299 lines
13 KiB
Plaintext
299 lines
13 KiB
Plaintext
:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
|
||
: Earth's Dreamlands : Info on: RPG's, :(313)558-5024 : area code :
|
||
:RPGNet World HQ & Archive: Drugs, Industrial :(313)558-5517 : changes to :
|
||
: 1000's of text files : music, Fiction, :InterNet : (810) after :
|
||
: No Elite / No porn : HomeBrew Beer. :rpgnet@aol.com: Dec 1,1993 :
|
||
:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
|
||
|
||
Chaosium Digest Volume 1, Number 10
|
||
Date: Monday, March 22, 1993
|
||
Number: 1 of 3
|
||
|
||
Contents:
|
||
|
||
Replies on Sanity (Matt Grossman) CALL OF CTHULHU
|
||
Queries on Elric! (Anthony Ragan) ELRIC!
|
||
Pendragon Fanzine (Heidi Kaye) PENDRAGON
|
||
Hero List (Heidi Kaye) PENDRAGON
|
||
The Siege of Castle Pennith [Part I] (Fergal Somers) PENDRAGON
|
||
|
||
Editor's Notes:
|
||
|
||
Sorry to take so long to get this set of digests out. My UUCP
|
||
connection has had continued problems, making it hard to send mail
|
||
from erzo. Hopefully, those problems should be clearing soon.
|
||
Tonight's digest is in three parts, mostly consisting of a long
|
||
PENDRAGON adventure, run at Gaelcon '92.
|
||
|
||
Heidi Kaye, who has some articles a bit further down, asked a few
|
||
questions concerning PENDRAGON. First, she wondered if anyone could
|
||
explain how the battle system works, commenting that the original
|
||
rules made little sense and seemed very impersonal. She went on to
|
||
say that there was little sense of actual damage to opponents. Heidi
|
||
said that a flow chart for a round of battle would be helpful, as
|
||
would any indication of how to make battles more exciting for PCs. If
|
||
anyone has any suggestions/comments/ideas on the battle system for
|
||
PENDRAGON, please send them in. I've seen some of the same problems
|
||
in running PENDRAGON battles (indeed, every time we run one, the rules
|
||
end up somewhat changed).
|
||
|
||
Heidi also mentioned that it was difficult to run a full length
|
||
campaign in the pre-Arthurian period of THE BOY KING due to the lack
|
||
of published adventures. She asks people to post more adventures set
|
||
in the 490-531 era, in particular 490-510. Heidi is trying to set the
|
||
tone of Britain as "warring kingdoms, invaded by marauding Saxons, in
|
||
the dark days after Uther's death." The Siege of Castle Pennith,
|
||
included in this issue as well as V1.11 and V1.12 will probably help
|
||
out somewhat. If anyone else has adventures, or even just short ideas
|
||
for adventures in THE BOY KING era, please send them in.
|
||
|
||
That's about it for this week. Hopefully, my UUCP will have
|
||
stabilized by next Sunday, so keep those submissions coming.
|
||
|
||
Shannon
|
||
|
||
--------------------
|
||
|
||
From: <MGROSSMAN@hamp.hampshire.edu>
|
||
Subject: Sanity Rules
|
||
In-reply-to: V1.9 Sanity RUles
|
||
System: Call of Cthulhu
|
||
|
||
Jan Engan made some good points about sanity, but I disagree with the
|
||
idea that gaining sanity for killing monsters is dumb. It seems to me
|
||
that it makes sense that, if what causes sanity loss upon seeing a
|
||
monster is its horrifying alien-ness, then killing the monster,
|
||
showing that it is, after all, just flesh and blood, should increase
|
||
the character's self-confidence, and therefore their sanity. Also,
|
||
characters are generally able to kill only the weakest monsters, so
|
||
any sanity they gain back will be minimal compared to what they might
|
||
lose upon, say, seeing Cthulhu. At any rate, I find that this works
|
||
well in my campaign, where wise players soon learn that outright
|
||
combat against monsters or cultists is not a good idea. Gaining back
|
||
three points of sanity for killing a Deep One just isn't worth it if
|
||
your leg gets ripped off or your friend killed in the process. So
|
||
far, I haven't had any problems with characters becoming powerful
|
||
sorcerors; in fact, I sometimes have a real problem keeping them sane
|
||
and alive long enough to advance the plot!
|
||
|
||
As for characters getting back sanity just by resting, this would work
|
||
in some circumstances, but not in others. For example, if the
|
||
characters know that while they are wandering through the peaceful
|
||
hills, the stars are slowly coming into the proper conjunctions and
|
||
the Atlantean High Priest Shar-Yugga is roaming the world again, their
|
||
sanity will probably go down, until they do something about the
|
||
threat. Generally, I prefer to maintain a very tense, harried
|
||
campaign enviroment in which stuff is happening all the time and the
|
||
characters have no time to rest, let alone regain sanity.
|
||
|
||
The caution about characters seeking a reputable psychoanalyst is
|
||
valid. In my current campaign, the characters are not seeking
|
||
psychiatric help (although some of them really need it) because they
|
||
do not think that an analyst would believe them. I have this image of
|
||
a CoC character going to an analyst:
|
||
|
||
Investigator (on couch): "...so that's when the tentacle came up
|
||
through the floor and got Bob, and Doc. I just haven't been able to
|
||
sleep well since then."
|
||
|
||
Analyst: "Really...(picking up phone and calling nearest Mental
|
||
Hospital)... come round quick...I got a live one here!"
|
||
|
||
Of course, this could lead to an adventure in which the characters
|
||
have to rescue their friend from the hospital, or an adventure with
|
||
the committed character discovering horrible goings-on in the insane
|
||
asylum. Maybe I should persuade them to see an analyst after all...
|
||
|
||
|
||
Matt Grossman
|
||
Hampshire College
|
||
mgrossman@hamp.hampshire.edu
|
||
|
||
--------------------
|
||
|
||
From: Anthony Ragan <ECZ5RAR@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU>
|
||
Subject: Queries on Elric!
|
||
In-reply-to: V1.8 Elric! and the Books
|
||
System: Elric!
|
||
|
||
I read Liam Routt's summation of the Elric magic rules with interest,
|
||
even though I'll admit to being one who's skeptical of a need to do a
|
||
Stormbringer revision so soon after the 4th appeared. (Or, has it
|
||
been that long already?) [I don't have the exact date handy, but SB4
|
||
has been out for at least 3 years -sda] I do have a couple of
|
||
questions, though, tied to demon summoning.
|
||
|
||
One of the reasons I bought 4th edition at all was that I had fallen
|
||
in love with the "chaos value-point" system. The design-a-demon
|
||
method is a kick, and giving the player and GM a share in its creation
|
||
is a piece of perverse genius. Is this method going to remain for
|
||
those few PC sorcerors the new system will allow? I certainly hope
|
||
so.
|
||
|
||
I'm also concerned about the previously-released supplements for 4th
|
||
edition Stormbringer. Several of them were of quite high quality and
|
||
I would hate to think that they will become obsolete upon the
|
||
publication of Elric (not to mention the money I spent on them). If
|
||
anyone at Chaosium reads this newsletter, please (!) include some
|
||
conversion notes.
|
||
|
||
--Anthony
|
||
ecz5rar@mvs.oac.ucla.edu
|
||
|
||
--------------------
|
||
|
||
From: Heidi Kaye
|
||
Subject: Pendragon Fanzine
|
||
System: Pendragon
|
||
|
||
Gareth Jones is starting a Pendragon zine called BEAUMAINS. Copies
|
||
are #1.75 and his address is:
|
||
|
||
69 Atherley Road
|
||
Shirley
|
||
Southampton
|
||
Hampshire
|
||
SO1 5DT
|
||
|
||
I am sure he would welcome contributions of articles and artwork.
|
||
|
||
--------------------
|
||
|
||
From: Heidi Kaye
|
||
Subject: Hero List
|
||
System: Pendragon
|
||
|
||
List of Pendragon characters' birth and death dates
|
||
|
||
Agravaine -563
|
||
Arthur 493-565
|
||
Balin 482-515
|
||
Elaine -562
|
||
Galahad 535-557
|
||
Gareth -563
|
||
Gawaine 495-564
|
||
Griflet 491-
|
||
Gwenever 497-573
|
||
Kay 488-564
|
||
Lamorak 494-552
|
||
Lancelot 508-573
|
||
Lot 470-513
|
||
Margawse 487-545
|
||
Marhaus 481-529
|
||
Merlin 454-522
|
||
Mordred 512-565
|
||
Morgan le Fay 484-
|
||
Pellinore 475-522
|
||
Sagremor 482-
|
||
Tristram 501-559
|
||
Yvaine 500-
|
||
|
||
--------------------
|
||
|
||
From: fergal somers <ftsomers@cs.tcd.ie>
|
||
Subject: The Siege of Castle Pennith [Part I : Background]
|
||
System: Pendragon
|
||
|
||
Here's the first Pendragon event held at Gaelcon, Ireland's national
|
||
games convention. It was intended to give new players (about a handful
|
||
of people in the country had seen the system) an introduction, so the
|
||
plot is quite linear - the characters are nice though. It was meant to
|
||
last about three hours.
|
||
|
||
Fergal
|
||
|
||
--
|
||
|
||
The Siege Of Castle Pennith
|
||
|
||
A Pendragon Event for Gaelcon'92
|
||
|
||
Copyright Fergal Somers July 1992
|
||
|
||
Notes
|
||
|
||
I've included relevant rolls where necessary. Feel free to ignore or
|
||
substitute other rolls as you see fit.
|
||
|
||
This adventure is non-standard for two reasons: (a) it is set before
|
||
Arthur becomes king, in the dark anarchist times of Saxon raids (b)
|
||
since it is set before Arthur, the chivalric ideal is not widespread.
|
||
This adventure is supposed to be dark in style. Britain has fallen
|
||
into warring factions, saxons are invading and peasants are
|
||
mistreated. These are the grim and nasty dark ages where power is
|
||
everything. Mysterious ground fog, unholy dark woods and that sort of
|
||
thing should set the tone of the adventure, essentially the opposite
|
||
of the bright coloured tents and pavilions, shining knights and
|
||
chivalric courtesy that will characterise the reign of Arthur. In
|
||
addition, the characters are not evenly designed. Good roleplaying
|
||
opportunities exist between the characters Ieuan and Domicus. Rivalry
|
||
also exists between Gwair and Robert; Amig and Peter are there to
|
||
prohibit the party from dividing into factions.
|
||
|
||
Honourable Mentions
|
||
|
||
Pendragon is not a competition game, it is a roleplaying game, thus
|
||
there are no winners or losers. There will however be honourable
|
||
mentions for players whose actions during the course of the adventure
|
||
are memorable. One method of gauging this is the number of traits and
|
||
passions experience checks. So, during this scenario, we relax the
|
||
rules on traits and passions. Whenever a character acts spontaneously,
|
||
tick the relevant guiding trait/passion. These will provide a basis
|
||
from which to discuss who deserves honourable mentions.
|
||
|
||
Characters:
|
||
Sir Amig Young knight of Silchester
|
||
Sir Robert Veteran knight of Silchester
|
||
Sir Gwair Veteran knight/courtier of Silchester
|
||
Sir Domicus Exile in service at Windsor
|
||
Sir Peter Knight of Windsor
|
||
Sir Ieuan Exile knight errant
|
||
|
||
Background
|
||
|
||
King Uther Pendragon, sick and tethered to his horse, finally defeated
|
||
the Saxon invaders at the terrible battle of St. Albans; but he's dead
|
||
now, poisoned some say, and Britain's shores once again are prey to
|
||
Saxon raids. The country cries out for a King, but no heir comes to
|
||
claim the throne. Portsmouth was the first to fall, then the Saxon
|
||
Cedric took all of Wessex. Some say that all of Salisbury will soon
|
||
fall also. Duke Ulfius, Uther's old friend and advisor rallies men
|
||
around him to battle the Saxon horde. Knights arrive at Silchester
|
||
daily to swell the ranks, but never enough; many lords, lacking a King
|
||
to guide them, look to their own affairs and their own lands. These
|
||
are bad times for Englishmen: land squabbles set knight against
|
||
knight, lord against lord; Saxon raiders advance ever inward; and
|
||
strange tales are heard of terrible faerie powers of Saxon raiders in
|
||
the South.
|
||
|
||
Character Summaries
|
||
|
||
Sir Domicus and Sir Peter of Windsor have been ordered to offer their
|
||
aid to Duke Ulfius, by their Lord, Sir Herringdale (a loyal supporter
|
||
of the Duke). Sir Domicus is an exile, his homeland having been
|
||
overrun by Saxons. He passionately hates Saxons and sees this as a
|
||
trip as a possible means to reap revenge. Sir Peter is obsessed with
|
||
chivalric purity and morality, but his intentions are better than his
|
||
practice of it. They are joined by Sir Amig, Sir Robert and Sir Gwair
|
||
all household knights of Duke Ulfius who are being sent to Castle
|
||
Pennith as reinforcements against expected raids on this clifftop
|
||
stronghold. Sir Peter and Sir Domicus and have been asked to
|
||
accompany them. Sir Robert is a veteran old knight who lives somewhat
|
||
in the past and sees his role as keeping the others in line. Sir Amig
|
||
is young and recently knighted. He has overdosed on folktales of
|
||
knightly derring-do, something which is far removed from the gritty
|
||
reality of an England falling apart. Sir Gwair is the typical court
|
||
advisor, slimy and underhand with an overriding sense of
|
||
self-preservation. They are also joined by Sir Ieuan, a knight errant
|
||
who took-up Duke Ulfius' call to battle, but who tires of the waiting
|
||
and planning at Silchester and wishes for adventure. Sir Ieuan was
|
||
kidnapped and brought up as a Saxon until he was allowed to search for
|
||
his real parents. Though he found his family, he was never fully
|
||
accepted by them and now works essentially as a mercenary knight, with
|
||
no particular sentiments or deeply held loyalties.
|
||
|
||
--------------------
|
||
|
||
The Chaosium Digest is a Discussion Forum for Chaosium Games which do
|
||
not have another specific area for discussion. To submit an article,
|
||
mail to: appel@erzo.berkeley.edu |