JAM TALES OF THE GLORANTHA TRADING ASSOCIATION Winter's Grip (January, 2004)
Greetings to Observers of the Glorantha Trading Association. In the throes of winter, All hope for an early Spring. Hail to Elmal and the Torch Gifts. Gather 'round the coals and hearken to the word on Glorantha, Issaries Inc., its partner publishers, and GTA activity. Welcome new members in from the cold; thanks again to those who contribute their hidden stores that the Tribe may survive another season of darkness.
You receive this newsletter as a member of the GTA, and you
manage how you receive GTA messages. Set a password, enter your
email address for GTA mailings, and set or reset your mailing
preferences at <http://www.rpglist.org/mailman/listinfo/gta-observer>.
For instructions on changing your email address and detail, see
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/gta/manage_email.html>. On
upgrading your GTA membership, check <www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/gta>.
The GTA and Issaries Inc. will never sell or give away your email
address or personal information.
Herein you'll find tales about:
Heroes, Dragons, and More Heroes
Coming Soon
Gloranthan Art Competition
And Speaking of Contests
Best of Glorantha 2003
GTA Membership Update
Spoken Words from Issaries
Virtual Scrolls -- PDFs Galore
HeroQuestions Answered!
We'll Be At Dundracon, Will You?
The Latest on (Other) Conventions
Gloranthan Licenses: Withered Vines and New Growth
A Partnership: Issaries and the RHQN
Short Takes
Quick Plugs
Parting Shot
HEROES, DRAGONS, AND MORE HEROES
Three great things since the last Tales: Hero's Book in October;
Dragon Pass at the beginning of December; and Masters of Luck and
Death should be arriving in stores now! Detail on Gloranthan Goodies
provided by Stephen Martin:
Mark Galeotti's HERO'S BOOK is a quick start guide to the world of
HeroQuest and its rules. The first half includes character creation,
contests and the like, theist magic, and an introduction to play.
The second half outlines Heortlings and Lunars -- their lifestyles,
cultures, and gods, with 6 pre-generated characters and a sample
hero band for each.
Hero's Book, Playing in the Hero Wars
Product Number ISS 1002.
ISBN 1-929052-13-8.
64 pages, standard format, $12.95.
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/1002.html>
Now out is DRAGON PASS: LAND OF THUNDER details the lands, myths, and
history of Dragon Pass, the heart of Glorantha. Much in this gazetteer
is new, thanks to Ian Cooper's inspired mining of Greg's writings and
compilation of works from other Gloranthan luminaries to form the
definitive record of Kerofinela. With it is Wesley Quadros' stunning
and information-packed full-color map of the region. This books'
stunning artwork includes new pieces by legendary artist William Church.
Dragon Pass, Land of Thunder (A Gazetteer to Kerofinela)
Product Number ISS 1502.
ISBN 1-929052-18-9.
72 pages, standard format, $22.95.
Includes an 11" x 17" full-color map.
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/1502.html>
The newest book is just out! MASTERS OF LUCK AND DEATH collects hero
bands gathered and edited by Stephen Martin. Here is 'something for
every purpose' -- 27 groups who might be encountered in Dragon Pass
(and beyond), from Teshnan dancers to Orlanthi rebels, Lunar
missionaries to Grazer warriors. Included are a few old favorites
such as the Temple of the Wooden Sword and Geo's Inn, others that
until now have just been given passing mention like the lofty Comet
Seers, and many that are completely new.
Masters of Luck and Death, Hero Bands for the Hero Wars
Product Number ISS1303.
ISBN 1-929052-17-0.
72 pages, standard format, $15.95.
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/1303.html>
COMING SOON
Glorantha lovers will find more great books in 2004, says acquisitions
editor Mark Galeotti:
The third volume in the Sartar Rising scenario arc, GATHERING THUNDER,
is due in April. The Empire has been hurt, but not defeated. The rebels
must quickly find new allies and magics if they are to stand any chance
of defeating the Empire's latest stratagem, the construction of a new
Temple of the Reaching Moon to bring all of Dragon Pass under the
Glowline. This book culminates in the epic Boatraising, as heroes
accompany Kallyr herself on a mighty heroquest to reshape the skies.
This book is currently in final editing.
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/1403.html>
The second volume of the Imperial Lunar Handbook, UNDER THE RED MOON,
should come with midsummer. Long-awaited, it studies the Lunar Way and
provides players and narrators with more information on Lunar politics,
philosophy, and perspectives than has ever been dreamed of. Included are
a huge array of magical keywords: from familiar aspects of the Moon
Herself to new gods as Grim UrGethru, regimental deity of the 2nd
Household Foot; and Borovich of Derfik, the experimental heroquester.
This book is almost ready for final editing.
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/1304.html>
This Fall should see publication of THE WORLD OF GLORANTHA, a 64 page book by Mark Galeotti. Issaries aims to set out the essentials of Glorantha, a world still wide open for adventure and fun while full of rich and intricate plots, creeds, and cultures. This will be an introductory work that provides enough basic information for play without burying the novice under a deluge of detail.
No mere reprint of Glorantha: Introduction to the Hero Wars, The World of
Glorantha gives players and narrators alike a fresh look at the ancient
world of Glorantha. Each section focuses on the upcoming great events of
the Hero Wars and how they affect the lands and people of Glorantha, both
near and far. Several plots, conspiracies, and struggles are revealed for
the first time in this book. Each 2-page spread also has a "cool box"
that will discuss some interesting subject related to that spread -- and
again, we are not just be rehashing old information here. The Spirit
Mountains of Kimos, hidden secrets of the Blue Moon Plateau, and the War
for the Center are just a few of the subjects brought to light in this
book. A tentative table of contents is available at
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/1105.html>, which will be updated
from time to time.
Rolling Along...
Later but "on the list" are MEN OF THE SEA: SAILING THE SEAS OF GLORANTHA
(the player's book for sailors) and LORDS OF THE WEST, VOLUME 1: HEIRS OF
MALKION (an overview of the West linking to ILH-1). Work also continues
on DRAGONRISE (Sartar Rising, Volume 4) and several other player's books,
see <http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/future-plans.html> for a summary.
For these, no schedule can yet be meaningful.
GLORANTHAN ART COMPETITION
Another artistic venture, presented by acquisitions editor Mark Galeotti:
Delighted by the art competition for the Imperial Lunar Handbook, Issaries asks what might the Gloranthan Tribe do with a wider canvas. To answer that question, we offer a new competition for illustrations in The World of Glorantha.
We want to see distinctive but everyday artifacts and symbols of the
cultures and peoples of Glorantha, not vignettes or great tableaux. Send in
relatively small black line drawings of things like statues and seals, pots
and plows, knives and necklaces, swords and scroll-tubes, coins and combs,
and all the other impedimenta of daily life. Ultimately, we are looking for
well-drawn pictures that not only look good but that also illustrate
something about the culture or religion of some part of Glorantha. For an
idea of the areas of Glorantha that the book will cover, See
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/1105.html>
Read the rules at <www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/contest_1105.html>
carefully,
as submissions that do not conform will automatically be disqualified.
Deadline for entry is March 31, 2004, and as before all entries become the property of Issaries, Inc. One or more winning entries will be included in The World of Glorantha; each winning artist will receive credit and a contributor copy of the book. We will announce the winner in a GTA Dispatch and on the web site. Illustrations may also be used on the Issaries website, or in future books (with due credit and contributor copies).
AND SPEAKING OF CONTESTS
More on the latest contest from Stephen Martin. Remember: if you enter
contests like these you need to include your full name and mailing address,
and don't mix other correspondence with a contest entry. Otherwise your
entry may be ignored.
Old Business: Something for Everyone, HEROFORMING
Issaries received 17 submissions from 8 contestants for the Heroforming
contest. Overall, they are probably the best crop of competition entries
yet.
(Does this reflect how much fun character generation can be in HeroQuest?)
And what mysterious reason is behind so many of the submitted heroes having
"strands of silver in dark hair"?. Great job, all! Here are the winners:
1st Place: PARMAL CANDEL, by Bradley "Brand" Robins, which was among the Top Five of all of the judges.
2nd Place tie: CHOLARA (by Matthieu Vall�e) and LLYWEL TATHAN (by Bradley "Brand" Robins) as each appeared in four out of five judges' Top Five lists.
Completed character sheets will be available for the three winners soon at
<www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/support/sample-heroes.html>. (Additional heroes will
follow as Issaries volunteer Dave Camoirano has time.) Issaries will send
Brand and Matthieu each a copy of Hero's Book.
Nearly New Business: HEROIC TALES Competition Winners, from Newt Newport:
The judges for the Ring of HeroQuest Narrators have convened to announce:
1st Place: "The Knight of Ghosts and Shadows" by Bradley "Brand" Robins, who received Dragon Pass as his prize;
2nd Place: "Chef of Iron" by Guy Hoyle, who received the Lunar Empire map;
3rd Place: "What Child is This?" by Harald Smith, who received a copy of Hero's Book;
Honorable mention goes to James Frusetta (aka Jamuz) for a last minute
attempt
to swamp the completion with "Uz Tales" :)
Thanks to all the entrants. It really has been fun and a pleasure to read
all
your entries. Even though the competition is now over we are still accepting
submissions and the section will be updated on a monthly basis. To read
these
(and all the other entries), visit <www.rhqn.com>.
New Business: HEROQUESTING OBSERVERS.
The winners of the last GTA Observers drawing were Graham James and
Barale-Thomas. They each received a copy of HeroQuest.
As usual, the next Observer drawing starts immediately. This time, Issaries
is donating two copies of Masters of Luck and Death! Twenty-seven hero bands
chock full of new and old favorites, this is Stephen's personal favorite of
all Issaries books, past or present. On March 1st, Issaries will select two
non-paid GTA observers at random from the entrees received by midnight PST
on
Leap Day: February 29, 2004. (Please remember to include OBSERVER CONTEST in
the subject line.)
If you know someone who would like to keep up on all happenings Gloranthan,
and maybe score a free prize sometime, have them contact us at
<gta_at_...> so that we can add them to the list of Observers. Or
just
send them to <http://www.rpglist.org/mailman/listinfo/gta-observer> to add
themselves!)
BEST OF GLORANTHA 2003
Voting is now open for the Best of Glorantha 2003! We got a jump on the
process
this year, so nominations are actually done! Go to
<www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/gta/best2003.html> for more information.
As before, the Best of Glorantha 2003 recognizes the finest current efforts
to further Glorantha and HeroQuest. If you want to get in on the process,
you
still have time: join the GTA as an initiate or other paid member before the
February 15 deadline and you will be able to vote, too! Go to
<www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/gta> for more information on the GTA and the Best of
Glorantha awards.
GTA MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
The ever growing GTA Tribe welcomes newcomers. Currently the GTA has 2
Demi-Gods,
36 Heroes, 46 Runemasters, and 178 Initiates, for a total of 262 members
(surely
that is a mystical number?). There are also over 800 Observers. If you know
anyone else who might want to join the Glorantha Tribe, have them contact
us.
New Initiates: Gerald Bosch, Tanner Critz, Frederic Dumont, Rob Heinsoo.
The hero bands are gathering for war, and although most of the tribe has
responded to the call, some renowned members have failed to show. Without
them,
the bands are seriously understrength. If you know of a working email for
any of
the following GTA members, please send it to <gta_at_...> or ask
them to
contact us:
Britt Daniel Michael Hill Brian Isikoff
Al Petterson Michael Pose Phil Posehn
Andrew Reichart Dom "Thazar" Twist
Don Walli Michael Zaitz
We have names but no good email addresses for several anonymous members,
too (a
heroquester can never be too careful, after all). Unless you keep your
contact
information current, if you are an anonymous member you will regularly miss
out
on PASSWORD DISTRIBUTIONS, special offers, and all sorts of insider stuff.
Even
if you are not an anonymous member you may miss out, as the repeat
appearances
of some of the above names shows.
SPOKEN WORDS FROM ISSARIES: EVENT LIAISONS
The last couple of years have been a time of change for Issaries, so
convention
and demonstration support has been less than hoped. Issaries staff simply
had to
focus first on core business needs like getting product out, and so did not
have
time or energy for events that they deserved. With the release of
HeroQuest, the
consolidation of our product line, and the great proselytizing work by many,
Issaries can now improve the situation.
We are pleased to say that, following our link-up with the SJG Men In Black
program, see <http://www.sjgames.com/mib/>, Issaries is now putting its
support
for demonstration games at conventions and stores on a new footing by
appointing
two new Event Liaisons. Paul 'Newt' Newport, leading light behind the RHQN,
and
stalwart champion Roderick Robertson will be stepping forward as
UK/European and
North American Liaisons, respectively.
Roderick and Newt will coordinate Issaries and HeroQuest promotion in the
world
at large. Although the exact responsibilities will be announced at greater
length
in the near future, their basic goal is to help bring awareness of
HeroQuest and
Glorantha to as many people as possible, with an eye towards convincing
them that
they must go out and buy all of our products! They will receive requests
from
conventions for support and send appropriate materials, coordinate
demonstrations
for conventions and game stores, and work with the Men In Black (of which
both
are members). While we expect all official demo work to take place under the
auspices of the MIB program, Newt and Roderick are your first points of
contact
if you want to learn more about demonstrating HeroQuest, even if you have no
plans to join the MIB.
Roderick and Newt are seeking individuals now to run HeroQuest games both
locally and at larger conventions, and can be reached at
<events_at_...>.
Narrators are encouraged to join the Men In Black so that they can receive
direct rewards for their work. However, this is not required, and we plan to
offer support material to anyone who wants to play or promote HeroQuest.
SPOKEN WORDS FROM ISSARIES: FAN SUBMISSION COORDINATOR
Issaries is also pleased to announce that all-around stand-up guy Nick Eden
has
accepted the job of being the coordinator for fan submissions to the
Issaries
web site. He will be the first to look at submissions, and will work with
the
author if the submission has any problems. We're happy to have him aboard!
Nick will also be overseeing the conversion of all of the existing fan
submissions from Hero Wars to HeroQuest -- now that HeroQuest is out, some
of
the material on <www.HeroQuest-rpg.com> needs an update. You can help Nick
out:
if you have fan contributions on the site (see
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/hw/fan_list.html> for a list), we would
appreciate
it if you could review them and update them according to the HQ conversion
notes
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/support/HQConversion.pdf> where necessary.
And if
you just want to lend a helping hand, email Nick at
<fanmaterial_at_...>
and offer to help convert other material (such as the old RQ scenarios).
And, of
course, we continue to seek submissions of keywords, scenarios, and other
support material for HeroQuest. New templates will be up soon, so start
typing!
SPOKEN WORDS FROM ISSARIES: ISSARIES SEEKS A MERCHANDISER
Mark Galeotti adds that he needs a volunteer to take over the Issaries
CafePress
stores. Issaries plans to streamline the stores for fewer, more substantial
overhauls of the goods available. So this task will require work only a few
times
each year.
What Issaries needs is someone familiar enough with Paint Shop, Photoshop,
or a
similar graphics tool to put the images together, colorize images when
appropriate, and generally create interesting art and merchandise.
(Professional experience in graphic design or marketing is NOT required!)
This
volunteer also needs access to the internet to upload the images and manage
the
stores. As well as the heartfelt thanks of Issaries and the occasional
perk, the
volunteer would also be able to purchase CafePress goods at a discounted
rate.
If you are interested, send an email telling Issaries why you are the right person for the job to <cafepress_at_...>.
VIRTUAL SCROLLS: PDFs GALORE
Stephen Martin tells us about the many PDFs available for HeroQuest Support:
GAME AIDS FROM HEROQUEST (pages 268-275) are available for download in PDF
form
at <http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/support/GameAids.pdf>. And now, they are
available in booklet form as well, at
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/support/GameAidsBooklet.pdf> -- formatted by
Viktor
Haag so that it can be printed and then stapled in a convenient booklet
form. We
hope to see more of Viktor's rearrangements soon! Thanks, Viktor.
HEROQUEST CONVERSIONS show how compatible Hero Wars and HeroQuest are: both
use
the same core rules mechanic yet they are different games in many ways. Yet
Issaries claims that all of their old supplements remain fully compatible
with
the new rules! How compatible they are can be judged by looking at the "Hero
Wars to HeroQuest Conversion" files, which went online at the end of last
year
but now are available in PDF form. Ranging from guidelines on converting
heroes
to the welcome information that no conversions are needed for some books,
these
notes by Dave Camoirano, Roderick Robertson, and Stephen Martin are
available at <http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/support/HQConversion.pdf>.
By now, everyone should have heard that HEROQUEST VOICES is at last
available
as a single download. Both screen resolution and print quality versions of
this
seminal Gloranthan document are available from Pen & Paper; for more
information
or to link, go to <http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/3001.html>. And
soon,
it will be available in one of Viktor's booklet version as well!
Need to teach Heroquest? Use a HEROQUEST DEMO! Since HeroQuest has shipped,
now
is the time to spread the word. And Jeff Kyer can help. Developed for Steve
Jackson Games' "Men In Black" demo program, Jeff has written a "how to"
manual
for teaching HeroQuest to both old hands and the uninitiated. "The Taxman
Commeth" is a short adventure that contains an outline, a teaching script,
and
a map of the Tin Inn by Darran Sims, see
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/support/HeroQuestDemo.pdf>. Combined with
HeroQuest Voices or the sample heroes at <www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/support> it
is
almost all you need to teach the game (candies and dice not included).
Coming Soon -- HEROQUEST MAGIC AIDS!
HEROQUESTIONS ANSWERED!
Issaries is pleased to announce that the HEROQUEST FAQ is finally available
on
the site. Compiled by Roderick Robertson and Stephen Martin with help from
many
people, this answers many questions sent to us by fans or brought up on the
mailing lists. From hero creation to the sample heroes on the web site, this
massive compilation helps to bring a bit more order to the HeroQuest rules.
You
can see it at <www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/support/hq_faq.html>. (And if you have
installed the HeroQuest Core Runes font, it is even better!)
As if that wasn't enough, the HeroQuest Errata has been expanded to correct
a
few more errors in the rulesbook. Check out the changes at
<www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/support/1001_errata.html>.
One of the changes incorporated into both documents involves Natural Magic,
a
category of ability that has been added to clarify and correct the
information
in HeroQuest regarding innate abilities (such as the Shapechange to Puma
ability of the Puma People). Check it out at
<www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/support/natural_magic.html>.
Got even more questions? NARRATOR ADVICE is coming soon, a semi-regular
column
of advice for narrators (and players) about issues they have had to deal
with
in play. From "Creating New Keywords" to "Dramatic Use of AP in Contests",
these articles will be sure to help everyone's game.
ISSARIES WILL BE AT DUNDRACON, WILL YOU?
DunDraCon XXVIII will be held February 13-16 at the San Ramon Marriott
Hotel,
2600 Bishop Drive, San Ramon, CA 94583. Issaries will definitely be there!
Theo Posselt and Larry Lynch-Freshner will each run part of John Hughes'
"Bad
Boon Risin / Beak No Evil" scenario on Sunday at 8:00 pm. Take the part of a
Lunar army baboon or a Sartarite rebel duck as you clash at a local
celebration.
The sessions will be run side-by-side, for 5 players each (pregenerated
characters provided). Registration is through normal con reg, so please
sign up.
With the passage from RuneQuest to Hero Wars to HeroQuest, many people have
found themselves in the world of Glorantha but cut off from former ideas and
rules. Stephen Martin and Roderick Robertson of Issaries, Inc., will address
this in "WHAT'S UP WITH GLORANTHA?". Learn what has happened, where
Glorantha
and HeroQuest are going, and how to find happiness with new rules, new gods,
new ideas, and new worlds. The seminar will be held at noon on Saturday,
February 15. (On Sunday, Stephen will also be sitting on panels on
Mythology in
Gaming and Keeping Players Happy, at noon and 2:00pm respectively.)
Read more about the details of DunDraCon <http://www.dundracon.com/> --
come by
the seminars, play in a scenario, see Masters of Luck and Death, and get a
bunch of free stuff!
THE LATEST ON (OTHER) CONVENTIONS
From Stephen Martin and various Convention Coordinators
The first ORIGINS event deadline has come and gone, but we may need
narrators
to run some of the events we submitted. And there is still time to register
your own events. Contact us at <events_at_...> if you are planning to
attend. Greg Stafford will be there as a guest of honor once again this
year.
CONTIUUM, the successor to Convulsions, picks up on 23-26 July, in
Leicester,
UK. Glorantha and HeroQuest will be at the heart of the event, which
includes
tabletop games, freeforms, seminars, and displays. Luminaries expected
include Charlie Krank of Chaosium and Mark Galeotti of The Unspoken Word,
and
possibly even an official representative from Issaries, Inc. For details,
prices, and registration, see <http://www.continuum.uk.net/>.
GENCON INDY (formerly known as just GenCon) will be held August 19-22 in
Indianapolis, Indiana. Issaries is seeking individuals to run events for us.
We can provide scenarios and prizes, but we need reliable narrators to help
bring the Word to those lost in the Darkness that is d20. Email
<events_at_...> if you are going and can run one of our events (or
plan to run one of your own).
Issaries has been contacted by several other conventions. Check out the
conventions pages at <http://www.glorantha.com/tribes/schedule.html> (for
officially sponsored events) and
<http://www.glorantha.com/tribes/events.html> (for other conventions). We
will
try to update these regularly.
GLORANTHAN LICENSES: WITHERED VINES AND NEW GROWTH
2003 was, unfortunately, a poor year for some of Issaries' licensees,
although
there are some promising signs, as reported by Stephen Martin.
Last summer, the head of Issaries' Japanese licensee (Guild Corporation of
Japan) retired due to ill health. He has transferred all business interests
to
ArcLight, thus ending the Japanese Hero Wars license. Although we know that
Atelier Third had at least one supplement ready to go, its status (and
theirs)
is unknown at this time.
As if that was not enough, Multisim was shut down by the French government
for
financial reasons, thus ending our French license as well.
To top it all off, the licensed Gloranthan Classics miniatures came to their foretold end on December 31st. If you didn't get your sets before then, good luck trying to find them now -- the license requires that the molds be destroyed, so none of these figures will ever again be cast.
However, there is new growth as well. Issaries has finalized an agreement
with
the creators of The Path of the Damned, so this is now a licensed product.
We
are very pleased to be associated with such fine talents as Guillermo Ortiz
and Mariano Krasmanski.
Additionally, Edge Entertainment tells us that they will be releasing the
Spanish language edition of HeroQuest this Spring. The delays in Issaries'
publication of the game unfortunately delayed Edge as well, but they now
have a
much stronger product to release upon the Spanish market worldwide, with a
great
range of support products available to them. They have also sponsored a fan
group's mailing list and fanzine (see QUICK PLUGS for details). More
information
(including the translation's striking cover by Alejandro Ter�n) is
available at
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/foreign.html>. Keep an eye on
<http://www.edgeent.com/hero/wars.htm> for details.
A PARTNERSHIP: ISSARIES AND THE RING OF HEROQUEST NARRATORS
HeroQuest is a ground-breaking game, but in today's crowded market-place,
word
of mouth and demonstration games are often the best way to get newcomers
interested in the game and Glorantha. This is why Issaries is happy to work
with Steve Jackson Games' Men In Black demo program and also why Issaries is
delighted to support the Ring of HeroQuest Narrators.
The RHQN (as it is known) was established by a team of stalwarts from the
United Kingdom who have been heroic in their commitment to running HeroQuest
at conventions and stores in the UK and Europe: Mick Rowe, Darran Sims,
Stuart 'Dr. Moose' Mousir-Harrison, and its supermo, Paul 'Newt' Newport,
who
is also Issaries' European Event Liaison.
The idea behind the RHQN is to support narrators who are actively playing
their part in taking the Gloranthan message to conventions and stores. The
idea is not in any way to undermine the MIB program -- quite the opposite,
members are encouraged to join the MIBs -- but to provide an additional
forum for advice, support, the sharing of draft scenarios, and general
mutual
assistance. As time goes on, the members hope to expand the types of
material
available on the site.
The RHQN website at <http://www.rhqn.com> is a great resource for _any_
narrator. It already includes a section of "Heroic Tales" (cameos suitable
as
the basis for a session's play), and will shortly feature "Locations &
Lairs"
(interesting and atmospheric locations for play). Before then, however, the
RHQN is seeking submissions for "Patrons & Nemeses". They are looking for
powerful narrator characters who, in the not-so black and white world of
Glorantha, can either be a source of aid and comfort or one of annoyance and
pain, depending on how the heroes. Like the Heroic Tales competition, they
will
award prizes to the top three submissions. See their web site for more
details.
The RHQN has already lined up events at several conventions, starting with
Conceptions 2004 in Dorset UK (which runs from Wednesday March 3rd to Sunday
March 7th), a ridiculously inexpensive five-day con. They'll be running many
a game of HeroQuest, so head out to the seashore and get in a game!! Other
cons which they have confirmed are Beer n Pretzels (Burton-upon Trent, UK --
May), Continuum (Leicester, UK -- July), and Battlemasters (UK --
September).
More conventions will be confirmed as the year progresses.
Whether you are interested in joining as a member, or simply want to explore the resources available there for narrators, we strongly encourage you to take a look at the RHQN. Contact Newt <Newtiswrong_at_...> if you have any queries or are interested in joining.
SHORT TAKES
Issaries webmaster Nils Weinander reports that once again you can get email
notice when a page at <www.HeroQuest-rpg.com> changes. ChangeDetect is a
free
web page monitoring service which you can use to scan any web page
automatically for changes. Go to <www.changedetect.com> to learn more. You
must
sign up for an account, but the basic service is free of charge.
Ron Edwards had a great article on Thed, Mother of Disease, in the Fall
issue of
the online 'zine, Daedalus. Also featured were an interview with Greg
Stafford
and an article on "The Power of Myth" by Chris Chinn (co-author of "The
Well of
Souls" scenario recently announced on the Ring of HeroQuest Narrators
website).
Check them out at <http://www.chimera.info/daedalus/>.
Issaries is still looking for some old artists whose works we would like to
use
again! Anyone who can help locate David Dudley, Jeff Brain, Tom Clark, Steve
Oliff, or Dale Enzenbacher would be doing us a big favor by contacting us at
<acquisitions_at_...>. (We know Dale Enzenbacher is still local to
the
Bay Area, and Steve Oliff is likely in Southern California.)
Two more HeroQuest articles appeared in Pyramid, the online roleplaying
'zine
from Steve Jackson Games. (You should check it out). First, Mark Galeotti
tells of the Kralori Homeland cut from HeroQuest
<http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/login/article.cgi?4223> in the October
issue.
Second, The Two-Times Unfortunate Encyclopedists of Barbaric Deviltry
<http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/login/article.cgi?4346> in the December
issue,
a hero band cut from Masters of Luck and Death because the Kralori homeland
was not in HeroQuest. So, what became of the article by Roderick Robertson
submitted before either of these?
Remember, Issaries Inc. has closed down its Oakland office and moved to
Concord, CA. If you need to contact Issaries, please use only the new
address
and phone number. Please email <administrator_at_...> before you mail
something large (like a package or shipment of books!), or if you are
sending
something you don't trust the post office to deliver safe and unbroken (like
a CD), so he can talk to you about an alternative mailing address.
Issaries, Inc.
P.O. Box 272914
Concord, CA 94527-2914
(925) 680-8897
QUICK PLUGS
The SONS OF KARGZANT ride! This eagerly awaited sourcebook on the brutal and
fearless Char-Un riders of Erigia will soon be released by The Unspoken
Word!
Written by Wesley Quadros, Martin Laurie, Simon Bray, Mark Galeotti, and
Bradley "Brand" Robins, it is illustrated not only by such stalwarts as Dan
Barker, Simon Bray, and Sarah Evans, but also artists new to Glorantha, with
distinctive styles of their own. These 64 pages contain keywords, full
character generation, a map, gazetteer & bestiary of Erigia, plot hooks and
"What the Elder Told Me." On this and other Unspoken Word books, see
<http://www.celtic-webs.com/theunspokenword/books/ordering.html>.
Trade Talk #13 "OUTSIDE GENERTELA: THE ISLANDS" is out, and #14 is on the
schedule to be "Outside Genertela: The Southern Continent". Submissions are
expected from David Dunham, Simon Bray, Martin Hawley & Peter Metcalfe,
Andre Jarosch, and Shannon Applecline, among others. Learn about the
islands,
the war beneath the waves, Harrek's future kingdom and jungle Aldryami, and
other secrets. The Chaos Society also reports that the licensed comic book
Path of the Damned #3 should be available soon. Other books they are working
on include Borderlands Companion (working title of the final "Pavis & Big
Rubble Companion"), Ye Booke of Tentacles Vol. VI, and perhaps a follow-up
to
"The Widow�s Tale". Finally, they want to remind everyone that Tentacles
will
be held at Whitsun from May 28th to 31th. See <www.tradetalk.de> and
<www.tentacles-convention.de> for more information.
How about VISION RUNICA, in Spanish. Issue "0" was published as a PDF in
December 2003, a "monograph concerning the Lunar Empire" according to Germ�n
Cantabrana Gonz�lez, one of the 'zine's editors. The 64 page fanzine is from
the Hispanic Heroquest Official Mailing List (which used to be known as the
Glorantha Hispana list) -- all of the text, illustrations, and maps were
provided by members of the list, which is supporting and supported by Edge
Entertainment, Issaries' Spanish-language licensee for HeroQuest. They hope
to produce an issue every 6 months, more or less, and hope to be able to
produce print issues in the future. (They hope to release the next issue in
May 2004). Check out scenarios, a color map of Ralios, and articles on
Lalia,
Arkat, Eurmal, and more at <http://www.edgeent.com/hero/fanzine/index.htm>!
And have you seen the dandy new bi-lingual KETHAELA website dedicated to the
Holy Country? See <http://kethaela.free.fr/> (French) and
<http://kethaela.en.free.fr/> (English) Wow! Site members have contributed a
set of pictures and descriptions of various Holy Country places. Plus, sites
are cross-linked, they have articles for download, and the whole site's look
can be customized to match whichever of the Sixths you come from. Well Done!
And they even make the effort to translate it all into English, too. Thanks!
Moon Design Publications reports that the fourth (and last) volume of the
licensed Gloranthan Classics series, BORDERLANDS AND BEYOND, will be ready
for Tentacles 2004 in May at the earliest, or Continuum in July at the
latest.
It will include the contents of Borderlands, Plunder, and Runemasters, plus
a
few new bits and pieces, including new art and some unpublished material.
Artists who want to help with new artwork are welcome to contact Rick
Meints at
<rjmeints_at_...>. Noted artist Dario Corallo is already working on the
cover.
The book is currently in the layout stage, and will have the same look and
feel
as the previous three volumes. Rick will start taking pre-orders for both
softcover and hardcover versions once it has gone to the printers, which
will
be about a month before it is ready for shipment.
Are you getting daily Glorantha tidbits in your email? If not, check out
LOKARNOS (nominated for Best of Glorantha 2003: Best Website) and its
wonders
at <http://lokarnos.com/start.shtml>, or link to it from the main Glorantha
page.
Truly great reminders of all the online material in internet archives
across the
worlds of Glorantha.
PARTING SHOT
Bless those who've produced the marvel that is the gazetteer and map of
Dragon Pass:
DRAGON PASS: LAND OF THUNDER
<http://www.HeroQuest-rpg.com/products/1502.html>.
It gathers the magic of White Bear, Red Moon and decades of an emerging
Glorantha's
heart in Kerofinela. Some of us greybeards remember William Church's older
graphics, and here are some "new" ones for deja vu. Wander again in your
memory and
imagination across these lands and I'll bet you find inspiration for another
campaign, another tale, or another heroquest.
I for one find maps the hallmark of inviting Otherness. Stories and
statistics are
fine enough, but the invitation to explore, to find out what's "in between"
the
known and named, lives best in a well made map. The maps appended to the
Lord of
the Rings got me started, but my personal adventures still live in Dragon
Pass.
The accomplishment here is the collection, including some small differences
from
what I remember, so much that is new, and lots that I'd forgotten.
Give and Share this book.
Hawkbear a.k.a. Mark Leymaster
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