terje
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Post by terje on Oct 7, 2010 6:12:20 GMT -6
Yes, GDW, I got them mixed up somehow.
Thanks for the link to the Fantasy Atlas, really neat!
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terje
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Post by terje on Oct 6, 2010 16:29:20 GMT -6
I think Brackett's Mars (and Venus) was one of the most important sources of inspiration for WEG's charming Space 1889 rpg.
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Post by terje on Oct 5, 2010 7:21:13 GMT -6
In my eyes Leigh Brackett is the single best author in the planetary romance / sword and planet genre. Its thrilling pulp adventures just like those written by Burroughs and the other boys but Brackett has a really enchanting language that makes her stories set on Mars, Venus and the extra-solar Skaith stand out from the rest. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_BrackettA quick search on Amazon will give you many titles to choose from.
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Post by terje on Sept 29, 2010 15:01:12 GMT -6
Ok now Lepännen has updated his site with the last two episodes of Xellana book 1.
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Post by terje on Sept 29, 2010 14:29:22 GMT -6
Yes, Leigh Bracketts Mars stories are superb. To me they are without a doubt the best that has been written in the genre. And they are close enough to Barsoom to serve as a source for burroughs-esque marsian gaming.
Also, Otis Adelbert Kline has written two mars adventures in the burroughs tradition.
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Post by terje on Sept 23, 2010 9:17:39 GMT -6
Argh, I just realised that the two last episodes are not yet on his site (I know that the story is finished since its been published in a swedish comic). I sent him a message asking when he might make the remaining parts available, just so he knows that he's got interested readers.
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Post by terje on Sept 23, 2010 7:31:42 GMT -6
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Post by terje on Jul 30, 2010 3:25:16 GMT -6
I just watched the episode "Mission of the Darians" of Space 1999 (e09s01) and was struck by how very close it came to Metamorphosis Alpha. The crew of Moonbase Alpha encounters a gigantic spacecraft floating in the interstellar void and in response to a distress call a team enters the vessel. Aboard they find that the majority of the spacecrafts humanoid passangers have reverted to barbarism following a catastrophy hundreds of years ago, only a small group of the Darians have retained some manner of civilisation. But as the Alphans investigate the Darian generationship they uncover a horrible secret.
Space 1999 is quite cheesy by contemporary standards (kind of like Star Trek ToS) but its often great fun to watch, and I really recommend that you have a look at this episode if you like Metamorphosis Alpha. It sure got me in the mood to play some MA!
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Post by terje on Apr 23, 2010 11:10:54 GMT -6
Yes, A Jakallan Intrigue is for EPT, and I am pretty sure that The Tomb Complex is as well. A Jakallan Intrigue is very much about social interaction (and, obviously, intrigue!), The Tomb seems to be your basic dungeon.
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Post by terje on Mar 19, 2010 8:43:38 GMT -6
Thats a useful and inspiring compilation, I adore the cover art! And thanks to all the contributors who wrote all that great stuff!
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Post by terje on Sept 15, 2009 8:23:22 GMT -6
Currently I am reading Alastair Reynolds "Pushing Ice" which is a very good hard (-ish) SF novell about a crew of "comet herders" (or what ever one should call them, they harvest comets for industrial use) who are sent on a mission to investigate why Saturns moon Janus has left its orbit and is speeding out of the solar system.
Besides this I'm also reading Abraham Merrits "Dwellers in the Mirage" which is fairly good, though so far I'm not enjoying it as much as "The Metal Monster", however the stuff about the Kal'Khru is cosmic horror of fine quality.
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Post by terje on Sept 3, 2009 6:15:51 GMT -6
Another great issue! Thank you Cal for all the work!
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Post by terje on Jun 17, 2009 12:25:40 GMT -6
Memory philtre An alchemical concoction of black and jale lotus, if a deceased brain is liquefied in it and consumed the memories of the dead person can be acquired. There is a slight risk that the brew will bring permanent madness (5%) or even death (2%), but despite this the receipt for the memory philtre is sought by many eager sorcerers who can not wait to partake of their master’s knowledge.
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Post by terje on Jun 15, 2009 15:37:41 GMT -6
dubeers, you are very welcome to use my two npcs. Here are their numbers:
Yleen Viele, neutral Banisher ST: 13, IN: 15, WS: 12, DX: 13, CN: 13, CH: 15
Yarmo, Mongra and Khum, neutral Swordsmen ST: 16, IN: 11, WS: 8, DX: 14, CN: 16, CH: 13
Draahn, lawful Myrmidon ST: 15, IN: 18, WS: 18, DX: 15, CN: 15, CH: 11
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Post by terje on Jun 12, 2009 13:07:33 GMT -6
I really like this setting, any chance we will see it in Carcosa Grimoire II?
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Post by terje on Jun 1, 2009 14:16:01 GMT -6
Hey Doc thats great! A very complex and intriguing character. I like your poetic language.
Here's two npc's I wrote a few weeks ago:
Yleen Viele is a neutral Purple female Banisher. She has long black hair, wears black chain mail and red robes. The sorceress fights with a sword and a microwave pulse pistol. Yleen knows the following sorcerous rituals: The Lurker amidst the Obsidian Ruins, Banish the Nighted Essence, Canticle of the Crawling God. Yleen is on a quest for revenge against Draahn who slew her mate Xylarthen. She aims to conjure and bind the Lurker amidst the Obsidian Ruins and send that horror upon Draahn. Now she is travelling to hex 1807 to look for a certain sigiled black plate armor that she believes will show her the secrets of the ritual of the Primal Formula of the Dweller. The sorceress is always accompanied by her three lovers / bodyguards: Yarmo, Mongra and Khum. These three men are actually clones of Yleen’s departed mate Xylarthen, created with Space Alien tech. They all look nearly identical, being tall and brawny, with shaven heads, their purple skin glistening with oil. They wear chainmail and carry swords. They are all quite subjugated to the sorceress and follow her command fanatically. The three bodyguards are all Swordsmen.
Draahn is a red lawful Myrmidon with psionic powers. He has short black hair, black beard and wears a golden plate mail and carries a sword and a mace. Draahn has sworn an oath to be a nemesis of all servants of the Great Old Ones and around his waist hangs scalps from slain sorcerers. Draahn has ten lawful Veterans in his service and keeps Lon, a Conjuror, as a slave. Lon knows several banishing rituals (Banishment of the Lightless Chasm, Cast into the Icy Vacuum, Dispelling of the Primordial Flow, Litany of the Lightless Sea) which is why Draahn finds him useful. Draahn demands that his fighters keep away from sorcerers, disobedience is swiftly punished by death. A year ago he was forced to execute his long time friend Xylarthen who consorted with the sorceress Yleen Viele. He now seeks to find and kill the sorceress that lured his friend from the true path.
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Post by terje on May 22, 2009 13:08:28 GMT -6
Hey Calithena, dont rush it. Your work has been really good in previous issues, so I'd prefer that you took what time it takes. And you shouldnt have to work your self to death over this, it should be fun too! Now, having said that I'm really looking forward to the new issue!
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terje
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Post by terje on May 1, 2009 15:38:34 GMT -6
Very cool! I didnt think monks would fit with carcosa but you have proven me wrong. They are a suitably creepy lot.
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Post by terje on Apr 29, 2009 8:17:32 GMT -6
Cool! NPC's are necessary to make any setting come alive and these where great. Extra pulp-points for the earth man displaced in space and time.
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Post by terje on Apr 16, 2009 15:53:32 GMT -6
EnslaverThis is a microorganism that infects the brain of humans and turns them into raging beasts. I like it - but I think 'Enslaved One' is a better name for the victim. partly because it's more distinct from the name of the organism. Yes I agree, thats a better name! Glad you liked it. I was thinking of zombies, but of the virus-variety (especially as portrayed in 28 days later and Resident evil) rather than the magical undead.
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Post by terje on Mar 2, 2009 14:37:57 GMT -6
Impressive work! The preview looks great!
When do you think the pdf will be available?
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Post by terje on Feb 24, 2009 16:29:48 GMT -6
I really liked the House on the Borderlands, but has not yet been able to get through the Night Land. And yes in my case it is the pseudo-antiquated language that puts me off, though the world of the night land is fascinating. Have you seen the anthologies with short stories set in the Night Land? They are available from this site: www.thenightland.co.uk
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Post by terje on Feb 22, 2009 6:59:48 GMT -6
This is really cool! Your idea is close to the Sorcerer roleplaying game where the pc's gain access to powers by making deals with demons.
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Post by terje on Feb 4, 2009 13:28:09 GMT -6
On my way home from work today my mind received inspiring transmissions from Carcosa – this is what came through:
Yix’Caahl This Great Old One is a ten feet tall biped with six arms and neither head nor face. Its body is composed of ruby red crystal and from within its depths shines a soft vermillion glow. Yix’Caahl lives by consuming the spiritual substance of sentient beings. It only needs to touch its victims skin to suck its spirit out unless the target makes a saving throw against Dragon Breath. If the attack is successful the victims body dies instantly. Within the Great Old Ones crystal body one can see the tormented faces of the spirits that are currently trapped within its digestive system. One soul will give Yix’Caahl nourishment for one week. If it has not found a new prey after that period it will go into a state of torpor where it will be completely immobile until some curious fool lays his or her hand upon it. Yix’Caahl retains all memories from all spirits that it has eaten and therefore possesses knowledge of many things. It is quite willing to give truthful answers to any questions in return for sacrifice, one sentient being per question. It only takes half damage from normal weapons but magical and high tech weapons make their usual damage. AC 1 Move 12 HD 25
Enslaver This is a microorganism that infects the brain of humans and turns them into raging beasts. The disease spreads through body fluids, such as blood and saliva, often through wounds. Anyone who is hurt by the bite of an Enslaved must make a saving throw against Poison or be infected. That is one saving throw for every hit that does damage. An Enslaved will lose control over his or her own body and turn into a feral predator that attacks all other humans encountered. The transformation starts within an hour after being infected and rarely takes more than five minutes. The victim retains consciousness and can control facial expressions and speech. Enslaved humans will often cry out for help or try to warn their victims and tell them to run away. After a week or two the face becomes devoid of expression, the eyes become empty and nothing but growling and whimpering rises from the throat. The Enslaved have the same values as ordinary humans.
If healing magic (or technology) is available in the campaign an Enslaved can be cured by a spell or device or potion equivalent with Cure Disease. It is likely that the possibility to save the Enslaved will make it a whole lot worse when one is being attacked by them.
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terje
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Post by terje on Feb 3, 2009 13:44:00 GMT -6
Just finished Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space trilogy, great space opera! Yesterday I began to read Greg Bears City at the End of Time.
I've also recently ordered the first three volumes of the collected fantasies of CAS and A Merritts The Face in the Abyss and Dwellers in the Mirage.
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Post by terje on Jan 31, 2009 18:24:14 GMT -6
Wow, really neat! I like the illustrations.
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Post by terje on Jan 27, 2009 9:41:41 GMT -6
I will probably get the pdf within 24h and as soon as I get the necessary spare time (perhaps this weekend) I will use it to flesh out the mega-dungeon of my current Red Box d&d campaign.
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Post by terje on Jan 27, 2009 7:50:00 GMT -6
I've just bought How to host a Dungeon (but havent got it yet) and I'm wondering if anyone has tried it. Was it fun? Did it result in dungeons that were fun to play in? I like how it seems to help you create dungeons with rich layers of history.
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Post by terje on Jan 23, 2009 1:42:36 GMT -6
Thank you for your answers!
dwayanu - that is exactly what i was looking for. I will make a similar list of skills for tribesmen (hunting, herb lore, animal empathy, healer, etc).
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Post by terje on Jan 22, 2009 10:40:29 GMT -6
So, I recently bought the MA 1E pdf and have just begun to read it. I'm thinking of running a short campaign or at least a one shot. But I'm not sure if I have missed some parts of the rules.
There are no rules of character advancement?
In the character sheets that are in the book there is mention of skills, but I cant find anything relating to that in the actual rules text. I'm guessing this works like many of the skills in EPT - they are binary, either you can perform that kind of action (and you are always succesfull) or you cant. Is that right?
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