Recycling, Lost and Found, Harshax

From: David B. Henderson <db.henderson_at_dcs.napier.ac.uk>
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 12:03:55 +0100 (BST)


Re the idea of recycling out-of-print stuff (again), since the Megacorp folk, in the form of Nick Brooke, seem interested in working with the BUTTS campaign, one method would be to include a reprint article in TOTRM each issue, after copyright permission was given. Some articles are closely related to out-of-print material as it is (both Praxian isssues, frex), so fitting a theme wouldn't be hard. This would serve three purposes:
  1. To give 'old hands' access to very rare and/or expensive material which forms part of the bedrock of Glorantha
  2. Give newcomers (who are directed to Tales in RQ publications) access to information that is extremely useful in understanding some of the deeper elements of Glorantha, and some of the more 'obscure' areas.
  3. Give Tales more flexibility in theme and more material, thereby allowing it to increase the speed of publication, become slicker and slicker, move into the mainstream magazine market on the back of the huge upsurge in RQ sales, outsell Dragging (tm) and its sister Dudgeon (tm) combined, and TAKE OVER THE WORLD

Sorry about the last bit. A small mouse with a large head had a strange device pointed at me.

Anyhow, more publications along the lines of Wyrms Footprints would be great, as well. The free info-pak is an excellent starting point, which we should all work for, but after that ... ? I know I speak for myself when I say that I can't afford to go to Conventions (I have a wife, a child and a short leash), and haven't got the money for the great supplements (I am still playing catch-up with the in-print gear), even if I could find them. _I_ find it intimidating around here, in terms of my Glorantha Lore, and I have had, and played, Runequest since 1983, I think. Because of this, and the fact that it is unlikely I will ever have, or be around people who have, some of the earlier RQ stuff, which is considered to be classic by most fans, I would like to see an enlightened reprint policy introduced. This could be combined with reinterpretation/updating if need be.

To cut a wandering argument short: I would like copies of more of the original stuff made available. I would like reprints to be produced, either straight reprints or revisions. I would like these as either individual products or as articles in TOTRM. I would also like the basic (free) info-pak made. I would be happy to do what I can to make any and all of this happen.

BTW, speaking of reprints: I have just got Trollpak and Troll Gods (as well as Lords of Terror), and also have Into The Troll Realms. Am I right in thinking these were all one product originally? I think it was roughly 38 pounds for the three of them, and you need all three together to be really useful. Trollpak was good (although plundered for Elder Secrets, really), Into The Troll Realms was ok, much better when I got the other two, and Troll Gods was a rip-off. The map was a waste of time given the information in Trollpak and Elder Secrets, the Jonstown Extracts were good but could have been included in a Troll Gods booklet or in Trollpak (and would have fitted better in there, in parts), leaving a book. 15 pounds for a book. Shades of T$R. RQ has a tremendous depth of material, so is it really necessary to spread it as thinly as possible to rip off the punters? Three identical Kyger Litors. I must have spent 5 pounds on KL alone, all told. Bitter, bitter.

PS: I got my gear from Esdevium Games (recommended by David Hall, cheers David!), who seem to have a good stock of recent RQ products. They can be reached on 01252 311443, for all you UK RQers.

PPS: Lord Harshax gets a mention in Troll Gods, in the Jonstown papers. Thane of the Culbrea Tribe in 1622. it must have been mentioned before, but given his anti-Lunar stance (I assume from the messages in the text), his control of a major tribe, his proximity in place and time to Argrath, and the fact that in KoS the Harshax seems to be linked to the Sartar area or culture (given the interest in Argrath etc), is it too farfetched to assume that Harshax is either an honorific (implying that the later Harshax are descended from the Culbrea, perhaps) or that it is a dynastic name (which would point to the same conclusion). I can't remember which tribe it was that Argrath joined (or did he start his own?), or whether he was linked to the Culbrea in some way, but it seems more than coincidence.

Sorry about the extreme length,

David H (TOO)


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