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Stephen L

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Everything posted by Stephen L

  1. I'm gutted that I missed this. Any-one any idea if I can get some of the duck figures? Perhaps if I try @Helliwell, if he doesn't mind my summoning attempts... Thanks,
  2. I'm beginning to see quite a few figures available that are resin and I guess printed from 3D printers. I wondered if they were any good and worth getting? If anyone has experience of these, please do share your opinions! Some of the ones I've found are: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/958458639/adara-spartan-warrior-bite-the-bullet https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/828955832/spartan-soldiers-mini https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1044571849/freya-the-fearless-32mm-28mm-75mm-ideal Thanks for your troubles...
  3. Thanks for a good question, I'm interested to hear how the more learned than me reply. I don’t know why from official publications, but in my campaign it’s a mix of reasons why Leika doesn’t whole heartedly support Kallyr. Mainly I think that Leika doesn’t think Kallyr will be a good prince, and she will ultimately fail. Kallyr was rash at the failed uprising in 1613, and she’s rash now. A great war leader, she’ll make the Lunar Empire pay dearly for its reconquest of Sartar, but Leika thinks that Kallyr won’t be able to stop them. I also have Leika blaming Kallyr for the Dragon Rise, which was great for eating Lunars, but if the Dragons awake and rise again across Dragon Pass, and eat everything up (like the Dragon Kill), that won’t leave anything for the Lunars to conquer, which would be a pretty pyrrhic victory for Sartar. Secondly is rivalry. They were both war leaders serving King Broyan. Where they showed a very different approach. Leika was always there, fighting by Broyan’s side, whilst Kallyr was off on grand schemes, like the Sky World Boat quest. And Leika is queen of the Colymar the mightiest tribe of Sartar, and probably has more resources at her disposal than Kallyr does as Prince. Leika almost certainly thinks she would make a better prince than Kallyr, but she doesn’t have the right blood, not being of Sartar’s line. In my campaign, Leika sends the adventurers to *properly* test Kallyr as their part of Kallyr’s lightbringer quest. If Kallyr can prove to Leika’s satisfaction that she really is the right person to be prince, then Leika will throw her lot in behind her unreservedly. But if not, Leika won’t have the Colymar destroyed by following Kallyr if she’s doomed to failure.
  4. According to my Wyrms Footprints, they stumbled on it: "It was Taksag who noted the old man with the wooden sword first, but the sword was given to to Tamara Three-Chop to carry, with instructions to drive it into the heart of the enemy. The group went on with the blade." To paraphrase, a band of Humakti had been shamefully defeated by the Sazdorf Trolls, who were in throes of choosing a war god. So a band of Colymar Humakti adventurers were sent dreams to avenge his shame. I presume, also, that Tarndisi would not have been happy with the outcome. The adventurers prove the supremacy of Humakt against the troll warriors, and the temple is set up in the Sazdorf lands with many trolls joining. And neither is it likely that Tarndisi would be a supporter of the Sazdorf troll ball team...
  5. I realise it's not going down the topic of Glorantha Love stories, but rather leaping off from the music you present. For my tastes, for music, you can't beat the BBC radio dramatisation of the Hobbit. It sounds both primitive and unearthly, which maybe someone might find makes it useful for Glorantha... Bilbo's lullaby, the third in the list, is a favourite of mine. To my ear, it could be Alfred Dellar singing, which would surprise me as it's obviously credited! https://archive.org/details/the-hobbit-bbc-radio-drama/J.R.R.+Tolkien+-+The+Hobbit+-+Disc+5+-+01+-+Music-+Opening+and+Bilbo's+theme.flac https://archive.org/details/the-hobbit-bbc-radio-drama/J.R.R.+Tolkien+-+The+Hobbit+-+Disc+5+-+02+-+Music-+Elves'+Dances.flac https://archive.org/details/the-hobbit-bbc-radio-drama/J.R.R.+Tolkien+-+The+Hobbit+-+Disc+5+-+03+-+Music-+Bilbo's+Lullaby.flac https://archive.org/details/the-hobbit-bbc-radio-drama/J.R.R.+Tolkien+-+The+Hobbit+-+Disc+5+-+04+-+Music-+Fanfare+and+Dance+in+Esgaroth.flac
  6. I don't think that creatures that existed in classical mythology should have anything to do with how believable it is for Glorantha. Otherwise, well where to start... Dragonewts, Broo, Morokanth, Waktapi... However, it might just be that I've never really come across Howard the Duck that I lack the bias that might... engander.
  7. I find it very curious that ducks are considered immersion breaking, but, for example, centaurs or minotaurs are believable...
  8. Having finally had time to read this, it is absolutely very Gloranthan for me. Obviously, there is the bronze age conflict of Aeneas leading the Trojan remnants in settling in Italy, but more for the representation of the Latin people's real piety and their relation with the divine, which is very insightful. So very recommended.
  9. Though it's been ages since I've played RQiii, I do remember that, as people got good, combats took forever. Armour points for shields and weapons significantly outclass even good armour. So even specials could be blocked by a parry and fair armour. The big difference I've noticed in RQ in G, is that weapons/shields are breaking far more often than I remember from RQiii (or being reduced so they don't block so much), and I think it's that that's keeping combats shorter. Though the rules for damaging weapons can only be very slightly different, it's all in the subtle detail of the hit/parry table, but that seems to be making all the difference for us. It's also kept things a *bit* less deadly. A special tends to destroy weapons or shields, leaving the foe open to be whittled down, so they fall or surrender from a number of smaller wounds. However, there have been the odd head or limb lopped off quite spectacularly. The Yelmailan with heal body has proven very useful...
  10. I've tried really hard to let this go... But I'm sorry I can't help my self. Being a flat world has no impact on the matter. It's all to do with if at mid day, the sun appears south or north of you. Which means the direction the sundial goes is based where on Glorantha you are and the tilt of the sky dome, as it goes through its annual cycle. There will be places on Glorantha where sundials will go clockwise parts of the year and anti clockwise others! In recompense for taking up the bandwidth with stuff I shouldn't here's a picture of Maeshowe, a Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave situated on Mainland Orkney, Scotland, probably built around 2800 BC. It is aligned so that the rear wall of its central chamber is illuminated on the winter solstice.
  11. Now there’s a really interesting question. I guess the definition of clockwise direction comes from the direction the shadow goes on a sundial (in the northern hemisphere). But which direction would a sundial go in Glorantha? And so which direction then is clockwise for a Gloranthan? I’ve never thought about it before, but a Sundial must go anti clockwise in the southern hemisphere, which surely is against the whole definition of clockwise! Or am I off topic here?
  12. We played character generation as a session 1 in its own right. It's rather good fun, and shouldn't be rushed. Everyone sat round the table, rolling on the family history, hoping for something exciting to happen to them. It's more fun if your doing as a group, as you play off each other's rolls, and also it means that, statistically, something really interesting would happen to somebody round the table for each year. And also you could see how your own character could have interacted with some of the others. My players are young (or their mums). I don't think they'd twigged that you couldn't die at this stage, so there was real suspense in the rolls. Which of course I fed... For some reason, the duck's parents being eaten by the crimson duck was deemed to be hilarious. Not the tragedy when it was one of the human adventurers forebears. So, we spent the entire first session just on character generation. But it definitely felt like session 1, the start of the fun, and not Session 0, something to be done before you get to the good stuff. I'd guess we spent a good 4 hours or so, but its a while ago now. Before lock down when we sat at the same table.
  13. I am shortly running the battle of the queens in my campaign. Digging around old threads, there's quite a bit covered by the community for this. So, in case any else is planning to run it soon, I thought I would reincarnate these threads. And indeed, if I’m missing any nuggets, I’m always grateful for pointers! Or, if Jeff has any updates… Jeff’s post is very helpful: As is Jajagappa’s (the penultimate post): And Arcadiagt5's preparation thread, and lessons learned: And print sources are the Glorantha Sourcebook p.41-42 and in the RQG core rules p.138 (from Vasana’s Saga). And there’s a little bit in the Jonstown Compendium title, The Duel at Dangerford.
  14. Young Pike wearing a scarf might be a British reference to young Pike in Dad's Army who *always* wore a scarf (normal knitted affair). His mother didn't like him being out at night, and insisted that he wear a scarf so he didn't catch a cold. A link to the wikipedia image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/Dadsarmy_1.jpg Pike is the young lad on the left, wearing a scarf.
  15. I think they're more adventurers from the book. From memory: Argrath is Orlanth (at a guess) Vasana is Vinga Yanioth is Ernalda Harmast is Humakt Vishi Dunn is Kolat Vostor is 3 Sorala is 2 I'd have to pull the book out to have a stab at the others...
  16. Having just finished running the Pegasus Plateau, I though I would publish some comments and notes. If you are possible players *STOP READING NOW OR YOU WILL RUIN THE FUN* First off, many grateful thanks. I have a young bunch of players (8, 10 and 11), and a couple of mums. And this was perfect for them, they all very much enjoyed it. I haven’t used many published scenarios (mostly home written ones), but a scenario about bonding with Hippogriffs *had* to be run, as it couldn’t have been more appropriate to my group and their goals. One of the players had already been obsessed with Pegasus Plateau, from first seeing it on the map. So I used a device of dreams (based on rune rolls) for visions of the Hippogriffs foaling, for a scenario hook, many seasons/adventures ago. This led, in the upcoming seasons before the festival, to much research from the adventurers, finding out about the festival, Hippogriffs, and buying maps and information about Pegasus Plateau from knowledge temples, which was marginalia activity during the other adventures for the campaign for quite some time. So, when it came to the festival the players and their adventurers were very well prepared. The scenario benefits from really deep reading and preparation from the GM. The sandbox presented has really good descriptions of all the main characters, including the other contestants, but I found it useful to have planned through various story threads for what might happen. Involving the trickster Jornkalor was an obvious draw for players of my age group (Chipmunk Bing has already prominently featured in the campaign, much to my wife’s disapproval), so a scene with him (and his fake map) was entertaining. What worked well, was I had some idea of the rivalries of the competitors, and who would be doing what, which emerged as a bit of a who-done-it scenario for the players, as they uncovered a few nefarious deeds, and tried to work out what was happening and who might be doing it. For an older group I would have dwelt on this for far longer, but even working through it quickly it was very satisfying for everyone. This does require a bit of preparation. The hooks are all in the written scenario, but pulling it all together into a story line has to be done by the referee, but is very well worth it. For each of the Wind Contests, instead of one dice roll, I played an extended competition. One roll (with a difficulty penalty, probably -25%, might have been -50%), to do really well to get into the final group. Then a semi final competition, and final competition, where they match straight skill rolls against the specific opponent as defined for the winners and runners up in the write up. Given the ambush at the end of the adventure, when it came to the climb, I elected not to run the route for the bandit ambush going up, as I though that would be too repetitive. The climbing, Parley and noble duel with Sun Lord Jardarin, and engagement with the Wind children played out really well straight from the book. The climb itself worked superbly. The party were *supremely* well prepared, the players had planned it meticulously. And the execution was supported by good rolls from their adventurers. So they made it to the top as a group (yes even the duck) well before the NPC competitors. For the bonding, they’d done their research (even if some of that was from Buckbeak in Harry Potter), so they knew exactly what to do. I had to elaborate a bit on the bonding from the written scenario, since it wasn’t clear to me how it would work. Previously, the players all had worked out what Hippogriffs were like, their Runic associations, and traits, so I allowed them to concentrate on a rune/passion and on a successful roll they’d get some impression on which of the Hippogriffs shared those traits, and so they then focussed on bonding with that one. However, I suppose they could just have waded in and tried bonding at random, until they found a match, which also would have worked. For Characters with middling Runes/Passions (below the 75% thresholds for automatic success or failure), I'd have allowed opposed rune rolls. I used the rolls for the NPCs as in the book to determine the order to the top of the plateau. Which gave (all) the player characters first, who all successfully bonded, which left one Hippogriff for the NPCs. That was great to roleplay out, as Nameed was next, and he tried to force the bond. Of course the players intervened to stop him. Then Joreen and Kana were next. Though they’re down at this stage as allies, from their original write up they are enemies, (and also I’d played on their rivalries earlier, particularly during the contest of the South-Westerly wind, the wrestling competition). So, I had them fight over the last Hippogriff, which turned ugly, and the players intervened to restore peace (and honour). Lastly, I had ride rolls (at half horse skill for Hippogriffs) for the ride/fly down. This nicely spread out the adventures for the final ambush by Hanar. (I delayed arrival for failed rolls, as fall to certain death seemed harsh!) There isn’t much in the write up about riding young hippogriffs, and how that should work in the rules. I ruled player skill of half (normal) ride. I’ve generated stats for the Hippogriffs, or allow players to roll for their own. For the young hippogriffs ready to bond I’ve ruled that they’ve 8 less STR, 5 less SIZ and 25% less fly and scan than adults. I’ll have them gain a point of STR/SIZ and 5% skills a season. (I know nothing about how horses mature, so this might be madness, but I won’t lose sleep over it). For riding, I assume a Hippogriff can carry (SIZ + ENC) of adventurer up to their STR. Lastly, I used stat blocks from here for Hippogriffs, Windchildren and bandits. https://basicroleplaying.org/files/file/851-npc-squads-txtzip-npc-squadspdf/ Thanks again to the authors. It was great fun. Though I'm quite an experience referee, I'd have thought it a really good scenario for a beginner to run as long as they done preparation beforehand to work out possible story lines for how things might play out, for the players to engage with.
  17. No it's definitely there. Once you've got to the page "Journey to the West Research" just search for: "Investiture of the Gods" And you'll get to a link. However, I would advocate waiting for a publication, rather than downloading captures of out of print material. But that's easy for me to say, given it's not top of my reading list (which is a reflection on the length of my reading list, because it really does look interesting.)
  18. Not to disagree with what Nick says, which makes excellent sense... but rather to give an alternative view from a GM who is challenged in keeping on-top of things, and why I find Stat blocks useful: First, I like my foes to be distinguishable. So, as they close for combat, I like to have a *very* brief description of the foe, (big and beefy, muscly, lithe, commanding...) and their arms/armour (but not too detailed). Visible spells effects are really atmospheric as well. A stat block gives me as a GM the detail I need to provide that flavour to the players. But mainly a stat block is helpful is to keep a record of what’s happening in a combat, otherwise it all gets away from me as a GM really quickly. Combat is rarely over is a single blow, often, it’s the state of weapons that critical (it’s when a shield or parrying weapon is damaged and not blocking much anymore that you’ve an opportunity to take someone out), or it’s a series of wounds that finish things (often by surrender, or breaking off). As a GM, unless I write damage/wounds down, I lose track *instantly*. And the stat block is where it goes. I even have to write down (on the stat block) who is facing each foe! I'm sad enough to put a tick for each melee round at the top of the page. But it’s a question of GM style. For me detail light and winging it, doesn’t work for combat. As soon as the fight is joined, as a referee, unless I record it, I wouldn’t (and didn’t) have a scooby what’s going on. However, outside combat, the detail of the stat block isn't useful. I tend to transcribe NPCs for an non-combat encounter from the stat bock to a summary in a few key words, so I have them to hand all together, rather than having to search.
  19. I've just updated for flying critters of all sorts – Griffins, Hippogriffs, Sky Bulls, Wind Children, Wyverns, Wyrms (guess whose campaign is off to Pegasus Plateau). And Unicorns (not sure why I wanted Unicorns). The "there are now" list in the original post is updated for the full list of what's available. I think Tusk Riders will be needed soon. The original link should work, or repeated below: https://basicroleplaying.org/files/file/851-npc-squads Enjoy.
  20. I’m not much of a movie buff (but, I have at least seen I Claudius…), so, for what it’s worth: Patrick Stewart (Sejanus, I Claudius) for Fazzur Wideread. Though Fazzur might be more honourable... I'd suggest Brigitte Nielsen (from her Red Sonja days) for Kallyr Starbrow, but I've not seen it, and you if you're after acting skills, I'm not sure she got good reviews... Seconded. I'm glad you afford Goosebery Sprig his rightful place in the pantheon of Major NPCs.
  21. It was a major factor when my wife and I decided to have kids, and, 10 years on, it’s seemed to have worked; the campaigns a year-and-a-half old, and going great guns. Our kids (10 and 8 now) love Glorantha, and they love the gods and cults, so that’s worked really well for them. And it works for me as well, because I’ve little spare time, the setting and rules for RuneQuest in Glorantha are so vivid and alive, the scenarios just write themselves, and keeping the campaign ticking over is low effort.
  22. you are not alone 🙂 I believe that congratulations are in order. May your Windchildlets be blessed with many years of roleplaying fun when they come of roleplaying age... Or am I wilfully misreading posts again!
  23. Lore wise, sacred time makes complete sense for the resolving the yearly cycle, because, mythically that’s exactly what sacred time represents. Mythically, it is the death of the old world, and the rebirth of the new. If you don’t muck up the rituals too badly...
  24. Though I too have great nostalgia for the early days of RQ classic, for me, RQinG wins. The inspiration it provides for the GM is quite unbelievable, and the campaign I’m running at the moment is better than *anything* I have ever run before. Last sacred time, the players summoned hippogriffs to ride to heaven’s vault to rescue a star maiden, battling fire daemons to unite her with her true love, Prince Illavarn. I’ve never had inspiration like that before. For me RQinG is visceral, vivid, alive and immediate, whilst RQ classic is a glimpse of something wonderful, vaguely seen and half imagined from afar.
  25. There was Baroshi, a godling devoted to chaos fighting, in the original Snake Pipe hollow. Could that be a reference to him? Though the original post was meant in jest, there are many roleplaying opportunities by which a male Earth warrior might achieve Rune Lord status. Following in the footsteps of an obscure Male Earth Warrior (effectively a sub cult). Finding such a godling as Baroshi, and worshipping him. The player characters are heroes, I'm sure they'll find ways of breaking the rules (or rather making new ones).
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