> You know, the game just wouldn't be the same without the never-
> ending* cautionary bits about Bad King Ugrain (I hope I got the name
> right).
>
> Does anyone know if he was invented for KoDP, or does he have a
> longer Gloranthan background? Either way, any info on when and where
> he ruled?
I don't normally get into Gloranthan esoterica on this list, since it's not relevant to the game, but...
I figure Bad King Urgrain must be a Vingkotling king, i.e. from the culture which preceded the modern Heortlings.
Bad King Urgrain fans can find a short story I wrote on my personal
web site at
<http://www.pensee.com/dunham/glorantha/urgrainMerchants.html>.
Robin replied
> If you want to see all of the Urgrain snippets in one place
> (along with the shorter set of snippets about Errarth, the Tragic
> King), check out David's excellent Glorantha fanzine, Enclosure #1.
> (I hope it's still available.)
Technically, not all, since I think we added some after that compilation. I suspect Enclosure 1 is no longer available; check with Wizard's Attic.
James & Corinne
> When I show people KoDP, I always hope that I get a good range of wackos in
> the initial set of nobles, so I can point out that "they have personal
> agendas - look there! The event is about trading, and that laddie thinks
> we must go kill elves...." 8) I don't know how much trouble it was to
> add them in, but the agendas and foibles add a lot to the ring's feel of
> realism.
Robin might be able to tell you how hard -- I just had to say "now write some scenes for the personality traits."
The personalities were a key element of the game, I can't even remember how early.
Joshua
> I have gotten a puzzling comment the past two long games after the
> town is built. Each time I chose to go on the Issaries heroquest, and
> thankfully succeeded. I was a little bemused to see that both times
> other clans found ours strange because we chose narrow personal gains
> rather than wider benefits. But the first time, I chose to learn more
> about Dragon Pass (which I might add is a poor choice regardless,
> since you just fill in the general map, with no hidden locations
> revealed--a waste of a heroquest), which doesn't seem like a
> particularly narrow benefit. The second time, remembering the first
> game, I chose to end a feud, and got the same complaint.
>
> So here's my question: what counts as a narrow or wide benefit on the
> Issaries quest? Is there a particular choice you are mythically
> supposed to pick on this occasion of the founding of the town?
There are four choices that are, in this context at least, considered wide. I'm not exactly sure what the logic is -- it's obvious that strengthening your quester is a narrow benefit.
> And, David, I just wanted to say, having just won for the first time
> with a queen, KoDP has the absolute coolest ending of any game I have
> ever played. It's so satisfying to see the narrative of Dragon Pass's
> flourishing after you win, especially after you've completed a
> gruelling game on Hard!
The hard game is probably too hard (I never had time to win it myself), so congratulations!
I'm glad you like the ending. It's actually inspired by the ending of Monkey Island I. (I think the text recap at the start was Robin's idea.)
David Dunham A Sharp david_at_... Voice/Fax: 206 783 7404 http://a-sharp.comEfficiency is intelligent laziness.
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