal.  If there were to be more individualists Octramondists, Openhandists, or even Vegetarianists than the alleged  "standard" "non-heretical" dwarves, would the system change?

It would be good to clarify the relationship between Isidilian and Flintnail.

There is much discussion of the "fall of Greatway" but really Greatway only "fell" to seeing things slightly differently than the Decamony.

17 hours ago, mfbrandi said:

If you need a political speech, jokes for a roast, or an advocate in court, who are you going to call? Sometimes, honey is better than vinegar, but not always.

I get the feeling that anyone who casually asked Brygga Scissortongue for sexual favors may find themselves verbally emasculated, as an example of what her sword-name means.

On 12/4/2022 at 3:04 AM, Erol of Backford said:

The tentacle coming out of the head might be a good look!?

A good look you say?  Does the tentacle have eyes instead of suckers?  It doesn't matter, as chaos says, there's a sucker born every minute.

13 hours ago, Bill the barbarian said:

Let's see if I got this correct, you are saying pitchmen (well salespeople to be accurate) are chaos-ridden slime? Hm...

Chaos ridden slime?  How dare you refer to the Lunar Tax Demons in such a denigrating way, you barbarian?  Audit time!😈

13 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

Golden Tongue?

That implies Issaries and persuasiveness, not vicious criticism that cuts people and arguments to ribbons.

2 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

Killing your boss and shrinking their head isn't something the higher level Lunars would want done to themselves however.

This is just a failure of marketing.  It just requires the right salesman with the right pitch to sell the idea to the right person.

Having run out of rocks for a trebuchet, reverse it, put a hook on the end of the launching line, then use it for hooking and launching siege ladders.

Clockwork repeating ballistae.  Box Kite arrays that drop incendiaries.  A clockwork riverboat that simply anchors itself and allows the current to rewind it when going upstream.  A clockwork factory that produces textiles by way of humanoid automata that run on tracks and are rewound by a waterwheel or a windmill.

On 11/26/2022 at 12:55 PM, EricW said:

How does that invalidate my point? Perhaps temporary gifts are the price of avoiding the risk of transforming into a Broo - being strengthened by chaos, but keeping it temporary. Temporary transformation seems very much in tune with the ethos of the Goddess, use chaos but keep some distance. At least, that seems to be the ethos before the rise of the monster empire.

A Lunar veteran with access to multiple chaos gift spells would be more formidable than most chaotics - and the veteran would have the advantage of being able to pass as human most of the time.

Perhaps one day some Lunar will discover a hero quest which grants access to heroic casting of chaos gift - as many castings as you want, as you can power. There is a hint such things might be possible in "Dorastor, Land of Doom" - one of the Slime Broos has the power to grant a random temporary chaos feature by touch.

No character has access to that many RP, plus it is subject to the Lunar cycle (RQG p322).

The bone I have to pick is that unless the character is illuminated they will detect as chaotic thereafter.  That isn't a good look for someone who wants to be an unobtrustive infiltrator.

13 hours ago, Leingod said:

Also she runs a guild of people involved in making clothes.

Hence why she isn't called sharp tongue or spear tongue or chisel tongue.

14 hours ago, Akhôrahil said:

In the HQ era, a big deal was made of the notion that gods can't really see the actions of individuals, so they have to punish whole communities for the sins of individuals and the people on the ground have to catch the specific offender. I don't think this suggestion remains in RQG, though. 

I didn't know that piece of lore (not thinking much of HQ in general).  I don't dislike the idea at all.  It's pretty good.

9 hours ago, g33k said:

I think the hypothesis was based off of "Tuskers & Tusk Riders living in forests" (as refugia from humans exterminating them).

If it's an Elf forest, they wouldn't hunt & torture the elves because the elves would wipe them out; the presumed Earth-Priestess female Tusk-Riders would have a working mutuality with the Elves.

There aren't actually that many elves in the Stinking Forest, because Crabspider's trolls have been using them as a vegie patch for years.