Chaotic thoughts

From: Craig Furber <Craig_Furber_at_ccm.isw.intel.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 96 10:04:00 PDT


Upon reaching the lofty plateau of Unholy Mouthpeice of Krjalki (RuneLordPriest) my Ogre PC has been given two tasks to perform. Apart from all the gore of self mutilation and acid-etched tattoos.

The first task for her is to "return to here in no later than 3 moons and place at my feet an artefact of Wakboth Lord of all Evil" fine. I just got to go the block evade all those sub-human Storm Bulls, find a hole, go inside and find something...no problem.

The second task is "The soullessness of Oblivion is a gift beyond price, help me attain that gift". This is where it gets tricky, I know the legend of that foolish Humakt and his lost wife Saranala [cruel and masterful trick OH Lord!], but it omits any talk of the whereabouts of the sword Oblivion.

This is leading to two things:
Firstly the childbirth/menstruation debate that has been raging across cyberspace. I have always played childbirth (as a creature of Chaos) as two things.
a) The intense pain is to be welcomed and must be overcome alone. b) At certain times of the year the birth of a child is a good omen and it's sacrifice (by the mother) will be rewarded by Krjalki. (Human and DragonNewt babies are also prized sacrifices)

I also play menstruation as a time of ritual "blood must be met with blood" as my High Priest would say, so this entails more sacrifices and cermonies not unlike Roman orgies.

I noticed that the childbirth/menstruation debate is concentrated on humans, I thought an alternative insight might be appropriate to this forum.

However unless menstruation/childbirth/defeacation are important to the plot-line/PCs goals then they can be glossed over. Although it can add a certain something to games if roleplayed well. Incidentally as a Yelmalion initiate in Elderad I discovered a fully functionally toilet (no lid), and definitely papery stuff in a holder on the wall. Has anyone else come across such an outlandish contraption, possibly in the Lunar Tarsh?

Secondly, do any of the source books mention any more about the sword Oblivon? I have heard rumours that "it rests where no man may enter unscathed", but this is just talk overheard in a bar in Elderad [watch the steps ;) ]. Are there any more concrete rumours. myths, facts even out there?

Another point is about the partial sucesses. In RT Cyberpunk 2020 a task difficulty is a given ie. It is always Difficult to hang out of a speeding AV4 and shoot the engine ports of the pursuing chopper. The PCs level of skill and his immediate environment/state of mind will determine modifiers (plus a d10).
This method has always worked well, particularly as skill descriptions are phrased in terms of both recognizable skills and recognizable people. ie Leadership +4 allows you to not get back shot in battle by your squad, Captain James T. Kirk has a Leadership of +11. OK so its not quite fantasy but as a game mechanic it seems to emulate real life very well.
Comments?

Shamelessly plagurised from "Thoughts of a Dark and Sinister Nature" G.Brodanski
Best Press 1874

:)


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