Anybody got Hawkmoon yet?

[tarkhan bey]

Hi guys,I ordered Hawkmoon from an independent gamestore last week but it still hasn't arrived. This could be due to the postal strike of last week or to a late release. I dont know which but I am not worried as yet.
Has anyone actually got it? If so,is anyone in a position to give it a review yet?

 

[Tal]

Not yet, but FRP games and Dragon's Trove both have it up on their site so it made it to the States!
I'd like to see a review as well.

 

[Swampy]

I ordered mine last week as well and still haven't got it. I just hope it arrives soon. Not that a longer wait will dampen my spirts for it.

 

[Wolverine]

I've got one on order, but haven't received it yet.

 

[Sabbak]

If so,is anyone in a position to give it a review yet?

I have it since the GenCon France in Paris.
It's quite a good job.

Rules.
Many rules have been directly remastered from the new RuneQ edition (but for guys like me who haven't RuneQ it's a good thing!).
Character creation has some specific tricks (according to the Hawkmoon universe) that I find very good (skill bonuses, Fate,...).

Artwork.
Ranges from ugly (unfortunately the cover and title hurt the eyes... and see p. 63, 74) to pretty good (see p. 12, 19...).

Background description...
...is a very good compilation of what's writen in the Novels. It's just a quick overflight (you can't make miracles with 26 pages) but a very good one.

Science.
New rules for "Science and Sorcery" are... just an adaptation of the Sorcery rules from the basic set.
It's both a good thing and a bad one:
* bad thing because it's not specific to the Hawkmoon universe and the "spells" are sometimes odd.
* good thing because it's fully compatible with the other multiverse games by Mongoose.
The rules are not very much developped but if you are a little bit resourcefull as a GM you should handle that.

NPC description
Compact and precise. Good job if you appreciate the artwork (it's not my case!).

Of course it lacks an introductory adventure and the Character sheet is just a kind of bad reprint from an early 80' amateur game... in one word: bad.

General mark: 7.5 / 10

Just my opinions of course...

 

[Aramanthus]

So when is Hawkmoon going to arrive in the states?

 

[Sinisalo]

I've got mine from travelling man in Bristol in the shop.

First thoughts (I've only read it on the bus)

1) Two roll combat system. Doh!

2) Over 100% skill rolls - halve and halve again. Doh!

3) Background stuff informative and exciting. Woohoo!

4) No adventure. Doh!

 

[Dpetroc]

Not seeing stellar reviews here... I guess I'll be holding off on that purchase for a bit.

 

[Kagan Altar]

General mark: 7.5 / 10

Just my opinions of course...

Since you went to GenCon France, Sabbak, I assume you know the previous French editions of the Hawkmoon RPG.

How does MRQ's Hawkmoon compare to the original French edition, and more importantly, to the lastest Hawkmoon Nouvelle Edition?

 

[tarkhan bey]

Well,it appears that it arrived today. I still havent got it though as I was at work and instead of leaving it with my neighbours like they normally do,this postie has decided to make me come to the sorting office to get it.
Unfortunately, due to their opening hours it will be saturday morning before I can get over there to pick it up.
Sabbak, are you familiar with any of the previous versions,including the Chaosium monograph? If so,are there any scenario hooks in it,if not an actual scenario?

 

[Loz]

Arre you familiar with any of the previous versions,including the Chaosium monograph? If so,are there any scenario hooks in it,if not an actual scenario?

The monograph has both scenario hooks and a starting scenario. There are also countless scenario ideas in the background material too (as there are in the Mongoose version).

 

[Sabbak]

General mark: 7.5 / 10

Just my opinions of course...

Since you went to GenCon France, Sabbak, I assume you know the previous French editions of the Hawkmoon RPG.

How does MRQ's Hawkmoon compare to the original French edition, and more importantly, to the lastest Hawkmoon Nouvelle Edition?

Of course!
In fact I was the last Hawkmoon RpG (french ed by Oriflam) "publication director" and author of the last 3-4 supplements. So, yes, I know the previous French edition!
:wink:

In fact, the first "french edition" by Oriflam was the translation of the genuine first ed. by CHaosium. The Hawkmoon Nouvelle Edition (HNE) was the second french one and was never translated into english.

To answer your question, and IF you read french, here's the summary of my message on the HNE mailing list:

***
Mes premières impressions.

1) Illustrations et couverture
Décidément, les anglo-saxons ne savent pas encore ce que cela signifie que faire
des illustrations de qualité. Celles-ci sont en effet très décevantes, sans
parler de la couverture (peu avenante) et du logo du titre (kitschement ridicule
selon mes goûts). Et la feuille de personnage est aussi sobre que laide. Pff!
Un mauvais point.

2) Le système, remarques générales
Là par contre c'est du bon et du solide!
Il s'agit en fait de la version légèrement dépoussièrée du Basic Roleplaying
utilisé jadis pour RuneQuest. En fait, Mongoose a déjà sorti ce système pour sa
nouvelle version de RuneQuest.
La compatibilité avec les anciennes versions de Hawkmoon est donc assurée à un
haut pourcentage!
Pour moi c'est du tout bon: on est en terrain connu et les "innovations
RuneQuestiennes" se limitent à des choses du genre: "chaque localisation du
corps dispose de ses points de vies propres".

3) Le système, quid de la technologie et des mutations?
Je n'ai pas encore épluché ce chapitre mais à première vue les changements sont
importants!
Il ne ressemble ni au système de création techno de la 1ere, ni à celui de la 2e
édition.
A priori, sans doute dans un esprit de compatibilité avec les autres titres de
la gamme (RuneQuest et Elric), la technologie semble être gérée comme de la
magie. Les créations techno étant des sortes de "sorts".
Bizarre à première vue mais pourquoi pas au final? Ce serait assez dans l'esprit
savant-SORCIER du monde du Tragique Millénaire...

4) Le background
Sortez vos mouchoirs. Il n'y a rien de conservé des créations francophones et
des suppléments Oriflam. J'ai dis RIEN.
ZERO.
Personnellement, et bien que cela vous semblera sans doutes très étonnant de ma
part ;-) je pense que ce n'est pas plus mal!
En effet, nous avions tellement (bien) décrit l'Europe de Hawkmoon qu'il ne
restait plus bcp de place pour l'imagination du MJ. De plus, il faut bien dire
que Hawkmoon VF avait sa philosophie propre, parfois TRES éloignée de la vision
de Moorcock...
Avec la nouvelle version de Mongoose ont fait table rase du passé et on "colle"
le plus possible aux descriptions et (semble-t-il) à l'esprit de Moorcock.
Bien sûr, cela reste à confirmer avec les futurs suppléments.

Cela rend donc quasi impossible la transposition de l'ancien background. Les MJ
qui ne souhaitent pas cela pourront toujours se rabattre (pour un temps du
moins!) sur Lance-Feu (ding dong... "pub!"... ding dong) et surtout conserver la
version de l'univers qu'ils préfèrent.

5) L'exhaustivité du bouquin
Bof.. comme d'habitude on a fait tenir le strict minimum dans un nombre de page
classiquement restreint. Pour avoir des tonnes de créatures et de PNJ prets à
l'emplois on repassera...
De plus, il n'y a aucun scénario livré avec le livre de base. Démerdez-vous!

6) Qui traduira?
Oriflam? Je n'en sais rien. Oriflam est muet sur le sujet pour l'instant. Cela
me semble toutefois peu probable... Qui alors?
Les gars du Grimoire semblent intéressés. Et vu ce qu'ils ont été capables de
faire avec la trad de Loup Solitaire, c'est une bonne nouvelle! Mais tout ne
reste que rumeurs et spéculations...

7) Remarque finale
Si j'adhère presque totalement au dépoussièrage des règles et si le parti pris
(évident pour des anglo-saxons) de ne pas tenir compte de ce qui a été fait par
Oriflam ne me dérange pas plus que ca, je penses qu'il ne faut pas se leurrer.
Cette édition sortie par Mongoose est bien dans l'esprit du temps: sortir un
maximum de jeux à la durée de vie limitée, imprimés à relativement peu
d'exemplaires en ne prévoyant qu'un seul supplément à coup sûr, afin de pouvoir
s'adapter facilement et rapidement en fonction du succès éventuel.

Je prend le pari (Aral Vilsn fasse que je me trompe!) que la gamme Hawkmoon by
Mongoose s'arrêtera sans bruits après son 2e supplément...
Ce qui est peut-être une bonne nouvelle: l'espace sera libre pour des créations
persos OU pour continuer à utiliser le "vieux" Background!

***

If you want to know more send me a PM or contact me by e-mail...

 

[The King]

Je prend le pari (Aral Vilsn fasse que je me trompe!) que la gamme Hawkmoon by
Mongoose s'arrêtera sans bruits après son 2e supplément...
Ce qui est peut-être une bonne nouvelle: l'espace sera libre pour des créations
persos OU pour continuer à utiliser le "vieux" Background!

Indeed, 3 books were forseen at the beginning, including one scenario booklet; now the scenario has been included in the coming sourcebook.

Thanks anyway for the comparison between both versions.

 

[Kagan Altar]

Thanks a lot Sabbak. I am a Frenchman indeed, and welcome your input on the matter. Very insightful!

I shall send you a PM for additional questions.

 

[Archer]

I have just one question; Is the rules 100% RQ (except for science and magic)? most importantly, does it use the same hit points per hit location as RQ? or does it use a system like Elric! / Stormbringer5?
I just wonder, because if it is the same RQ rules, I see no reason to bother with this version of the game. I already have Elric!, Stormbringer5, Corum, Hawkmoon moniker and so on. And the main difference between those rules and RQ are the damage system. And I feel that the Stormbringer5 damage system is as close to perfection as possible (allows for fast and furious sword and sorcery style combat; care less where you hit someone unless it is a major wound).

 

[Loz]

I have just one question; Is the rules 100% RQ (except for science and magic)? most importantly, does it use the same hit points per hit location as RQ? or does it use a system like Elric! / Stormbringer5?
I just wonder, because if it is the same RQ rules, I see no reason to bother with this version of the game. I already have Elric!, Stormbringer5, Corum, Hawkmoon moniker and so on. And the main difference between those rules and RQ are the damage system. And I feel that the Stormbringer5 damage system is as close to perfection as possible (allows for fast and furious sword and sorcery style combat; care less where you hit someone unless it is a major wound).

Both Elric and Hawkmoon use the core RQ engine, so it's HP per locaton.

As to whether you should get either book; well, that's for you to decide. But Elric, certainly, contains material not found in previous versions of the game, and brings the game up to date with the saga, referencing the recent comics and novels. More new material is in the pipeline too.

 

[Archer]

Ok.

Will the release of the EC books from Moongoose be the end to Chaosiums EC line of products? (not that Chaosium has much activity going there though).

 

[Sadric 86th]

I can't wait for the new Elric book. I'm easing my Players over...I thought it would be a tough sell but they're very receptive to it. I think if Mongoose has the license, Chaosium is now out of the picture. It's grand to finally see the line picked up!

 

[tarkhan bey]

Finally, I got Hawkmoon!
I have given it a quick look through now and all in all, I am happy with the purchase. With the impending release of 2ed Conan RPG, I had decided that I was not going to get involved with MRQ. That was until the revelation about the EC line of books. Still had my doubts though,the one being that I was going to recieve a set of MRQ rules with a rehash of the previous background from the Chaosium Monograph and earlier Hawkmoon releases.
I am glad to be able to say that the slightly modified MRQ rules for Hawkmoon are good. Gareth's background has changed slightly but is still obviously recognizable. It is a little different in feel from that presented by Loz in the Chaosium Monograph. Both are excellent though,and both are completely viable as a different incarnations of Europe following the Tragic Millenium. With only a little reworking they could also
be used as supplemental material for each other. 8)
I am now really looking forward to Loz's take on Elric.
I just have one quick rules question. A weapon has HP as well as AP. How does it lose hit points? I imagine that if its Hp and Ap are exceeded by a single blow that it is broken, is that interpretation correct?

 

[Tal]

I got mine yesterday! I read it last night. I'm pleased with it. I like some of things introduced in it(regional skill bonuses, optional points system for stats etc.) I hope there is more books to come after Granbraten.