lawrence.whitaker

2 hours ago, Bill the barbarian said:

I assumed you were on to something, so I decided to check it out using Adobe Acrobat. While I do not like Adobe anymore there is a considerable difference, no? Above Acrobat, below Preview...

 

It's odd that your Preview should give such a fuzzy result. Mine (BigSur on my M1 Mac Mini, and High Sierra on my mid 2010 Macbook Pro) both give pretty clear renders, similar to Raleel's.

6 minutes ago, Bill the barbarian said:

 

Had no idea of what was being referred to so I decided to finally crack the (metaphorical) spine on my PDF... Yowsers! This is grim!

Not sure what your screen settings are, or which PDF reader you're using, but here's the same table from our production PDF, clipped from PDF Expert, and at 100% view.

The black on gradient text where the gradient is heaviest is what's affected the most, but we haven't seen the blurriness from your screen shot, Bill. What PDF reader are you using?

1 hour ago, Baragei said:

Allegedly the greyscale in CF was erroneous. A foregivable mistake. If they still haven't fixed it, less so. 

Given the number of tables in Classic Fantasy, it's a big piece of work. It will be tackled and isn't forgotten.

Extremely high praise for Mythic Babylon from Shukamu Press, which publishes the similarly themed 'Babylon On Which Fame and Jubilation Are Bestowed':

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"Mythic Babylon earns the highest rating I’ve ever given, well, anything. Excepting my own output, there isn’t any better treatment of the subject available; Mythic Babylon puts to shame all of the other cursory, trope-heavy, low-density and poorly-researched Ancient Near East or “Bronze Age” RPG material currently available."

You can read the full review here.

If you’re familiar with the way the fantastic is portrayed in our other Mythic Earth titles, then this book follows in the same vein. Magic, creatures and gods of the period are real, but the history is also sound and well researched, meaning that the game can be run as a straight historical campaign, or one with magic, spirits and monsters.

38 minutes ago, Nozbat said:

I've decided to prioritise my life .. and have been speed reading bits of it...

You do realise Loz, that by publishing Mythic Babylon there is now going to be the sudden, mysterious and untimely deaths of three well thought out, accomplished but poorly-rewarded player characters in my current Saxon campaign, one of whom just got married after years of prevaricating  ... just so I can GM Babylon? 

I think the PCs may be seeking wergeld from you soon... and they think they know where you live

Looks excellent BTW... 

I accept zero responsibility. Point your lawyer in the directions of Messrs Gilmore and Mitchener, please. It's all their fault.

19 minutes ago, Nozbat said:

Bought... but the frustration is I won't be able to read it until later....

But that's a good problem to have.

44 minutes ago, Bill the barbarian said:

If I were to buy the PDF first from TDM, could I later buy the hardcover. Or must both be bought at the same time. Waiting patiently (the drool on my chin has nothing to do with my state of anxiety. It's is caused by other factors, honest) for your response.

If you buy the PDF from the TDM store, we can definitely work out a discount for you based on the PDF price, so not a problem. Just drop me a PM here with details.

In the year 1765 BC, King Zimri-Lim of Mari emerged from a planning session with his aides and summoned his personal scribe. As he paced the courtyard in his palace in the city of Tuttul, he dictated a letter to the scribe, who used the cut end of a reed to press the message into a warm clay tablet. That letter, which was to be sent within the hour by speedy messenger, said:

"To my wife, Šibtu, thus says Zimri-Lim: Ask the oracles in Mari questions about Hammurabi of Babylon. Will this man ever die? Does he speak with honesty? Will he bring war? Will he besiege my cities in Suhum while I campaign up north in Apum? Question the oracles, and when you have done so, do it again, and write to me with the answers."
Some days later, the Queen of Mari replied:

"I have asked the questions about Babylon; here is what I've learned. The Man of Babylon is sowing many seeds against this kingdom, but they will not bear fruit. Instead, you will overpower him and capture him. Then you'll see what the God will do to him. His days will soon be at an end. This you should know."

Reassured, King Zimri-Lim organised his troops for departure to the district of Apum. He planned to give battle to the adventurer Atamrum, puppet of the Elamites, who was besieging his allies in the north.

What is Mythic Babylon?
Mythic Babylon is a role-playing supplement for the Mythras game system. It provides everything you need to take your Mythras game back to the 18th century BC and enter a world of cut-throat diplomacy, Machiavellian politics, and ecstatic prophets. Within these covers you'll find information on the society, culture, religion, trade, laws, and beliefs of Old Babylon and the surrounding lands. The setting is presented as a sand-box with a wide-ranging gazetteer of places to explore, each loaded with plot hooks. For those who like to play against the backdrop of history, we provide a timeline of past and near future events. A bestiary and a chapter for game masters rounds out the end of the book.

This book contains everything you need to create adventures in the lands of Sumer, Akkad, and Subartu from the low lying Eden to the Cedar Mountains and even into the Underworld. Follow in the steps of kings like Gilgameš, Kubaba, or Hammurabi in this mythological and historical setting that was nearly 4000 years in the making.

Where is Mythic Babylon?
Mythic Babylon is set in what will later be called Mesopotamia by the Greeks, which means 'The Land Between the Rivers', referring to the Tigris and Euphrates. At the time our book is set, there is no one name for the whole region. Instead, the southern plain is called Sumer and the central plain is called Akkad. Together, these will one day be called Babylonia after the city of Babylon. The northern plain is called Subartu, but will one day come to be called Assyria after the city of Aššur.

This book focuses on Sumer, Akkad, and Subartu. Peripheral regions such as ancient Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Bahrain are given a more cursory treatment.

Expertly illustrated by James Turpin, Mythic Babylon is available in a variety of print on demand (POD) hardcover and softcover formats, plus a PDF version, from DrivethruRPG, Lulu, and the TDM Store. Aeon Games are preparing their own edition for the UK and Europe. The print version comes with the PDF free of charge, and an additional PDF package of maps at no extra charge.

332 pages. From $17.99 (PDF) to $44.99 (hardcover).


DrivethruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/355333/Mythic-Babylon

Lulu: Hardcover - https://www.lulu.com/en/ca/shop/pau...rdcover/product-4dz4v4.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Lulu: Softcover - https://www.lulu.com/en/ca/shop/pau...perback/product-7z92qz.html?page=1&pageSize=4

TDM Store - http://thedesignmechanism.com/store.php#!/Mythic-Babylon/p/367787033/category=24197109

https://bundleofholding.com/presents/MythrasSettings

A little over three days left on our incredible Mythras Settings Bundle of Holding.

The Mythras core rules, Monsters Island, Combat Training modules, Lyonesse and Luther Arkwright. A whole bunch of fantastic PDFs are stunningly (and I do mean stunningly) great prices.

I don't know when we'll have these games and supplements on sale at these rates again, so don't miss out. If you haven't experienced Mythras yet, there's no easier way than through this Bundle of Holding!

There’s also the possibility that role playing games just aren't their thing. They may be sitting down at the table to please you or their mum, but really it's just not their cup of tea. It's worth asking them if they enjoy it and want to continue. If they don't, well that's fine - at least they gave it a shot.

Mythras is once again the featured system over at Bundle of Holding, with some seriously spectacular deals on Mythras PDFs. This time around the Bundle consists of a Starter Collection (Mythras, Mythras Companion, Monster Island, Two Mythras Combat Training Modules) and the Bonus Collection - which contains Lyonesse (and two scenarios), Luther Arkwright, and the epic Arkwright campaign, Parallel Lines.

The price just can't be beaten: just $7.95 for the Starter Collection, but if you pay a little more and meet (or beat) the Threshold Price, then the Bonus Collection is yours too.

There is no better way to get into both Mythras and the amazing worlds of Jack Vance and Bryan Talbot than through this Bundle of Holding deal. And as Lyonesse is a self contained game, it represents astonishing value.

The Mythras Bundle of holding runs until Monday 14th June, and 10% of all proceeds go towards Direct Relief, a charity that ensures protective equipment and critical care medications get to key health workers across the US and the rest of the world.

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Thanks, I'll take a look! One thought I toyed with is to only allow one attack per round regardless of action points, while any extra action points can be used to parry against several opponents, or possibly do other non offensive things as well. How do you think that might work? Should extra parries be penalised in this case, in your opinion?

Try it with fixed Action Points (either 2 or 3, it doesn't matter), but leave the intent of the Action Points as per RAW just to get used to the AP economy. As Rosen McStern rightly says, a one-attack-per-round model will lengthen the overall combat. Mythras combat isn't really about weapon damage and Hit Point attrition; it's about managing Action Points and generating Special Effects; these are the key to winning a fight.

For example, Warrior A and Warrior B both have 2 Action Points. They are mortal enemies and one needs to kill the other. Warrior A goes first and hits. Warrior B tries to parry and misses. Both have used an Action Point. Warrior A inflicts only 3 points of damage which is absorbed by B's armour. But Warrior A also has a Special Effect; he chooses Trip and succeeds. Warrior B is flat on his back and Warrior A standing over him...

Both have an AP left, but if you limit the number of attacks to just 1 per round, Warrior A really doesn't have many options. He can't act defensively as there's nothing to defend against. He doesn't need to use any skills as he has his opponent at a disadvantage. So at this point, it's stalemate. He can't do very much. He could opt to delay his action or do nothing, but Warrior B still has an Action Point he can use while prone, including Attack (because he hasn't attacked yet). Let's say Warrior A opts to delay to see what Warrior B does. B lashes out with a foot using Unarmed. He's at a penalty, but manages to land a lucky blow. Warrior A rolls to defend and fails. Warrior B now has a Special Effect and also chooses Trip. Both combatants are now on the ground. Warrior B also lands 3 points of damage to one of Warrior A's legs. The fight goes on into another round.

Point is, if Warrior A had had the freedom to attack twice, he may well have finished off Warrior B in two quick and decisive moves - which is sometimes what you want. Instead, the one-attack-per-round rule severely limited his tactical options, resulting in a squandered advantage and a radical turning of the tables.

So try the RAW first. How things read in the rules isn't necessarily how they translate in play, and it's worth trying the rules as presented because you may be pleasantly surprised.

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I've tried out some battle scenarios on my own and the action points give me a headache, so it's more than a 'feeling'. But if I can do away with them, as in Imperative, I might try it out if I get a chance. Right now I'm stuck with my RQ3/BGB iteration.

It's not difficult to redact Action Points. Simply fix them at 2 per combatant, giving all participants the choice of attack & defend, attack x2 or defend x2. If you feel multiple defences are the way to go, have each additional defence be at an additional grade of difficulty (Hard/Formidable/Herculean). It certainly won't break anything in the Mythras combat system, and you may find the approach suits the gaming style you want.

We also have two (third on the way) Combat Training Modules available (and which can easily be used with BRP or RQ[insert favoured version here]) which look in depth at different combat types, tactics to use, alternative outcomes, and how to get the most from the system. They're worth taking a look at.

I think Bushido is one of the very best examples of merging classes, levels and skills - along with both a d100 and d20 roll under mechanic - into a successful and unified whole.

• Skills are calculated on a 0-100 basis for base values and improvement, and then divided by 5 for a d20 roll under resolution
• Levels are limited to 6, with level providing a bonus to certain skills, saving throws and capabilities
• Classes are archetypes and determine beginning skills, but there's no real limit to developing skills outside of the class itself

It's a brilliant game, and shows how the old class/level approach can be adapted and unified to work with an open skill approach. By using d20 as the rolling mechanism, if also allows for some neat tricks especially around Effect Numbers (the difference between your skill success chance and what you roll, when successful) for all kinds of different resolution needs and situations.

It really is a very elegant and nuanced game system. Further iterations of the same system - notably Aftermath! and Daredevils - do away with classes and levels but retain the underlying framework of the Bushido system. Sadly, they both layer-in a lot of unnecessary complexity in other areas, but show that the same basic system can be shorn of its class/level parts and function very well as a skill-only game.

On 4/26/2021 at 8:32 AM, NurgleHH said:

Being honest i hoped for a new setting a bit more like stormbringer - dark and grim. In the moment Mythras feels a bit like "my little pony" (Take care, it is meant in an ironic way!). So, instead of Luther 2, why not Not-Elric 1????

So, to help answer why we'd prioritise Luther 2 over than an Elric-With-The-Serial-Numbers-Filed-Off...

For all Luther Arkwright fans out there...

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three River Studios Options Bryan Talbot’s Graphic Novel Series The Adventures of Luther Arkwrightand Heart of Empire

London, 28 April 2021: Three River Studios today announces it has optioned the rights to develop, finance and produce a live action, returnable TV series based on Bryan Talbot’s ground-breaking and multi-award winning graphic novels: The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and its sequel Heart of Empire.

You can read the full press release at http://www.bryan-talbot.com/.../Press Release - The...

Now, Three River Studios is owned by one Jonathan Drake, the creator of Thennla ('Shores of Korantia' & 'The Taskan Empire'), one of the Mythras lines. We helped Jon and Bryan connect when we licensed the rights to the Arkwright roleplaying game, so TDM had a small part to play in this exciting news...

We're really thrilled that Luther Arkwright will be coming to television, and offer our hearty congratulations to Bryan and Three River Studios!

For all Luther Arkwright fans out there...

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three River Studios Options Bryan Talbot’s Graphic Novel Series The Adventures of Luther Arkwrightand Heart of Empire

London, 28 April 2021: Three River Studios today announces it has optioned the rights to develop, finance and produce a live action, returnable TV series based on Bryan Talbot’s ground-breaking and multi-award winning graphic novels: The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and its sequel Heart of Empire.

You can read the full press release at http://www.bryan-talbot.com/.../Press Release - The...

Now, Three River Studios is owned by one Jonathan Drake, the creator of Thennla ('Shores of Korantia' & 'The Taskan Empire'), one of the Mythras lines. We helped Jon and Bryan connect when we licensed the rights to the Arkwright roleplaying game, so TDM had a small part to play in this exciting news...

We're really thrilled that Luther Arkwright will be coming to television, and offer our hearty congratulations to Bryan and Three River Studios!

We don't have a projected publication date for Mythic Greece I'm afraid.

1 hour ago, TrippyHippy said:

He talks about a new edition of Luther Arkwright!!!!! 😀

I do, but it's a way off. A new edition will be needed to integrate the new Arkwright graphic novel Bryan is working on for release next year, so nothing is going to happen for at least a year and half (and more likely two years).

11 hours ago, HierophantX said:

Wow, that was a long time ago. But anything pre-covid seems really long ago. I never saw more from that conversation. When Loz asked Belgath for a pm I inferred there might be either a wave off or something because of projects overlapping *shrug* so, sorry to say, nothing ever came of it.

Belgath did indeed contribute to one of our projects: the system maps in 'A Gift from Shamash' were his work - and very good they are too.

10 minutes ago, Khorien said:

Sorry to bother you with a such newby question but I'm not sure how to solve the lack of balance skill.

Let me make a stupid example: a guard is running to catch a thief. Both arrive on the shores of a totally iced lake. The thief has Acrobatic skill and can roll a try to go on running, but what about the guard without the skill?

 

Some of you suggested in an old topic to find a standard skill and use it with a penality. In that case what would you use for the guard? Athletic? Evade? Would you create a new standard skill like Balance (DES x2)? 

(sorry for my bad english) 😅

Athletics at Hard or Formidable. There’s no need for a separate Balance skill.

You can handle intimidation in a few ways.

• Straightforward Influence versus Willpower in an Opposed Roll.
• Influence, augmented by an appropriate Passion for Maran Gor, versus Willpower in an Opposed Roll.
• An extended Task, as described on page 287, using appropriate skills and Passions.
• Use the extended Social Conflict rules found in the Mythras companion.
• Provide the Maran Gor character with the 'Intimidate' trait found in the Creature chapter on page 216, as part of their Combat Style or as a Cult ability.
• Or, if you prefer, create Intimidate as a new Professional Skill and add it to the character sheet.

12 hours ago, g33k said:

Huh.
I note you don't cite TDM's own website!

?:-/

Color me confused...  You guys have a direct-order webstore; do you prefer customers buy through a 3rd-party site?   (e.g. I know from private correspondence that one small publisher actually DID prefer to sell via resellers -- they ran their own warehouse/shipping ops, and had realized that they spent more on fulfilling individual orders than they made up by keeping the full retail vs. wholesale cost; and another retailer explicitly prefers (sees more profit from) direct-sales rather than 3rd-party retailers... so I figure I should be asking YOU guys what YOU prefer).

Or did you perform some arcane ritual to determine that user "Skurn" would be an international shipment for TDM, involving absurd shipping prices and/or ninja book-smuggling action?
 

It's because the sites quoted are where we have stock available. Not much point in me referring you to our web store if there is a stock level of zero. 

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With BRP skill increase is more granular. But having 50% in a skill and missing half of the time seems stupid some times... (hence more easy roll, i.e. skill% x2) should be used!

It probably bears repeating that most iterations of BRP stress that you only need to roll in dramatic or tense circumstances. Normal, standard, typical, everyday exercise of a skill is an automatic success: no roll needed, because the circumstances are favourable, no pressures, time constraints, threats or deadlines. It's only when such things come into play does the skill value take on dramatic meaning, and those who aren't quite as skilled as others start to feel the pressure.

Practical example: Lewis Hamilton = Drive 115%. Joe Everyman Drive 50%. Both characters drive the shops to buy a carton of milk. No need to roll Drive skill. Suddenly, both find themselves in a road chase as Bad Guys strive to get them. Now the Drive roll is important, and Lewis, with his Formula 1 expertise is going to come out of this potentially far better than Joe Everyman. But for simple, work-a-day tasks, the 115/50 difference between the two means nothing. It should only be when circumstances demand the dice be rolled should one start considering what your score in the skill means. And a good GM will apply modifiers to make the skill roll easier or harder, depending on those circumstances.

The Mysticism rules are very good for creating low-level superheroics: Iron Fists, Batmans, Spider-Mans, Daredevils, Hawkeyes, Black Widows, and so on. It's all about creating Mysticism Paths that support the kind of effects you're looking to create.

To replicate a hero like Spider-Man for example, your character would have specialised in a Path that includes the Adhesion and Awareness Traits, and perhaps Augment Athletics and Enhance Action Points.

For Elektra (as she appears in Daredevil and Elektra: Assassin), The Hand would have taught her Augment Athletics, Augment Endurance, Invoke Arrowcut, Invoke Indomitable, and Enhance Action Points. Plus she's an exceptional skilled combatant.

Batman, having studied with the League of Shadows: Augment Insight, Invoke Pain Control, Aura (Intimidate), Enhance Fatigue Resistance, Enhance Initiative.

Does this help any?