Finally got my rpg book!

[Xex]

Well the multiplayer gamebook was finally delivered today. I am still reading through it, some impressions:

-I like the concise nature of the rules. However, some parts needed to be more fleshed out, especially the rules and Disciplines. For example, in the Mind over Matter Discipline it does not state you can use it to pick locks, when in fact you can. I know in adventures like Terror of the Darklords this is mentioned, but newbies picking up the core rulebook only wont know it.

-The artwork is mostly good, but there is too little of it. More artwork in the upcoming products please. Since we now know the book has been selling very well, Mongoose should be able to splurge on the artwork a bit more.

More impressions as I keep reading.

btw what did people think about the adventure in the book? I still have to read it but want to hear other ppl's opinions on it as well.

 

[phantomdoodler]

Check out page 37 - it has a difficulty for Mind over matter lockpicking attempts.

I do like the lack of rules - as i get older, i prefer games with more roleplaying, and less stat checking so this is going the way i like. Personally, though, i feel a mixed party would be more fun than Kai only, because there isnt that much way to differentiate one kai from another, especially at higher ranks where everyone will have similiar disciplines.

I also thought that the Healing Discipline is a little powerful - you can heal all your injuries in a 2 or 3 hours. I personally may have to limit that, reducing the healing times to 1 EP per hour.


I am not sure if this game is good for an extended campaign as it stands, although i would be stingy with character progression. For example, the adventure in the book is probably less than a third of a typical lonewolf gamebook, so i would not award a new rank at the end. I may introduce some other award system for players, such as rerolls etc, and only give them a new rank once they have completed a major campaign objective (equivalent to completing a gamebook).

Overall I am very impressed with the game because this version doesnt muck about too much - it is very easy for Gms to house rule and create their own adventures using the other gamebooks for inspiration. I also like the artwork, and yes, there could have been more, but then the book is pretty slim. It has actually inspired me to do some illustrations of my own.

 

[Xex]

Right you are. One mistake I did notice though is that they mention the Magnakai and the Grandmaster Disciplines will be found in Heroes of Magnamund, when in fact they will not be in there. Hopefully they will be in book 4, along with advanced disciplines for all the classes.

You will like Heroes of Magnamund phantomdoodler, as it has 12 new classes all of them with their own unique flavor. The mages especially are very powerful; Lightning Hand for example is powerful enough to take out magnakai level foes if the Brotherhood wizard expends most of his willpower in one fell swoop.

 

[phantomdoodler]

I cant wait for heroes- that is when i will want to run a campaign because i like giving players choice. May also work on some more of my own till then- may be a Priest of Ishir type, an Ogron Mercenary, a Toranese Archer and some bad guys like Acolytes of Vashna, or Cener Druids....Good things to come. I definitely think a higher rank sourcebook would be useful, but i will make sure my players dont advance too much, so they dont max out too soon.

 

[Xex]

The Border Ranger of the North found in Heroes of Magnamund is basically the Torenese Archer so you don't need to stat it up. It would be cool to get your take on the other classes though.

 

[phantomdoodler]

i always liked the border rangers, so thats good they made it. I am assuming that most classes will be built along the lines of the Kai - ie you get one ability/spell/skill each rank so i will have a think about them.

 

[The Wolf]

I believe zipp liked the adventure - though part 3 is in Signs and Portents.

 

[Zipp Dementia]

The adventure is indeed good! I didn't follow it exactly, but it provided tons of great places for me to expand upon and it can easily fit in with the previously released supplements from the original RPG (Dawn of Darkness and Blood Moon Rising). Between those two and Grey Wolf's adventure, that should be enough to last players and GMs for many sessions.

By that time, maybe I'll have my quickie written up for a Signs and Portents release. Outside of that quick adventure, I've also got a huge campaign planned out, but no plans to write it down just yet (outside of my many pages of notes and flowboxes).

 

[Zipp Dementia]

As for new character classes, I am quite happy with just the Kai! It keeps the players together and gives them the all-so-important reason to not just run off and do their own thing. I wouldn't mind seeing more classes, but chances are I'll be running Lone Wolf with small groups of Kai, rather than large groups of myriad classes.

 

[Xex]

I recall you wanted to do a Ragdaron Tavern Brawl as an rpg session once. With Heroes out you should be able to do it.

 

[beowuuf]

If you mean zipp, he did that under d20 based on redbeard's senario - and t was awesome

 

[Zipp Dementia]

If you mean zipp, he did that under d20 based on redbeard's senario - and t was awesome

Thank you, Beowuuf! I'm a bit embarrased that it was the only RPG I managed to finish with you fine folks at TOTs!

I'm still hoping Xex has time to run a full game using the new rules!

 

[beowuuf]

Got my book too - surprisingly sized and flat, but I do like the style and simplicity of it. Need to properly read it, I dipped in and out over lunchtime today.

Very cool though, very cool!

 

[Sir Brad]

Mine arrived this morning as I was sleeping off my night-shift (By rights I should be asleep, But LW RPG beckons)

For starters it's a bit small both in Profile and Page Count (especially with what I paid to get it down to OZ), about 80-90% of it I did myself back in the 80's & 90's.

Less than sterling points over with lets get down to the good points, I'm proven that I was going in the right direction back in the day. It's a fantastic base for the RPG that with the Team of Mr Dever and Mongoose will go much further than I ever could on my own. I have an actual professional Printed Book with this it will be easier to get a game than an aging binder filled with yellowing foolscap covered in my dyslexic scrawl. seeing the work of Mr's Dever and Sprange will let me House Rule the game how it want it to be till Mongoose can print a Canon (and likely better) alternative.


6.5-7/10 guys, a couple of strong expansions could easily kick this up to a high 8. Also If Heroes is what I expect it to be a Compiled edition would be an easy 8 possibly a 9.

 

[Eternalknight]

Where in Aus are you? I'm still waiting

 

[The Wolf]

The adventure is indeed good! I didn't follow it exactly, but it provided tons of great places for me to expand upon and it can easily fit in with the previously released supplements from the original RPG (Dawn of Darkness and Blood Moon Rising). Between those two and Grey Wolf's adventure, that should be enough to last players and GMs for many sessions.

By that time, maybe I'll have my quickie written up for a Signs and Portents release. Outside of that quick adventure, I've also got a huge campaign planned out, but no plans to write it down just yet (outside of my many pages of notes and flowboxes).

Thanks Zipp, as I said, use it as a toolbox or springboard for your own ideas and adventures - that's how I always write my things.

 

[Sir Brad]

Where in Aus are you? I'm still waiting

Brisbane, I ordered mine from the UK branch.

 

[Eternalknight]

Regional Victoria for me. I ordered mine from UK too so hopefully it may turn up tomorrow.

 

[Zipp Dementia]

Now that I've raved, it's time to complain.

My main complaint with the book, as with many Mongoose products, is that there aren't enough examples. Especially lacking is an example of combat, without which it is not clear that enemies do not choose targets in combat. Without my knowledge of the LW gamebooks, I never would've figured that out on my own and would still be trying to give enemies a combat turn.

Please start adding comprehensive examples in your products, Mongoose! I don't want people not to play LW because they don't understand what's going on!

Otherwise, it's all pretty great stuff.