tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5621016516937695074.post5018485088419209412..comments2024-03-16T06:00:04.833-04:00Comments on Sham's Grog 'n Blog: REH, Pulp and MeSham aka Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329116400656617173noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5621016516937695074.post-39670841152600326322008-05-15T15:11:00.000-04:002008-05-15T15:11:00.000-04:00I doubt I'll ever play ZeFRS either. But between ...I doubt I'll ever play ZeFRS either. But between that, and Mongoose's Conan, and Dr. Samsara's Swords of Fortune project, and the idea of prepped spells "leaking" power, I feel I'm getting closer to a notion of magic that is both wondrous and dangerous.<BR/><BR/>- Briantrollsmythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01895349218958093151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5621016516937695074.post-34298540019872660592008-05-15T14:50:00.000-04:002008-05-15T14:50:00.000-04:00Thanks for the comment. The internet certainly mak...Thanks for the comment. The internet certainly makes you feel less and less like a special, unique butterfly, doesn't it?<BR/><BR/>*Ahem* Not that I ever felt that way...<BR/><BR/>ZeFRS. Will I ever actually use it? Probably not. Maybe I can yoink some ideas from it. It's a very well done community project, nevertheless.<BR/><BR/>~ShamSham aka Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14329116400656617173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5621016516937695074.post-49499218006034195852008-05-15T14:35:00.000-04:002008-05-15T14:35:00.000-04:00Both Kull and ZeFRS are topics I've visited lately...Both Kull and ZeFRS are topics I've visited lately. I read Kull a few years ago when Baen published their REH library of non-Conan material, and I purchased and read Kull: Exile of Atlantis a couple of months ago - oddly enough around the same time I downloaded, printed, and bound ZeFRS. It's not a perfect system, but it looks perfectly serviceable with a little TLC from a competent GM.<BR/><BR/>Game on, dog-brothers!Jack Badelairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10932441028544500024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5621016516937695074.post-77086845648946414182008-05-14T17:21:00.000-04:002008-05-14T17:21:00.000-04:00"The key, I think, to Sword & Sorcery is the natur..."The key, I think, to Sword & Sorcery is the nature of the characters and their conflict with the world. Most specifically, the universe being a vast and uncaring place."<BR/><BR/>Perfect. Man stands alone in my No Future setting idea. I suppose the underworld could still be some mysterious link to the past, even more so now. See, you've got me talking again, and considering it more and more. It probably wouldn't require too much cleaning up.<BR/><BR/>The whimsical fantasy needs to go, though...to be replaced by spiteful, greedy fae who see Man only as a reminder of their own dark past and their dwindling power upon this world.<BR/><BR/>Instead of helpful sprites or carefree pixies, these malicious fae are twisted, tormented shells of their former selves, driven insane by participating in fell rites in an effort to rediscover the old magic of Solstice. Addicted to the Rites of the Black Circle, seeking fresh blood to lure into the clutches of the fanatical worshippers of the Trembling Terror.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I can work with that.<BR/><BR/>You've got me itching to reread my Elric books!<BR/><BR/>~ShamSham aka Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14329116400656617173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5621016516937695074.post-17751452555235288922008-05-14T16:34:00.000-04:002008-05-14T16:34:00.000-04:00Man Stands Alone. But what about the Monsters...wu...<I>Man Stands Alone. But what about the Monsters...wuld there still be Goblins and Orcs? </I><BR/><BR/>Man stands alone against the supernatural. So why not?<BR/><BR/>The Elric stories are certain Sword & Sorcery, but they break a lot of the "rules". Elric's no blue-collar rebel, but the emperor of a decadent empire. He's no brutish sword-swinger who is confident in his own strength, but a thin-blooded, vacillating sorcerer who must rely on drugs, magic and his cursed sword just for the strength to jog around the block. And his foes are as likely to be supernatural beasties as they are to be garden-variety humans. <BR/><BR/>Sword & Sorcery can embrace a wide variety of milieus. There's no reason the world can't be full of elves and dwarves and wizards, or even bipedal toads and dancing mushrooms. The key, I think, to Sword & Sorcery is the nature of the characters and their conflict with the world. Most specifically, the universe being a vast and uncaring place. This is usually seen most blatantly in the danger of supernatural powers, either as foes or as magic. <BR/><BR/>Which is to say, I think you could set a game during the high age of Melnibone, and have the PCs all be Elric's noble ancestors, and still have the game be true to Sword & Sorcery if the magic they wield is dangerous and the world they live in is callous and unconcerned with their desires or survival. Nothing is given to the Sword & Sorcery "hero" and they must wrest, by strength of sinew and wit, all they will from the world.<BR/><BR/>- Briantrollsmythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01895349218958093151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5621016516937695074.post-70858805388767267792008-05-14T14:47:00.000-04:002008-05-14T14:47:00.000-04:00Thanks for the comments.@Brian: I won't Mess with ...Thanks for the comments.<BR/><BR/>@Brian: I won't Mess with Texas!<BR/><BR/>@TD: Another kindred spirit!<BR/><BR/>Just kidding about TX. I've been to Dallas, and I understand that Austin is the place to be out there. Just keep researching that Teleport spell and we'll have a campaign going in no time. Oh, and bring some real Tex/Mex food with ya!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the book tips. I'll add those to my list.<BR/><BR/>I would really like to move away from the Tolkien feel in my setting as well. It's a lot of work, though. Or, a lot of wasted work, depending upon how you look at it. <BR/><BR/>My biggest problem is that most of my recent labors have gone into my mega dungeon, and it has a certain high fantasy feel to it. I'd have to take the proverbial wrecking ball to it in order to use it in a low magic S&S setting. <BR/><BR/>Although the more I talk about it, I might end up moving in that direction. <BR/><BR/>Man Stands Alone. But what about the Monsters...wuld there still be Goblins and Orcs? <BR/><BR/>More things to ponder for a future post.<BR/><BR/>~ShamSham aka Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14329116400656617173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5621016516937695074.post-34711848097225912352008-05-14T14:35:00.000-04:002008-05-14T14:35:00.000-04:00Wow, must be the alignment of the stars. I have be...Wow, must be the alignment of the stars. I have been re-reading the Howard stories myself and just downloaded the ZEFRS rules the other day too. <BR/><BR/>I want something without the fantasy races, more primal and dark. Good stuff.Mike D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13199531732115178349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5621016516937695074.post-77954670189061991562008-05-14T14:04:00.000-04:002008-05-14T14:04:00.000-04:00Damn it, what are you doing living on the east coa...Damn it, what are you doing living on the east coast? Move to Texas so we can game! ;D<BR/><BR/>Seriously, that same vibe keeps creeping into my gaming. Magic as dangerous and otherworldly, the nations of the world rising and falling as barbarians conquer civilization, succumb to its decadence, and are in turn conquered by a new wave of barbarians, and greedy "heroes" eager to fill their purses, and are not afraid to shed a bit of blood in the doing of it. More and more, my kingdoms are shrinking in size, until some are mere city-states. My elves are turning into Melniboneans. My magic items are tricksy things, and demand payment for their powers. <BR/><BR/>If you haven't yet, I'd also suggest picking up Wagner's <I>Dark Crusade</I>. I'm also enjoying Joel Rosenberg's later Guardians of the Flame novels. I just finished <I>Not Quite Scaramouche</I> which, in spite of its title, has a wonderfully gritty feel to it. <BR/><BR/>- Briantrollsmythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01895349218958093151noreply@blogger.com