Evilschemer

I have added one of the chapters I had to cut from Swords of Cydoria to the downloads section. It's a chapter on the Religions and Cults of Cydoria.

Enjoy, and please comment or ask questions.

Any pilot can be a smuggler. The best smugglers are pilots with high Fsat Talk skill and some good forged customs inspections, commissions, etc.

Generally, the Vrildarian Empire will allow only humans to obtain licenses as captains or pilots and will allow only humans to own titles to aero-ships.

Now of course, in reality, any barbarian, orix, jinx, daka, deru, or capridian can kill the crew of an aero-ship that has landed in the middle of nowhere Markania, manage to get the aero-ship started, and figure out how to fly it (unless the captain boobytrapped the controls). As long as the pirate never intends to dock at a Vrildarian city, they can fly all over western Markania, stopping only at hidden pirate strongholds or joining the Dazumi Pirate brotherhood.

If they ever want to put in to a law-abiding city or outpost, they can alway purchase forged one or more forged titles for the aero-ship, hire a human to serve as a "proxy" and get him forged licenses and authorization, then just tell customs inspectors that the captain is mute from an injury and that the captain has authorized the PC to speak on his behalf, perhaps even providing a signed authorization to that effect.

In the above scenario, then a Jinx would make the best smuggler.

Another alternative is that a human is the pilot and captain and the PC is a member of the crew. Anyone on the crew can be a smuggler. Just hide a box of illegal cargo under your bed and lie about it if your are caught.

I like the table, but wish you kept the skill based crits as opposed to the 1% crits.

BTW, how do you handle skills over 100%?

Easily fixed. I'll update the spreadsheet with skill-based cries and 100+ tomorrow (I left the file on my work computer)

Well, not opposed rolls is the simplest and easiest. It is how RQ/BRP worked for 30 years or so. But the Pnedragon method is fine, although it limits you to just 2 success levels, and breaks down at 200% (I had a guy with a 30+ Sword skill in my last Pendragon campaign, and it gets boring pretty quickly).

Naw, you could still have success levels.

If I had a skill of 70%, a special success would occur on a roll of 56-69. A roll of 70 = critical.

Skill	Fumble	Fumble %	Success	Special	Special %	Critical

100	01	1%		01 - 79	80 - 99	20%	100

99	01	1%		01 - 78	79 - 98	20%	99

98	01	1%		01 - 77	78 - 97	20%	98

97	01	1%		01 - 76	77 - 96	19%	97

96	01	1%		01 - 75	76 - 95	19%	96

95	01	1%		01 - 75	76 - 94	19%	95

94	01	1%		01 - 74	75 - 93	19%	94

93	01	1%		01 - 73	74 - 92	19%	93

92	01	1%		01 - 72	73 - 91	18%	92

91	01	1%		01 - 71	72 - 90	18%	91

90	01	1%		01 - 71	72 - 89	18%	90

89	01	1%		01 - 70	71 - 88	18%	89

88	01	1%		01 - 69	70 - 87	18%	88

87	01	1%		01 - 68	69 - 86	17%	87

86	01	1%		01 - 67	68 - 85	17%	86

85	01	1%		01 - 67	68 - 84	17%	85

84	01	1%		01 - 66	67 - 83	17%	84

83	01	1%		01 - 65	66 - 82	17%	83

82	01	1%		01 - 64	65 - 81	16%	82

81	01	1%		01 - 63	64 - 80	16%	81

80	01	1%		01 - 63	64 - 79	16%	80

79	01	1%		01 - 62	63 - 78	16%	79

78	01	1%		01 - 61	62 - 77	16%	78

77	01	1%		01 - 60	61 - 76	15%	77

76	01	1%		01 - 59	60 - 75	15%	76

75	01	1%		01 - 59	60 - 74	15%	75

74	01	1%		01 - 58	59 - 73	15%	74

73	01	1%		01 - 57	58 - 72	15%	73

72	01	1%		01 - 56	57 - 71	14%	72

71	01	1%		01 - 55	56 - 70	14%	71

70	01	1%		01 - 55	56 - 69	14%	70

69	01	1%		01 - 54	55 - 68	14%	69

68	01	1%		01 - 53	54 - 67	14%	68

67	01	1%		01 - 52	53 - 66	13%	67

66	01	2%		01 - 51	52 - 65	13%	66

65	01	2%		01 - 51	52 - 64	13%	65

64	01	2%		01 - 50	51 - 63	13%	64

63	01	2%		01 - 49	50 - 62	13%	63

62	01	2%		01 - 48	49 - 61	12%	62

61	01	2%		01 - 47	48 - 60	12%	61

60	01	2%		01 - 47	48 - 59	12%	60

59	01	2%		01 - 46	47 - 58	12%	59

58	01	2%		01 - 45	46 - 57	12%	58

57	01	2%		01 - 44	45 - 56	11%	57

56	01	2%		01 - 43	44 - 55	11%	56

55	01	2%		01 - 43	44 - 54	11%	55

54	01	2%		01 - 42	43 - 53	11%	54

53	01	2%		01 - 41	42 - 52	11%	53

52	01	2%		01 - 40	41 - 51	10%	52

51	01	2%		01 - 39	40 - 50	10%	51

50	01	2%		01 - 39	40 - 49	10%	50

49	01	2%		01 - 38	39 - 48	10%	49

48	01	2%		01 - 37	38 - 47	10%	48

47	01	2%		01 - 36	37 - 46	9%	47

46	01	2%		01 - 35	36 - 45	9%	46

45	01	2%		01 - 35	36 - 44	9%	45

44	01	2%		01 - 34	35 - 43	9%	44

43	01	2%		01 - 33	34 - 42	9%	43

42	01	2%		01 - 32	33 - 41	8%	42

41	01	2%		01 - 31	32 - 40	8%	41

40	01	3%		01 - 31	32 - 39	8%	40

39	01	3%		01 - 30	31 - 38	8%	39

38	01	3%		01 - 29	30 - 37	8%	38

37	01	3%		01 - 28	29 - 36	7%	37

36	01	3%		01 - 27	28 - 35	7%	36

35	01	3%		01 - 27	28 - 34	7%	35

34	01	3%		01 - 26	27 - 33	7%	34

33	01	3%		01 - 25	26 - 32	7%	33

32	01	3%		01 - 24	25 - 31	6%	32

31	01	3%		01 - 23	24 - 30	6%	31

30	01	3%		01 - 23	24 - 29	6%	30

29	01	3%		01 - 22	23 - 28	6%	29

28	01	4%		01 - 21	22 - 27	6%	28

27	01	4%		01 - 20	21 - 26	5%	27

26	01	4%		01 - 19	20 - 25	5%	26

25	01	4%		01 - 19	20 - 24	5%	25

24	01	4%		01 - 18	19 - 23	5%	24

23	01	4%		01 - 17	18 - 22	5%	23

22	01	5%		01 - 16	17 - 21	4%	22

21	01	5%		01 - 15	16 - 20	4%	21

20	01	5%		01 - 15	16 - 19	4%	20

19	01	5%		01 - 14	15 - 18	4%	19

18	01	6%		01 - 13	14 - 17	4%	18

17	01	6%		01 - 12	13 - 16	3%	17

16	01	6%		01 - 11	12 - 15	3%	16

15	01	7%		01 - 11	12 - 14	3%	15

14	01	7%		01 - 10	11 - 13	3%	14

13	01	8%		01 - 9	10 - 12	3%	13

12	01	8%		01 - 8	9 - 11	2%	12

11	01	9%		01 - 7	8 - 10	2%	11

10	01	10%		01 - 7	8 - 9	2%	10

9	01	11%		01 - 6	7 - 8	2%	09

8	01	13%		01 - 5	6 - 7	2%	08

7	01	14%		01 - 4	5 - 6	1%	07

6	01	17%		01 - 3	4 - 5	1%	06

5	01	20%		01 - 3	4 - 4	1%	05

4	01	25%		01 - 2	3 - 3	1%	04

3	01	33%		01 - 1	2 - 2	1%	03

2	01	50%		NA	NA	0%	02

1	NA	NA		NA	NA	0%	01

Personally, I wish the official rules were "roll highest without goving over" ala Pendragon. Critical = your skill level, Fumble = 01. It's just the simplest and easiest to convey to the players.

When I was playtesting Swords of Cydoria, I got a lot of complaints about BRP's convoluted "roll low, lower is better unless its contested, then higher is better if you are both within the same success level". All my players hated it and it was a big barrier towards getting them to accept BRP.

Yes, I am the same Christian Conkle.

I read a lot of issues of old Heavy Metal comics when doing the early writing and visual design for this book, so there is an intentional thematic allusion. I was trying to create a setting that felt like the Taarna sequence of the Heavy Metal movie, with a little bit of Ralph Bakhshi's Wizards.

Yay! Thanks! You obviously get it! Let me know if you have any questions.

My hard-copy of "Swords of Cydoria", the monograph I wrote, finally arrived. I'm giddy! It looks great!

So, has anyone else picked up the pdf? I love it, though having been on the dev forum for it, I had a solid idea of what to expect anyway. Still, having the whole thing in front of me is a joy, and my hat is off to Chris for producing a setting that oozes adventure potential and that strikes so many chords with me. I remember being delighted by Chris' redesign of the Deru and they still stand out for me as one of the strongest non-human races visually and conceptually. I really cannot stress highly enough that this is not your run-of-the-mill monograph; it's a hefty tome (over 200 pages), well-written, imaginative, heavily illustrated, and thorough.

cheers!

Colin

Thanks Colin. Your opinion matters a lot to me because I love Atomic Highway. I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts, and the thoughts of anyone else, positive or negative.

The Deru are also the favorite non-human race of one of my friends. He roleplays an amazing laconic Deru, just holding on to a ceiling and hanging there. A human walks in and asks "Hey! What are you doing up there?" The Deru considers the answer for like ten seconds before replying, simply, "...hanging."

Really? I mean ..."Kunt Film"...?!

When I stop laughing I might actually watch that!

According to Wikipedia and Google Translate, it translates as "The Man Who Saved the World".

I like using Turkish to come up with names for stuff in my games. It just sounds so fantastic and exotic. In Lightspeed, there was an ice planet where everything was named in Turkish. It made the planet feel so real and all the names sounded like names from Dune, which was the point.

"I removed the cheese and bad seventies special effects"

Awww, I like cheese ... and snappy white jumpsuits.

Ever notice that no matter how many fights Buck and Wilma got into, their white jumpsuits never got mussed? Must have been one of those futuristic miracle fabrics.

I was watching Dünyayı Kurtaran Adam (aka "Turkish Star Wars") again this weekend and I felt a pang of regret that I removed the cheese.

The video was one of the author's inspirations.

It's true, althought I downlplayed the "cheesy european late-seventies sci-fi Star Wars rip-off" angle earlier iterations of the game had. When I first created it, it was sort of "Star Crash" or "Turkish Star Wars" the RPG. In fact, the very first time I ran this setting was using Dragonstar d20 and the PCs were recruited to defend a small rural town of Mexican farmers from a ravenous pack of ork bandits called "the Borays" who were led by a robot gunslinger named "Red Eye". They had to assemble defenses for the town A-Team style. That version was very very intentionally Knights of Cydonia.

This new version is more its own thing. I removed the cheese and bad seventies special effects and made it much more internally consistent, logical, and less silly. Although the secret agents from the planet Phanos still wear white uniforms that look suspiciously like those worn by the Earth Directorate of Buck Rogers (and the female character from Knights of Cydonia).

I'm uploading the inDesign package and PDF to the ftp site right now! I'm a little giddy! I'm so excited!

With index and character sheet it comes in at 204 pages. There are 117 illustrations and maps!

After it's published (assuming its published), I'll start sharing all the content I had to trim!

Update

My wonderful wife finished proofreading and editing Swords of Cydoria last night. All 200 pages of it! It took her about 2 months and she's done an amazing job. I hope to finish integrating her changes this week so I can send it off to Chaosium.

Perhaps we could write up a mechanic for fudgeing it, called Fudge Factor?

Mechanic? Sure, you just need a bunch of dice with plusses and minuses on them.

My wife is editing my book right now and that's exactly the kind of sentence she circles in red and says "awkward sentence - re-write".

It's also playing on Netflix streaming. It's a very enjoyable film.

Okay, I've got my BGB out now. I'm not relying on the quickstart ruleset.

BGB does, indeed, combine movement and actions into Actions, it was split up in the quickstart.

BGB page 188, "Statemetns of intent shoudl be handled in order of the DEX characteristic of all involved characters..."

Of course, the same page has the option for eliminating or reversing statment of intent, which is how my group has always played and is much more natural for them.

Re-reading the Move section again on page 190, I may have misinterpreted moving and acting as happening on different DEX ranks.

However, I'm not going to use my house rule idea. I'll just go with the simpler idea of not modifying initiative by movement at all.

Re-reading the combat round rules, I just realized something.

RAW, you go..

1. Everyone declares statement of intent.

2. Everyone moves in order of DEX rank.

3. Everyone acts in order of DEX rank (modified by movement).

4. Resolution (does that mean everyone rolls actions, THEN everyone rolls damage?).

That's way too complicated.

In my house rules, I'm eliminating Statement of Intent and I'm combining movement and actions and resolution.

I'm not happy with how the movement rules are presented in the BGB.

As I'm sure you know, the BGB rules are:

On your DEX Rank, if you want to move you can:

Move 1-5m and attack immediately on the same DEX Rank.

Move 6-15m on your DEX Rank, then attack later at half your DEX Rank.

Move 16-29m on your DEX Rank, then attack later at one-quarter your DEX Rank. Equivalent to a charge.

Move 30m on your DEX Rank and take no other action. Equivalent to a sprint.

However, I think there are two things wrong with these rules. 1) everyone will run 29m, who will run 30m? There’s no real benefit. Plus, it doesn’t mesh well with the character’s MOVE stat, or a 2m combat grid or even a 3m combat grid, and I prefer a 2m combat grid.

So I’ve added a minor house-rule in my campaign to address these issues. If these rules sound kind of D&D 4E-ish, its because it's what my group is used to and it's designed to mesh with the BGB's MOV stat.

Move 1 square and attack immediately on the same DEX Rank.

Move 2-5 squares on your DEX Rank, then attack later at half your DEX Rank (round up).

Move 6-10 squares on your DEX Rank, then attack later at one-quarter your DEX Rank (round up). Equivalent to a charge.

Move 11-15 squares on your DEX Rank and take no other action. Equivalent to a sprint or “run+run”.

For Example, if your DEX Rank was 15,

You can move 1 square and attack on 15.

You can move 2-5 squares on 15 and attack on 8.

You can move 6-10 squares on 15 and attack on 4.

You can move 11-15 squares on 15 and take no other action.

1 square = 2m, which is appropriate scale for most battle-maps and minis.

The above house-rule preserves the multiple initiative structure of the original rules, groups them into more manageable chunks of 5, and caps “run and act” high enough to make it worthwhile, but low enough to give a reason to sprint. It also manages to preserve the max movement = 30m of the original rules.

If that was the truth, then HeroQuest and RuneQuest would be generic, too.

Unfortunately, all of this is mere speculation.

Yes and No.

Runequest is still a registered trademark for "printed games books featuring game rules and supplements in the nature of fiction stories and related writings and text in the nature of printed books containing any combination of supplemental game rules, fictional background materials, and fiction stories." owned by Issaries, Inc. CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 1050 10th St. Arcata CALIFORNIA 95521

Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

Now, Runequest for use in video games is a dead trademark. "(ABANDONED) computer programs, namely, game software for use on computers and video game players; prerecorded CDs and DVDs featuring sound and video in the fields of music, live action programs"

And the original Runequest logo is a dead trademark.

That is NOT speculation. It's from a TESS search at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp

Heroquest is a mixture of living and dead trademarks.

There are three living trademarks.

One for "Role playing game equipment in the nature of game book manuals" is trademarked by Stafford, Francis Gregory INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES 1050 10th St Arcata CALIFORNIA 95521.

Another Heroquest is trademarked for "Arranging professional workshop and training courses; Computer education training services; Digital imaging services; Educational examination services; Electronic publishing services, namely, publication of text and graphic works of others on CD, DVD and on-line featuring computer games; Entertainment and educational services in the nature of on-line competitions in the field of entertainment, education, culture, sports, and other non-business and non-commercial fields; Entertainment information; Entertainment services, namely, providing brain training games on-line and in mobile wireless form; Entertainment services, namely, providing on-line computer games; Entertainment services, namely, providing online electronic games; Organisation of sports competitions; Organization of exhibitions for cultural or educational purposes; Publication of books; Publication of electronic magazines; Publication of texts, books, magazines and other printed matter; Publishing of electronic publications; Social club services, namely, arranging, organizing, and hosting social events, get-togethers, and parties for club members" out of Singapore.

And a third Heroquest is trademarked for "Computer game programs; Computer game software; Computer operating programs, recorded; Computer peripheral devices; Computer programs for pre-recorded games; Computer programs recorded on data media (software) designed for use in construction and automated manufacturing (cad/cam); Computers; Downloadable computer programs featuring positionable game piece figures for use in the field of computer games; Downloadable electronic publications in the nature of magazines in the field of computer games; Electronic pocket translators; Electronic test and measurement devices for use in the fields of networks and telecommunications, namely, instrumentation used to test and certify new and existing data and voice communication cable and coaxial cable", also out of Singapore.

The Issaries trademark for the Heroquest logo is dead.

The old Games Workshop trademark for Heroquest and Advanced Heroquest are both dead.

Cool. One could just hope that someone in the US (Charlie?) just sees this and registers Barsoom as his own Trademark.

No, once it lapses, it becomes generic. No one can trademark it after that. Barsoom has become generic. At least as how I understand it. Be aware that I am not a trademark attorney and am not an expert on copyright or trademark law, though I have researched the topic for my own purposes.

I think it is related to trademark law. John Carter and Barsoom are trademarks of ERB Inc. or something like that. Same with Tarzan.

Correct. The book has gone into public domain in regard to copyright, but certain names and terms can be trademarked, which can remain in force indefinitely as long as the holder enforces its trademark.

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain#Public_domain_in_trademarks

Public domain in trademarksA trademark registration may remain in force indefinitely, or expire without specific regard to its age. For a trademark registration to remain valid, the owner must continue to use it. In some circumstances, such as disuse, failure to assert trademark rights, or common usage by the public without regard for its intended use, it could become generic, and therefore part of the public domain.

Because trademarks are registered with governments, some countries or trademark registries may recognize a mark, while others may have determined that it is generic and not allowable as a trademark in that registry. For example, the drug "acetylsalicylic acid" (2-acetoxybenzoic acid) is better known as aspirin in the United States—a generic term. In Canada, however, "aspirin" is still a trademark of the German company Bayer. Bayer lost the trademark after World War I, when the mark was sold to an American firm. So many copy-cat products entered the marketplace during the war that it was deemed generic just three years later.[30]

Doing a trademark search at the United States Patent and Trademark Office web site shows:

Barsoom is a dead trademark

"John Carter", however, is still trademarked. As is "John Carter of Mars".

"John Carter, Warlord of Mars", interestingly, is a dead trademark that lapsed in 1996.

Trademarks apply not only to names, but also certain images, toys, products, etc.

For example, the "John Carter" trademark applies to:

IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: motion picture films featuring science fiction and adventure; video recordings featuring animated cartoons, personal stereos; bicycle helmets; sports helmets; sunglasses; protective eyewear; decorative magnets; musical sound recordings; video recordings of motion pictures; computer game software; video game software; virtual reality game software; computer software and downloadable software featuring interactive stories, music, and animation; downloadable screensaver software; gaming machines; slot machines

IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: stationery; series of fiction books; bookmarks; comic books; talking children's books; children's books; photographs; pencil cases; decorative pencil top ornaments; notebooks; note paper; binders; book covers; trading cards; greeting cards; desk pads; blotters; pencil cups, holders for stationery; paper party favors; paper party decorations, namely, paper napkins, paper doilies, paper place mats, crepe paper, paper hats, invitations, paper table cloths, paper cake decorations; stickers; pens; pencils; crayons; markers; pastels; wrapping paper; paper bags; paper gift bags, art prints; posters; calendars; photograph albums and trading card albums

IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: clothing, namely, shirts, t-shirts, sweatshirts, jogging suits, trousers, pants, shorts, tank tops, rainwear, skirts, blouses, dresses, suspenders, sweaters, jackets, coats, raincoats, ponchos, snow suits, neckwear, robes, belts, scarves, sleepwear, underwear, swimwear, and masquerade and Halloween costumes; footwear; headwear

IC 028. US 022 023 038 050. G & S: mechanical and electric action toys; toy water globes; bath toys; bendable toys; children's multiple activity toys, construction toys; drawing toys; fantasy character toys; inflatable toys; non-riding transportation toys; party favors in the nature of small toys; rubber and plastic character toys; plush toys; pop up toys; ride-on toys; sand toys; squeeze toys; talking toys; water squirting toys; toy vehicles; toy weapons; toy animals; collectable toy figures; disc toss toys; flying discs; punching toys; toy model hobbycraft kits; wind up toys; hand held unit for playing electronic games; hand held unit for playing video games; trading card games; action skill games; arcade games; board games; card games; stand alone video game machines; paddle ball games; parlor games; party games; pinball games; role playing games; target games; dolls; puzzles; beach balls; sport balls; skateboards; toy scooters; play tents; toy watches; costume masks; Christmas tree ornaments; playing cards

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: amusement parks; amusement centers; children's entertainment and amusement centers, namely, interactive play areas; educational services, namely, conducting on-line exhibitions and displays and interactive exhibits in the field of cinema, science fiction, astronomy and planetology, educational services, namely, conducting classes and workshops in the field of cinema, science fiction, astronomy and planetology, educational services, namely, conducting classes and workshops in the field of cinema, science fiction, astronomy and planetology, entertainment services, namely providing on-line computer games; fan clubs; on-line fan clubs; online electronic publishing of books and magazines in the fields of science fiction and adventure; entertainment services, namely, providing entertainment information in the field of motion pictures and computer games, all online via a global computer network; publication of books, magazines, and comic books; rental of motion pictures; entertainment in the nature of a dramatic television series, entertainment in the nature of a children's television series, entertainment in the nature of an animated television series, entertainment in the nature of live performances by costumed characters, entertainment services in the nature of an amusement park show

Also, I can point you to a well-known, widely accepted mechanic that limits player freedom quite a bit. It's called "hit points", and opponents affect it by winning a skill contest with PCs;D! For some reason, most people see nothing wrong with it, so why would it be different with social rolls?

Hah! I was thinking about this earlier!

GM: "The orc hits, roll to dodge."

Player: "I fail"

GM: "The orc does 6 points of damage. You fall down dead!"

Player: "Foul! My character wouldn't do that! You're taking control of my character! My character dodged and the blow missed! I keep on fighting!"

...as opposed to...

GM: "The orc calls you a really insulting name in front of your friends. Roll to ignore."

Player: "I fail!"

Gm: "The insult does 6 points of bravery. You are intimidated and wet your pants in fear!"

...as opposed to...

GM: "You see a giant octopus-head monster rising from the water. Roll your sanity."

Player: "I fail!"

GM: "You lose 6 points of sanity. You go insane and try to kill yourself!"

Every time I see this thread title, Queen's "It's a kind of magic" springs into my head and refuses to leave.