Changes to Slaine you would like to see...

[The Greek]

Hi all

As I am now back in full on Slaine mode I thought it was time for me to start a new thread.

Is there anything you would like to see changed in the Slaine rules.

The Salmon Leap skill/attacking move has come into some criticism, and it is a tad overpowered, so I am looking at amending it a little. (I realised there are not enough little drawbacks or limitations on the skill as written, as the 'Kangaroo' warband I have been playing with so expertly showed how to overuse the skill...

Anything else?

Say what you would like changed, and then a suggestion as to how you would change it.

It is all good.

Look forward to hearing from you all.

The Greek

 

[tarkhan bey]

I think that Shield Kick is a little overpowered. You only lose one combat action if it fails as opposed to its success meaning that your opponent can forget about his shield for a whole round. I think that the opponent losing the ability to parry with a shield on the next combat reaction, or simply loses his next reaction might be better.

Also, perhaps the Salmon leap should be a Legendary ability rather than a skill.

 

[The King]

Also, perhaps the Salmon leap should be a Legendary ability rather than a skill.

This would thus limit the number of people who could use it.

 

[Standing-Stone]

Nice to hear that Slaine Runequest is still breathing.

I thought it was dieing.

I haven't problem with the rules at all.

But was wondering if a Slaine Monster Manuel could be made.

With speical Slaine beasties in it.

Yadda Yadda Yadda,

A 'El Worlds Guide'

A guide for Dinas Emrys fortress and it's surrounding land.

The Guide to Cythrons and Cyrthawl.

Guide to Formorions and Sea Devils. The five Limbed Ones.

The Guide to Beast Lords and Warp Spasms.

The Guide to Titans, their half-human/Dwarven brethren and Dwarves as well.

 

[Daithi O'an tSionnaigh]

A Formorian Guide would be the most interesting to me. But until that time I pretty much build on what we have already. As far as the overpowering I guess I don't see it or maybe I just treat it as "its Slaine and stuff is suppose to be outrageously violent and crazy."

 

[The Greek]

Nice to hear that Slaine Runequest is still breathing.

I thought it was dieing.

I haven't problem with the rules at all.

But was wondering if a Slaine Monster Manuel could be made.

With speical Slaine beasties in it.

Yadda Yadda Yadda,

A 'El Worlds Guide'

A guide for Dinas Emrys fortress and it's surrounding land.

The Guide to Cythrons and Cyrthawl.

Guide to Formorions and Sea Devils. The five Limbed Ones.

The Guide to Beast Lords and Warp Spasms.

The Guide to Titans, their half-human/Dwarven brethren and Dwarves as well.

Good grief - that is an even more impressive list than the one I came up with...

I can only say... we will see.

I may look at doing a monster/magic item/religion(cult) once per week which should mean the monster book will slowly take form (a religion/magic book would be quicker to do since each cult will take up a lot more room than any monster).

So of your list a book on monsters is most likely to see the light of day first (especially since there are still a bunch of critters I have not written up from the original game and a few others from mythological sources I can use), but probably after a magic book. (and after the Baileoisin chronicles as well).

Nick

 

[The King]

I'd like to contribute but won't make any promise I'm not sure I could keep.
I'll write things down when I've both time and ideas and will then submit them to you.

 

[The Greek]

All contributions will be gladly received (and at least read intently...)

 

[tarkhan bey]

Daithi, I know what you mean about the outrageous violence that goes hand in hand with Slaine. My group absolutely love the whole(almost) cartoon violence of the setting. 8) The problem is that while it worked in D20, MRQ is a whole other ballpark.
The lack of the hit point buffer means that some of these skills, especially the Shield Kick followed by Salmon leap combination, are deadly. In a system where armour is rare and shields are the chief protection, any foe who comes up against this combination is more that likely food for the crows. All very well if the characters only ever cross swords with mooks but what if they come up against a fairly accomplished warrior? Hero points are all very well but they eventually run out and if you constantly have to use them to save your hide you may never have enough to buy that "Grip of Iron" legendary ability that you so desperately want.
I am not sure how to get around this and retain the mayhem but I believe that the two skills mentioned need to be re looked at.

 

[Ronzo The Grim]

This may not happen often, but this time I agree with Tarkhan Bey, I'm fully aware that a celtic hero would slay legions, and not think it too many, but a PC could swiftly be laid low by this. I'm not keen on dropping PCs but they need a challange to know they were in a tight spot sometimes, they soon pick up on fudged rolls so we need to look at this, perhaps instead on the shield being lost for the round, the next combat action would be enough.

 

[The Greek]

Thanks guys

This is something that I will be looking at to include in the BoC as erata with amendments to these two skills. (I will also look to amend the Slaine rulebook so future printings will have these changes already in).

Any other suggestions...

 

[tarkhan bey]

No problem MA. I think that weapon naming rules and restrictions should be clarified.
My own personal take was that a weapon could only be named following the slaying of an opponent of same or higher enech in single combat. In the case of creatures the GM would have to decide if the creature had been a suitable challenge to merit a weapon naming( eg a single goblin-probably not, but a Titan-absolutely). The name then confers a +1 damage bonus to the weapon.
Also, I would be of the opinion that a PC may only possess a single named weapon at any time(no matter whether named normally or using the Poetic naming spell). Once named, a PC should endeavour to use this weapon to the exclusion of all others and should probably suffer some enech loss for setting the weapon aside to use another.
eg Congal Breac has named his Iron Sword- Witchbiter following an encounter with some Drune War witches. Returning home from the southlands he finds a flint Greataxe and has an unfortunate run in with a Titan.
My impression is that he should use his named sword. If he chooses to "Shame" his sword by using the axe(for its greater damage) he might temporarily lose Enech equal to that lost if the sword was broken or his named weapon might lose its damage bonus until reconsecrated in the blood of an appropriate foe.
This is to try to stop characters carrying around an arsenal of "named weapons" in order to get the damage bonus.

 

[The Curly WereBear]

Also, perhaps the Salmon leap should be a Legendary ability rather than a skill.

I agree with Tarkhan bey!, Salmon leap should be a legendary ability. Someone mentioned that it would restrict the amount of people who could use it, whats wrong with that, it is described as......"The ELITE warriors of the Earth Goddess tribes learn to evade ranged weapons by leaping their own height straight up in the air" if your jump 10+ foot in the air and bring a dirty big axe down on someones head you would do quite a bit of damage to them, I actually think it's very fair. I would hate seeing Salmon leap become any less potent, it is a very famous image of slaine flying through the air, Brain bitter arched right back over his head :twisted: . There is the nice legend of celts jumping into the air and bringing their weapons down as two forces clashed. I guess i'm quite passionate about it, but it would seem my passion would have no impact as many will disagree

one question Tarko about weapon naming.....what would happen if a character uses two weapons?, like lets say you have a Sessair who use's 2 battleaxes???

 

[tarkhan bey]

Don't see a problem there Curly mate. Only the weapon that strikes the killing blow can be named. I wouldn't have an issue with an off hand weapon being used in conjunction with the named one though.
I do think that a double battleaxe combination, while stylish, would seriously limit that characters life expectancy(only 3 Ap for parrying).

 

[The Curly WereBear]

Don't see a problem there Curly mate. Only the weapon that strikes the killing blow can be named. I wouldn't have an issue with an off hand weapon being used in conjunction with the named one though.
I do think that a double battleaxe combination, while stylish, would seriously limit that characters life expectancy(only 3 Ap for parrying).

Ok sounds good, you just threw me saying the named weapon would be shamed if another weapon was used. no need for ap if I have a good dodge and initiative, so long as I can get the first hit! :twisted:

 

[Standing-Stone]

Concerning what you said about a book of monsters.

Thats great!

Curly said.....

I would hate seeing Salmon leap become any less potent, it is a very famous image of slaine flying through the air, Brain bitter arched right back over his head

As for nerfing or reducing the effectiveness of a comic book character's signature ability.

I would only restrict it to tribe members not in the Red Branch, unless thats been done anyway.

Speaking of which......

I found something interesting while reading the background information section of the latest reprint for 'Slaine the Horned God. '

Some obscure training practices that kept Celtic warriors airbourne during battle and something to with those golden armlets.

Something new from Pat Mills.

I was imagining if Free-Runnning/Parkour had a place in those ancient. Perhap it , perhaps it didn't. Nothing is easy to hide from a time travelling Celt.

I 'd beleive that this modern pastime would fit in real well with Salmon Leaping.[/url]

 

[The Curly WereBear]

Yeah I would like it restricted if anything. cause I do think it's very fair