lawrence.whitaker

If you thought that only TDM produced Mythras material, you'd be mistaken. There is a steadily growing field of third party publishers creating new, innovative, Mythras books - everything from full games to campaign settings and adventures. We thought it time to draw your attention to these publications, and hope you'll give them your support.

Aeon Games Publishing
Aeon Games Publishing is our official publishing partner serving the UK and European markets (and beyond). They produce most of our core titles under license, but are also gearing up to release two original Mythras publications of their own.

Perceforest
Welcome to the feudal fantasy world called Perceforest! A World of Chivalry, Wonder, Existential Menace, and Sacred Kingship 

Perceforest is a fictional world of high chivalry set against the forces of the primal wild. It is based on a vast epic of the same name, written in the fourteenth century by an anonymous author about the lands that would later be known as England and Scotland. The author, Mark Shirley, introduces a vast array of characters: kings, knights, damsels, sorcerers, and even the occasional talking animal. Perceforest is a world rich in magic. There are evil sorcerers and enchanter-knights, damsels steeped in secret lore and witches weaving spells. The land is strewn with wonders — invisible castles, magical swords, men made of iron, and even fish on horseback! Players can have characters such as talking animals, playful badger knights, magpie heralds, or snake magicians. The fortunes of a kingdom are tied to the health and character of its king, and when one prospers so does the other. As the saga opens both of the Twin Kingdoms are ruled by ailing kings, a state of affairs that results in lawlessness and chaos. As members of the ruling elite, the player characters are expected to take up the fight against injustice and help to keep the kingdom safe until the king recovers.

Perceforest is written by Mark Shirley and will be available soon from both Aeon Games Publishing and TDM.

The second publication from Aeon is the enigmatically titled 'Weird of Hali': we'll share more on that one at a later date.

Mythras Gateway Publishers

The list of Mythras Gateway publishers continues to grow. M-Space and Odd Soot , and Old Bones Publishing you may know all about, but there are some new  publishers onboard, with new titles just released, or in the process of production. Let's take a look at what's available under the Mythras Gateway license...

Seasons of the Dead
Seasons of the Dead (Heath Delashmit), brings post-apocalypse horror survival to Mythras, with a self contained game focusing on life after a world changing disaster.



 
Cthonic Creations
Dawn of the Red Daggers is a Classic Fantasy scenario designed as an introduction for new Classic Fantasy characters and Games Masters.



 
And there’s more to come!
 
Our good friend Chad Bowser has several Gateway projects in the pipeline:

Chad Bowser

The Priory
Set during the Anarchy, The Priory is a horror scenario inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's The Rats in the Wall. Called to investigate mysterious activities around a priory in western England, the player characters, in the service of the Bishop of Winchester, encounter secrets much older than time. The Prioryhas been written and playtested. It's targeted for an early 2021 release. If you're interested in playtesting, email playtesting@possumcat.com
 
A Harsh Winter
Set during the Time of Troubles, A Harsh Winter thrusts members of the invading Polish forces into a struggle against the capricious creatures of Russian folklore. A Harsh Winter is written and playtested. It is targeted for an early 2021 release. If you're interested in playtesting, email playtesting@possumcat.com
 
The Beasts of Rome
The emperor wants the fiercest creatures for his games. But, one has escaped and is on a murderous rampage in Rome. Can it be stopped before more Romans die? Can the player characters avoid Nero's wrath in their hunt for the creature? The Beasts of Rome is written.  It's targeted for a mid 2021 release. 
If you're interested in playtesting, email playtesting@possumcat.com.
 
The Time of Troubles
A setting book covering one of the most turbulent periods in Russian history. This 250k word supplement lets players step back to the early 17th century when the Swedes, Poles, and others all vied to conquer Russia as a civil war waged. Take on the roles of Cossack frontiersmen, members of the English Muscovy company, the Russian streltsy or others as you explore this vast land. It's currently written and playtested. It's targeted for a late 2021 release. If you're interested in playtesting, email playtesting@possumcat.com.
 
Vanishing Goblin
Betrayal at Shadewood Keep is another Classic Fantasy gateway scenario, and now Vanishing Goblin is working on completing the final maps for Rooms with a View. Rooms with a View gives you twelve unique locations that you can drop into any existing campaign, to use as springboards to dozens of adventures. Each location comes complete with colour maps, detailed NPCs, rich history, and interesting adventure hooks to stimulate your imagination.



 
Rooms with a View should be completed by November.
 
Frostbyte Books

FrostByte Books will release two titles this fall. First, M-SPACE moves to version 1.2, with rule updates and new artwork. After that, Scott Crowder has written a combined scenario and sandbox called Junkyard Station, dropping players into a starship graveyard. It grabs the PCs by the throat and refuses to let go.




Carbon Copy
 
New as a Gateway licensee, Carbon Copy is currently in development and early play-testing of its game of "real world" occult roleplaying under the working title White Rabbit Green.  Spiritual transmigration, transtemporal identity, and mystical transhumanism in the spirit of Cloud Atlas, The Bone Clocks, and The Wicked + The Divine.  When you're the smartest person in the room, what will you do to change the world?
 
Earl of Fife Games

Earl of Fife Games is working on a Mythras conversion of a great module that was previously released for the Demon Gate system. The name of the adventure is the Coast of Thrall, and should be available towards the end of October.


 
Old Bones Publishing
 
Old Bones Publishing already has three excellent scenarios available for Mythras, and anticipates two releases by the end of 2020, and two more in the first half of 2021, totalling two scenarios and two supplements--and there is much more in various stages of development.



Quite an array, and lots to be excited about!

If you're interested in publishing material for Mythras under the Gateway License, drop us a line at designmechanism@gmail.com, or take a look at the license itself.

3 hours ago, Raleel said:

i noticed it was misformatted a bit in the newsletter. nothing that a knowledgeable person cannot decipher, but a thing none the less if you aren't a computer person.

Likely mangled by the Mailchimp algorithm. I checked the Drivethru link, and the address is correct, but Mailchimp adds some additional coding I think.

1 hour ago, nclarke said:

The SC link is dead in my copy of the NL and in at least one other persons copy. HC link is ok.

 

Thanks. I'll take a look.

2 hours ago, HierophantX said:

Was there a time limit on that 10% discount or a expiration on the links? The links in my newsletter email are dead.

No, there's no time limit, and the links should be live. Perhaps try a different browser, or clear you cache; that may do the trick.

Many of these questions are answered very eloquently by the author himself in ep.1.3 of the Mythras Matters podcast, but a few short answers in each question...

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1.  I presume this is a sourcebook / setting-book.  Does it have included adventures, or a campaign?  Or is it strictly a "sandbox," without any "adventures" as such?

Correct. It's a setting book. There is no scenario included, although there are loads of scenario ideas scattered throughout. A scenario is in the works, and will be published separately.

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2.  Does Fioracitta need Mythras (or Mythras Imperative), or is it standalone / all-in-one (and if standalone, is its basis Mythras or MI)?

Mythras core works best. At a push you can get by with Imperative, but the magic systems rely heavily on the core rules.

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3.  Does it introduce substantive new subsystems (e.g. like Luther Arkwright does), or is it mostly as per the core rulebook?

 

No. There are some additional rules for building factions and temples within the city, but it focuses more on the character and atmosphere of Fioracitta than introducing new sub-systems.
 

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3a. Would any "generic" Mythras-core character with a "renaissancey" vibe be viable (if maybe a bit bland) in the city?  Or are some such unsuitable?

 

That would depend on how the GM sets things up.
 

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I've had this persistent notion, since hearing of this, that placing Fioracitta and Mythic Constantinople into a "RIval Cities" campaign could be all sorts of awesome; does either one have content that would need to be nerfed or buffed to prevent one side from having a killer advantage?

They occupy a very similar milieu, and work certainly work well together. Fioracitta is more magic-rich, but there's no reason why the two cannot blend together.

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I'm sure I'll think of others (I'm also sure other users will think of more questions, too (tho maybe on TDM's tapatalk, which I don't much use)).

No doubt Alex will be along to add even more meat to my answers above.

17 minutes ago, g33k said:

Do we have to wait 'til it's out, to pitch questions?
I've already got several queued up... 😁   

 

I'd be happy to give you the chance to get the softball questions out of the way early!   😇

 

Fire away! 

7 hours ago, rsanford said:

WIll this just be POD or is TDM considering offset printing as well?

Just POD for this title. 

Fioracitta hard cover proof arrived today, and looks magnificent. This will be on sale in POD and PDF pretty soon, in both hard and soft covers.

Watch this space - or better still, our Newsletter (http://thedesignmechanism.com/Design-Mechanics-Newsletter.php) - for more details.

The RAW approach is that each magical tradition is its own sphere, and another discipline cannot be a 'better' or more effective form of another tradition. This is why RAW sorcery has limited ways of dealing with spirits: such things are meant to be the province of shamans, and no sorcerer should be able to surpass a high shaman in how they deal with the spirit world. Conversely, animists should not be able to outdo a high wizard in terms of manipulating the fabric of reality to achieve magical effects, and neither a wizard nor a shaman has anything on a high priest when it comes to channelling the power of the gods.

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Just to explain as I thought.. (thought when I reflect some more, I might have thought wrong)... if you don't have this combat style you can't use the shield wall.. and I was assuming without that style being part of you starting package.. if one would start using spear, one one would develop a skill% for spear without the ability...
But I guess the better way to look at it is.. it is how you fight with spear! Learning spear is learning the style / ability associated with it! 

Correct - it's part of the package; something you train with naturally. And you can also decide what traits are associated with which combat styles, so that you create unique variations. Some might train in Spear & Shield + Formation Fighting; some with Shield Wall; some with Defensive Minded; you can truly create unique styles that differentiate warriors from each other. It's deliberately designed to be flexible according to your needs.

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To nitpick about the combat style trait... while it's a very good valid point, it annoys me because it introduce a combat that is manoeuvre that you have to learn (fair enough) but... having just 1 such is impractical...

I don't understand what you mean Lloyd. Combat Styles come with one (or more, if the GM wishes) traits that enhance how you fight with your chosen weapons. These aren't skills or manoeuvres that you have to learn or improve through training; they're useful talents that are an inherent part of the way you fight.The Shield Wall trait for example, confers advantages on 3 or more warriors overlap their shields that enhance passive blocking, increase defence against knockback, bash attacks, and a few other things. Not really a lot to nit-pick!

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The above-mentioned Mythras also has a Shield Walls and Ships supplement that I believe is free. You can skerp ideas from there.

It's not free, but very modestly priced. However, Ships & Shield Walls isn't going to help with what Lloyd's after, as it deals with massed combat in quite an abstract fashion, whereas Lloyd's after modelling quite detailed spear tactics.

DrivethruRPG is having a special d100 sale, and both Mythras and Lyonesse are featured titles, along with our good pal d101 Games (OpenQuest, River of Heaven, et al), and goodies for Delta Green, Zweihander, and many, many more...

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/featured.php?promotion_id=Sep2020_w2_d100

Time to snap up some bargains.

Not sure about how the BGB handles things spear related, Lloyd, but Mythras is designed to handle spear combat as demonstrated by Lindybiege very well, out of the box. All the following combat elements from Mythras feature in the Lindybiege video:

• Combat Style (Spear & Shield) + Formation Fighting or Shield Wall trait
• Weapon Size
• Weapon Reach (and the Opening/Closing Range rules)
• Sweep Attacks
• Passive Blocking
• Ward Location

Used together, they model spear fighting techniques to a reasonable degree of depth. And the Combat Training Module, 'Breaking the Habit', offers a practical walkthrough of most of the above techniques.

Jolly good idea.

Done.

Want to discuss your favourite game with others? Have some rules questions or ideas to share? Any and all of these resources may be what you seek!

Design Mechanism Forum - a friendly and helpful form with countless discussion areas.

Design Mechanics Newsletter - usually once a quarter, but always when there's a major release. Signing up gives you special sneak previews and discounts

Facebook - More for release information and updates than detailed discussions, but helpful nonetheless

MeWe Community - a path slightly less travelled, but still worthwhile to join for discussions and ideas

M-Space MeWe Community

Mythras Discord - a massive discussion centre

Reddit - yep, we're here too...

Yes, Red Daggers - a Classic Fantasy gateway adventure. 

And here's the seminar for those who missed it...

https://youtu.be/euArSoDgmfg

A heartfelt Thank You! from myself and the whole TDM team to all the players and seminar attendees over the past three days of GenCon Online - especially our friends in Europe and beyond who stayed up into the wee small hours for games or the panel.

I had a blast! 'Shrine of the Traitor Gods' some players new to Mythras heroically foiling the schemes of the Badoshi to unleash a vile demon, and involved some incredibly creative use of the Voice spell to strike fear into the hearts of the cultists.

'In High Dudgeon' resulted in one of the characters becoming the (almost) reluctant husband of a naiad, and being forced to go and live down a well; a disgraced knight charming all the women of Low Dudgeon, gaining a squire, and helping poor Renya realise her duty; and the scheming juggler help Madam Neneveh become extremely rich, and regaining much-needed favour... Very Vancian!

And in the Mythic Britain game, the characters managed to liberate a Treasure of Britain from a Saxon king, change the course of a battle, and even channel the spirit of a certain Iceni queen for a little while... Epic and disturbing in equal measure.

And our TDM seminar was fantastic. Extremely well attended, some great questions for the panel, and even over-ran by a good 40 minutes as people stayed around (some long past their bedtime) to chat and ask more questions! We have recorded the seminar, and I'll be posting it on our YouTube channel in the next couple of days so that you can catch up (or relive the experience).

For me, GenCon 2020 Online has been very enjoyable and very successful. I hope all of you enjoyed it too.

Loz

A detailed Read Through... of the Lyonesse RPG is starting over at RPGPub, where their resident reviewer, OHT, goes through the game chapter by chapter. If you're interested in Lyonesse but haven't checked it out yet, then this Read Through may be of interest.

https://www.rpgpub.com/threads/lyonesse-fantasy-roleplaying-based-on-the-novels-by-jack-vance.4669/

GenCon Online 2020 is almost with us, and there are all kinds of online Mythras and Lyonesse activities:

https://www.gencon.com/event_finder?search=Mythras

I'll be hosting the TDM panel at 7pm EST on Saturday 1st August, and it's free to attend as long as you're registered.

So don't be shy! Get involved and help Make Mythras Matter!

Any titles you've previously bought through DTRPG aren't going to be removed or altered. New customers though, will only have Mythras branded products available. 

1 hour ago, Sid Vicarious said:

 

DTRPG depicts Mythic Britain as having the Mythras logo on the cover, but my  recent pdf download was still RQ6. Are the POD versions RQ6 or Mythras proper? What about hard copies from  Aeon?

Aeon's copies are Mythras branded and referenced throughout. There is no POD version of Mythic Britain currently, but all RQ branded version are to be ceased this month. 

One thing I forget to mention was your reference to 'Guilds, Factions and Cults' as a basis for modelling one of the HL states. You're right, in that it's the wrong scale. Instead, you may find RQ Empires, the old Mongoose title (if you can find a copy) to be a better fit, which aims to model things at a state level. It uses similar mechanics to GF&C, and is also compatible with Legend and Mythras to a reasonable degree.

2 hours ago, Nozbat said:

It would be wrong to consider the Italian communes, or indeed the Lombard League, similar to the Hanseatic League.

 

G33k's not trying to draw that comparison; what he's asking is if the Guelden supplement is similar in inspiration, approach and execution to Fioracitta (ie, a fantasy version of a European city), which it is.

You're actually in the wrong sub-section...

Ships & Shield Walls is a Mythras supplement, not a Legend one. I'd move it over, but I don't have admin privileges to do so.