From: RuneQuest-Request@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (RQ Digest Maintainer)
To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (Daily automated RQ-Digest)
Reply-To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (RuneQuest Daily)
Subject: RuneQuest Daily, Fri, 05 Aug 1994, part 3
Sender: Henk.Langeveld@Holland.Sun.COM
Content-Return: Prohibited
Precedence: junk
---------------------
From: loren@marketing.wharton.upenn.edu (Loren Miller)
Subject: what do folks think of a runequest newsgroup?
Message-ID:
Date: 4 Aug 94 12:38:37 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 5458
I'm thinking of sticking my neck into it again. The runequest mailing lists
and digests clearly have a large enough audience to justify a newsgroup for
runequest and glorantha. However, is a runequest newsgroup a thing that we,
the runequest fans, will want to use?
If I get enough "Yes" responses I'll post an RFD in news.announce.newgroups
and get the process moving.
-- Loren
--
+++++++++++++++++++++++23
Loren Miller LOREN@wmkt.wharton.upenn.edu
Into the flood again, same old trip it was back when
---------------------
From: jacobus@sonata.cc.purdue.edu (Bryan J. Maloney)
Subject: Lankhor Mhy and indeces.
Message-ID: <9408042035.AA12708@sonata.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: 4 Aug 94 10:35:53 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 5459
Lankhor Mhy would never have an "Index" spell. That would be unholy.
After all, the very idea of constraining and chaining beloved knowledge
should make any proper Grey Sage sick! Only those bastard Lunars would
even THINK of having some kind of "Index" spell. Next thing you know,
you're going to be going on about how wonderful that chaos-spawned Irippi
Ontor "Lunar Decimal System" of "cataloguing" scrolls and books is!
Knowledge is to be loved and cherished and gathered, not chained up like
a slave to some "index".
Brigomartes the Orthodox.
---------------------
From: jacobus@sonata.cc.purdue.edu (Bryan J. Maloney)
Subject: Adventurers
Message-ID: <9408042044.AA12773@sonata.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: 4 Aug 94 10:44:27 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 5460
In my current Sartar campaign, the term "adventurer" doesn't exist.
Everybody calls my players' characters either "mercenaries", "merchants",
"travelling craftsmen", or "lost", depending on which one is met first.
In general, except for the "lost" and "mercenaries" category, most of the
characters are assumed to be bodyguards for the Openhandist Dwarf or
the Grey Sage. Most of my players don't know this is how they are thought
of, of course, since most locals won't give three words to them unless they
have to.
Currently, (Earth Season, ST1612) there are a lot of displaced armed people
wandering around Sartar.
Since there is a very open Humakti with the group, they are assumed to not
be bandits. Some locals have jumped to the conclusion that they're some
kind of fact-gathering group from the Cold Wind--whereever they go, they
ask questions about the Lunars, what they're doing, where they can be
found, etc.
---------------------
From: bchugg@leland.stanford.edu (Barron Chugg)
Subject: Honest Adventurer - Oxymoron?
Message-ID: <199408042135.OAA06538@popserver.Stanford.EDU>
Date: 4 Aug 94 06:37:50 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 5461
Hello All.
So, in fact, not _all_ of this post is on adventurers. Just the balance
of the controversial parts.
____________________
Lewis:
I like the different rates for rune magic renewal for different levels of
cult membership. I still would like to see something more than tithing and
regular worship as a criterion for greater renewal. My image is that the
more involved one gets in the cult and the rituals, the more easily one can
renew magic.
____________________
Joerg (and others):
More on adventurers. I still say that the real problem here is a
difference in the gaming theory of those debating the point. Michael has
one view, Joerg and John (and myself) have a different one. If Michael's
players like to run characters that are honest, upstanding wanderers that
respect local cultures, then I don't see why they can't find a place in the
world. I'll grant there are few analogs I can quickly dredge up (maybe the
wandering lawman of the western genre), but if it works what's the big
deal?
Anyway, I'm kind of surprised that no one responded to my _really_
imflamatory (that can't be spelled right) comment, i.e.,
> And as for "creeping DnDism"...let's not worry too much about that, huh?
>If people want to play RQ _at_all_ these days they should be encouraged, no
>matter what style they choose.
I feel this is a valid worry. If we spend all our time arguing the
"right way" to run Glorantha we'll end up with a small, hard core (albeit
knowlegable) cadre of players and a lot of people saying, "RuneQuest?
Wasn't that around in the 70's?". I'm not in any way recommending that we
start seeing a rash of "dungeon" style adventures. (In fact, I think that
the best model for RQ adventures is CoC style, that is, stuff like
Gaumata's Vision or the scenerios in RQAdventures.) Just that there be a
little more inclusive thinking.
This is starting to remind me of a continuing debate I have with a
friend. I am a believer in runs that are "pure roleplaying", while he is
bored stiff by these runs. Neither side is right (not that I didn't try to
convince him I was, mind you), we just have different interests.
_____________________
John M.(quoting me):
>> campaigns that can be run where "adventurers" are not "scurvy, wandering,
>> swine". They may be "noble protectors" or "travelling do-gooders", it all
>
>"Noble protectors" are retainers or family.Hence their primary meaning to the
>society is as retainers or family of the noble in question. They're probably
>not thought of as adventurers, other than as a pejorative.
Oops, bad use of language on my part. I meant "noble" in the sense of
"of high moral fiber".
>I agree with this, but would choose to again remind that the Riskland PCs are
>homesteaders and farmers first. When time allows, or situation dictates, they
>put on the cape and tights.
Sure, I agree. The question I am asking is how the game time is divided
up between the farming and the heroing. Many GMs would focus on the
heroing and then say, "well, since the last game you spent a season
farming". To me that is missing the fun part of the game. While I enjoy
high adventure I also like the everyday, personal stuff. The interaction
with the neighbors, the relationships between the PCs, flow of the seasons,
the magic of the world. I'm pretty strongly in the "Man in Society" camp
of RQ (as taken from the boxed text in Dorastor and RoC). But that's me
(I'm also in favor of roleplaying worship ceremonies and stuff). I think a
lot of people would prefer the cape and tights stuff (some to the exclusion
of all else).
BTW, John, I did like your comments. Esspecially the ones about other
rewards besides training and magic. More things like that in games would
be a great idea. Too much has been held over from the "old days" where
people expect tangible rewards. Making allies and friends is my usual aim
in game (cash can be spent, but a contact is forever).
_________________
Michael M.:
>In general, my adventurers are based in the culture where they live;
>they act under the auspices of their cult or some patron. They *may*
>become outlaws in Lunar law, but are law-abiding according to their
>own culture and cult.
>
>'nuff said?
Sounds 'nuff enough for me. Since it works, enjoy!
----------------
Going home to sleep off my cold,
Barron
---------------------
From: mmorrison@VNET.IBM.COM (Michael C. Morrison 8-543-4706)
Subject: RuneQuest Daily, Wed, 03 Aug 1994, part 1
Message-ID: <1994Aug4.131702.49463@vnet.ibm.com>
Date: 4 Aug 94 20:17:02 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 5462
*** Reply to note of Wed, 3 Aug 94 09:15:26 +0200
*** by RuneQuest-Request@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM
Subject: Sandy's Current Divine Magic Rules
Sandy, are you saying that initiates and priests ONLY get a POW gain
roll on holy days? Are POW checks gone in your system?
I'm in a campaign where one character is the high priest of a Storm
Bull shrine and who has many initiates who help tend the shrine.
We recently had a major threat to the Shrine that forced the high
priest to lead us into battle -- and all the initiates sacrificed
for one-use Rune Magic. Your rules would have allowed the initiates
to have sacrificed for the spells long ago (and allow them to be
reusable) but would only allow them to recover them on HDs or HHDs.
This clearly simplifies things for our NPCs of the Shrine.
But what about the PCs? If they can only get a POW gain roll once or
5 times a year -- and do they *need* to have had a POW check to get
this roll, or do they automatically get a gain roll? -- I can see my
PCs having different spells learnt and in mind, different battle
tactics, and *much* less Rune Magic than in the old rules. Is this
true of your game? It sounds more Pendragon-ish in its execution.
Not bad, mind you, just different :-)
Michael
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael C. Morrison IMS Information Development Tieline 8-543-4706
Santa Teresa Lab, San Jose, California (SWS) Phone (408)463-4706
Bitnet ID: MCM at VNET Fax (408)463-4101
Internet ID: MMORRISON@VNET.IBM.COM or USIB47H4@IBMMAIL.COM
IBM Mail Exchange ID: USIB47H4 at IBMMAIL or USIB4MCM at IBMMAIL
X.400 Address: G=mcmgm; S=morrison; P=ibmmail; A=ibmx400; C=us
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------
From: Argrath@aol.com
Subject: The way to a man's stomach...
Message-ID: <9408042129.tn647152@aol.com>
Date: 5 Aug 94 01:29:08 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 5463
Joe Lannom's Glorantha-as-printing-press:
Anything that makes me laugh out loud can't be all bad.
David Baur:
Creme fraiche is a dairy product with the consistency of
yogurt, but it's not sour. It is sold in gourmet stores in
larger cities in the U.S. (and some smaller ones: Fowler's of Durham, N.C.,
carries it). Mascarpone is an acceptable substitute, if you have an Italian
deli near you. Roux is a butter and flour mixture, much used in Louisiana
cooking. It's as described in the recipe: melt butter, stir in flour. I
like to sift the flour in.
I haven't tried this recipe (yet); I would tend to guess that the better
the pilsner, the better the soup. Pilsner Urquell from the Czech Republic
is, of course, the best pilsner, but it's hard to get it fresh in some parts
of the U.S. I would only use a pilsner which was all-malt (i.e., which
adheres to the Rheinheitsgebot purity law). With U.S. beers, that limits you
to microbrewery and some regional brewery stuff. The point of the recipe is
to appreciate the hoppy bitterness, so a properly bitter brew is recommended.
Again, Pilsner Urquell.
Re: John Strauss's hummingbirds lining up at the feeder:
Same comment as to Joe Lannom.
Re: Priests getting divine magic back only on holy days, etc.
I agree with the folks who said that it takes away too much
from priests, and specifically with John Strauss's point about it
Thedding with the balance of power. I'd keep the present method
with the holy day gains extra.
Or how about this twist: every spell cast ON a holy day is
regained at the end of the day. If it's a HHD, even normally
one-use spells are regained. (Don't attack the ZZ temple on
their HHD, as a party in my world once did.) With this variant,
expect miracles at the CA temple each holy day.
I also like John's idea of worship ceremonies being needed
and tying the gain to the attendance. 1 point per priest per 100
worshipers?
Michael M.
>>And as for "Treasure, treasure, treasure. You'd think this was
>>DnD!" ...
John Medway:
> Don't forget lands and titles, military commisions,
> priveledges, respect, and also the ever-popular getting on
> someone's good side.
Also, don't forget a good marriage. (I obviously don't get
to play Pendragon enough.)
--Martin Crim
---------------------
From: mlanthie@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca (Mr. Ennui)
Subject: HlHelp a poor newbie!
Message-ID:
Date: 4 Aug 94 16:02:54 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 5464
I know I'm commiting a horrid faux-pas by sending a message that
doesn't involve socialogical/philosophical/phychological/military history
ramblings and a lot of big words, but I beg leniance :)
I'm a newcomer to RQ and the world of Glorantha. The first
product I bought aside from the rulesbook is River of Cradles.
Unfortunately, this has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. After
listening to your erudite discussions on this list, the actual material
isappoints me. Many elements, such as hordes of sentient monsters,
constant references to "adventurers" and the emphasis on treasure
(sometimes found in stupid places such as gorp corpses) reminds of
(*shudder*) AD&D. I'm not too crazy about bipedal ducks or mindless
human animals either.
The question I really want answered is: do other products (namely
Glorantha: Genertela and Gods of Glorantha) have the same tone, mood,
feel, flavor, etc of the majority of the RoC book? By far, the best part
of the book is, IMHO, the Cult descriptions, and this "feel" is more of
what I'm looking for.
I hope I don't come across as an arrogant newbie: all I'm saying
is that what I've seen of Glorantha so far is not my cup of tea.
Thanks in advance!
______________________________________________________________________
mlanthie@gpu.srv.| "I think about life and I think about death and
ualberta.ca | neither one particularly appeals to me." -Morrissey
---------------------
From: ddunham@radiomail.net (David Dunham)
Subject: Cursed obnoxious adventurers
Message-ID: <199408050534.AA05303@radiomail.net>
Date: 5 Aug 94 05:34:41 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 5465
It's come up twice lately, so I'll let everyone know that yes, I'm in
Seattle. There are indeed Gloranthan campaigns running here (tho summer
makes it hard to schedule).
John Medway reminds
>that the Riskland PCs are
>homesteaders and farmers first. When time allows, or situation dictates, they
>put on the cape and tights.
That's the way I'm playing our stead leader, but it's 1) a constant
reminder to the other characters that we need to make sure we get a crop;
2) an annoyance to the GM who expects us to act like adventurers. I think
the answer to both of these is to relax time a bit -- it's unreasonable for
normal people to have the adventure density of typical play, but not so
unusual to have one or two interesting events each year.
Peter Metcalfe swore
>The wind in me tells
>you to THED OFF!' (I may post an article on Glorantha Swearwords if anybody
>desires)
Sure! In Jonas Schiott's/my East Ralios, people yell "Arkat!" when they
stub their toe or discover that their cows have been stolen. Unfortunately,
like your example, this requires a knowledge of Glorantha to be meaningful
-- it's not the sort of color you can use to lure people in. At least with
"You son-of-a-broo" the outsider has a clue what we're saying.
Sandy, never get into an argument with someone who claims for himself the
title of "Most Obnoxious Pedant." I suspect not even Storm Bulls get into
obnoxiousness contests.
---------------------
From: DBLIZZARD@delphi.com
Subject: Thanks + Who's Who
Message-ID: <01HFJ4XYO6PE93BUEJ@delphi.com>
Date: 4 Aug 94 20:46:55 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 5466
Sandy, thanks for the reply.
---------------------
From: DBLIZZARD@delphi.com
Subject: Who's Who
Message-ID: <01HFJ50ZVOKY8X16BY@delphi.com>
Date: 4 Aug 94 21:04:03 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 5467
After having read the daily for several months now I have discovered that
occasionally I encounter a familiar name mentioned which I can't place. I
came up with a solution, a Who's Who in Glorantha. I was hoping one existed
but have been unable to find one so I assume one doesn't exist (if one does
someone please let me know). So I tenatively planned on compiling one of
my own. However, I had one major setback, I did not have Pavis (where MANY
characters are mentioned). That has been rectified, today I was GIVEN a
copy of Pavis (not boxed, but who cares when it's free) so sometime in the
next couple of months I am going to try to start compiling it. What I
would like to do is post the A's when I get it ready, assuming I can get
my upload software to work (I haven't been able to yet). What I would like
to know is what sort of information people would find useful in it.
Obviously I can't put everything in (page #'s mentioned for example) because
of size restrictions. At least I want to list sources (excluding early
fanzine appearances, which I don't have access to) & a brief description of
the person. I don't intend on giving an exhaustive background of, say, Arakat,
Argrath, or Harrek, just enough to give a basic of idea of who they are &
where you can find more information for detail.
Things I would like input on are such things as: Should spirits be listed
(major ones only like major ghosts, allied spirits & such)? How about
Gods (I am leaning against this one as the GoG covers most of them)? Any
suggestions will be at least considered.
I have all of the major sources somehow (except Glorious ReAscent of Yelm
which I hope to get soon, or at least get a copy to work from). For example
although I don't have Balastar's Barracks, I do have The Big Rubble. Does
anyone know of any non-official sources that should be included (such as
perhaps Greg's Son of Sartar in the Wild Hunt)?
Any comments welcome. BTW, thanks for the prompt answers to my questions
Sandy, they were useful and enlightening.
David A. Blizzard
---------------------