Ashes to Ashes Thoughts

[Ars Mysteriorum]

Anyone have it? Whatcha think of it?

[Trifletraxor]

Any reviews? Or are everyone waiting for the dead tree version?

SGL.

[neorxnawang]

It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. A phantasmagorical extravaganza of unparalled magnitude!!

Oh, wait, I don't get a vote.

The dead tree version has been a nightmare. I had to totally reformat and resubmit the pdf last week--for the 2nd time. First, the printer didn't have standard TrueType system fonts. Then they couldn't handle a rgb jpeg so I had to manually greyscale all the images. GAHHHHH!!!!

[Ars Mysteriorum]

It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. A phantasmagorical extravaganza of unparalled magnitude!!

Oh, wait, I don't get a vote.

The dead tree version has been a nightmare. I had to totally reformat and resubmit the pdf last week--for the 2nd time. First, the printer didn't have standard TrueType system fonts. Then they couldn't handle a rgb jpeg so I had to manually greyscale all the images. GAHHHHH!!!!

I bought it!

I'll enjoy perusing it at work tomorrow and let you know what I think!

[neorxnawang]

Cross-posted from the yahoo group. Anthony raised a valid point about a thematic issue in Ashes to Ashes maybe being a bit too subtle. So here we go:

*****

From some chatter I've been having on the forums, it has occurred to

me that I may have been too sneaky with a thematic point in Ashes, to

Ashes. So here's a dollop of unsubtle exposition (and some mention

of what I'm working on).

The downfall of the World was brought about by Scaraband, who

indulged in several of the Seven Deadly Sins: pride (he thought he

was better than everyone else), lust (for the Princess Millesse),

wrath (he starts a war when he is spurned), envy (against the royal

family), and finally greed (he gives up his soul and becomes a demon

to keep what power he has amassed).

Each of the post-Abjuration shattered lands reflects one of these

Seven Deadly Sins. I thought it was obvious, but what's obvious to

me ain't obvious to everyone.

Fallingstar: paralyzed by pride and thinking back to the "good old

days." Even the name is meaningful: pride goeth before the fall.

Eglantine: meaning a briar rose, once beautiful, now thorny. The

land of wrath, at perpetual war.

The Dells: essentially a land of farmers with their lusty daughters,

at the middle of which is, perhaps, the iconic farmer's daughter

holding sway over her barren land. Also a meaningful name if you

think about it.

The Farm: so well off that it must be hidden, or people would be

envious.

The Majestic Plateau: where material comfort can be had and greed

assuaged, at the small price of one's soul.

The Crannoch is the counterpoint: a place where people live in a

state of natural grace.

And so that leaves two lands unaccounted for. They are:

The Western Isles (sloth) and

Takuk (gluttony).

They will be detailed in Dust, to Dust, which I have started working

on. Going to work on the Western Isles first. Artists and cartographers encouraged to express interest.

[Ars Mysteriorum]

Cross-posted from the yahoo group. Anthony raised a valid point about a thematic issue in Ashes to Ashes maybe being a bit too subtle. So here we go:

*****

From some chatter I've been having on the forums, it has occurred to

me that I may have been too sneaky with a thematic point in Ashes, to

Ashes. So here's a dollop of unsubtle exposition (and some mention

of what I'm working on).

The downfall of the World was brought about by Scaraband, who

indulged in several of the Seven Deadly Sins: pride (he thought he

was better than everyone else), lust (for the Princess Millesse),

wrath (he starts a war when he is spurned), envy (against the royal

family), and finally greed (he gives up his soul and becomes a demon

to keep what power he has amassed).

Each of the post-Abjuration shattered lands reflects one of these

Seven Deadly Sins. I thought it was obvious, but what's obvious to

me ain't obvious to everyone.

Fallingstar: paralyzed by pride and thinking back to the "good old

days." Even the name is meaningful: pride goeth before the fall.

Eglantine: meaning a briar rose, once beautiful, now thorny. The

land of wrath, at perpetual war.

The Dells: essentially a land of farmers with their lusty daughters,

at the middle of which is, perhaps, the iconic farmer's daughter

holding sway over her barren land. Also a meaningful name if you

think about it.

The Farm: so well off that it must be hidden, or people would be

envious.

The Majestic Plateau: where material comfort can be had and greed

assuaged, at the small price of one's soul.

The Crannoch is the counterpoint: a place where people live in a

state of natural grace.

And so that leaves two lands unaccounted for. They are:

The Western Isles (sloth) and

Takuk (gluttony).

They will be detailed in Dust, to Dust, which I have started working

on. Going to work on the Western Isles first. Artists and cartographers encouraged to express interest.

Wow, I had totally not made that connection. That really gives it a whole new level of depth.

Also, we're RPG fans. Do NOT be subtle.

[Trifletraxor]

The collective INT of the player group is inversely proportionate to the # of players. That's my experience at least!

SGL.

Edited August 16, 2008 by Trifletraxor

[Skipper]

I downloaded Ashes to Ashes today and can hardly put the thing down. I only had paper for the first 100 pages, and I'm craving the rest.

Setting: Very original.... A cross between "Aftermath", Dantes Inferno, and traditional Fantasy. It has a real low magic, down to earth gritty feel.

Appeal: I can see this as a setting that apeals to some of us a lot (My D&D 4E setting is very similar), but others will find it difficult to run. It will take a lot of social interaction and true role playing to get the most out of the setting, but man it sets my mind a soaring.

Length of the Campaign: I can see this as a godd years worth of play time, moreif you really work it. The framework is really well set up.

Feel: The author is trying to get the players to face morally ambiguous choices and face their inner demons. Now this sounds a little odd, but the psychology in the setting will keep the players guessing (make sure they dont read the book).

Skipper

P.S. We need to get the Website geared up and some excitement into it. Its hard to find, so I'll try and post a link here.

ashesttoashes : Ashes to Ashes

[pulpcitizen]

Any further word or progress update on a printed version of the book?

For those who have the book (or indeed its author), is there any additional mechanical gaming material included in addition to the setting information (for example powers - magic or sorcery, super powers etc)?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help with my questions.

[neorxnawang]

Any further word or progress update on a printed version of the book?

For those who have the book (or indeed its author), is there any additional mechanical gaming material included in addition to the setting information (for example powers - magic or sorcery, super powers etc)?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help with my questions.

I (still) have no idea what is going on with the hard copy. (For those unfamiliar with the story or just tuning in, I finished this last spring in a hurry so that it could get out for Con season. Then Chaosium didn't go. Then the printer had trouble with it (it's a color pdf). So then I reformatted it several times. I think it was printer ready in July. Then nada).

However, nothing has come out for BRP since Berlin 61, and I know that there is a pile of monographs in house. It appears that Lynn's illness has monkey-wrenched progress on many fronts.

There is another Ashes to Ashes thread (back last summer) where I answered questions about content.

http://basicroleplaying.com/forum/basic-roleplaying/632-brp-ashes-ashes.html?highlight=ashes

Also see the Dust to Dust thread:

http://basicroleplaying.com/forum/basic-roleplaying/870-dust-dust-grimoire-collaboration.html?highlight=ashes

Dust to Dust is (was)? going to be the sequel. Right now, I'm struggling with if/when/how to do it. If you think you're bummed about the lack of hard copy, I'm bummed to the third power. I may piecemeal it out as its done, send it to a magazine here or there or stick it in a compilation as its done.

FWIW, an introduction, additional rules (including a modified SAN system for extreme torture or deprivation), additional weapons chart, and a rather fun island to the west are 2/3 done. The rest (the 7th land and two adventures) are only outlined. Motivation has been low lately (as has free time).

[pulpcitizen]

Thanks for the information, Mr Moeller.

I hope the 'dead tree' version materialises sooner rather than later - I am interested enough to buy the book but I don't like PDFs, so I am waiting for the print version.

I hope that time and motivation return for you since it sounds as though you have invested a lot of work in this book. Good luck with any sequels you may produce.

Edited November 17, 2008 by leonmallett