Slaine, Dead?!

[PrinceYyrkoon]

Whats this about? Why do I hear in other parts of these forums, people saying that the Slaine rpg is dead? Are Mongoose aware of this? Is there anything on the horizon for the Slaine rpg? (Commissioned, rather than a freelancer doing something in his own time for no money).

 

[tarkhan bey]

Take a look on page 3 of the Baileoisin thread. There is a reference there to the Rebellion group and of possibility for a future Slaine release.

 

[tarkhan bey]

I was thinking about the demise of the Slaine line and I wonder if its apparent failure was down to the fact that the MRQ book was not self supporting? Perhaps if it had been done like EoM and Hawkmoon and contained all the rules to start play, it might have done better.
I still hold out some hope that MA's Baileoisin Chronicles will see the light of day but I was just thinking-Might a Slaine Companion reignite interest in this fantastic setting?
If it contained the rules and character creation stuff that is pertinent to Slaine from each of the MRQ rule books,a short scenario,the couple of Slaine articles from S&P as well as some converted stuff from D20 that didn't make it into the first book, it might make the game more appealing.
Instead of buying several MRQ books to gather the pertinent information, you would only need one to realise the epic scope of this setting. :?:

 

[Rex]

I must not be paying attention to the real world very often.

We usually do very well, with Slaine at Origins and Gencon Demo's (And how could you not, it is after all, SLAINE) and I've always considered it one of our favorites to show off product wise....

I wouldn't mind seeing it, in a fresh, self contained book covered in a lot of that stunningly well done 2000AD art currently being linked to all over.

Someone bring me up to speed.

~Rex, The Black Hand, Demo's and more, often using an Axe.

 

[PrinceYyrkoon]

It amazes me that something like RQ Slaine could flop. It could have something to do with the D20 version having been done first, splitting sales and whatnot.

The RQ Slaine is a great book, I think Slaine and Runequest are a perfect match as well. The Moon Sow for the D20 version was great too, and fairly easily converted to RQ (which I did, and I suppose a number of people did also).

Maybe it will just take a Slaine film for everyone to see what theyve been missing.

 

[tarkhan bey]

I think that the fluff/crunch debate may have reared its head in the early days after MRQ Slaine appeared. There was a lot of fluff in the book which packed it out to a meaty 236 pages. This was a bit overwhelming for starters and I think that much of it could have been left for a companion book in the same way that Mongoose did with the D20 version.
The basic MRQ rules system should also have been included to make it self supporting.
I also agree with Prince Yrkoon that it is not terribly difficult to convert between D20 and MRQ. I reckon that if Mongoose had continued to support the line then D20 Slaine players would have purchased any further adventures or campaigns.

 

[PrinceYyrkoon]

I think that the fluff/crunch debate may have reared its head in the early days after MRQ Slaine appeared. There was a lot of fluff in the book which packed it out to a meaty 236 pages. This was a bit overwhelming for starters and I think that much of it could have been left for a companion book in the same way that Mongoose did with the D20 version.
The basic MRQ rules system should also have been included to make it self supporting.
I also agree with Prince Yrkoon that it is not terribly difficult to convert between D20 and MRQ. I reckon that if Mongoose had continued to support the line then D20 Slaine players would have purchased any further adventures or campaigns.

I dunno, the extra fluff in an rpg book is always welcome to me. I think to new guys as well, any extra fluff is helpful when starting a campaign. Lots of fluff doesnt make the game more complex. The fact that it was in B&W and softcover is probably an issue to customers used to full colour hardbacks from White Wolf, WotC, Pinnacle, etc.. I think it quite important for a book based on a comic character to be in colour, really. I picked up my copy of the book from Amazon for £15, I would have paid more for colour and a hardback.

For people who arent 'system sensitive', there wasnt any new material in the book either. If it was easy to convert to RQ from D20, GMs could have done that using the D20 book, without having to buy the MRQ version.

I think, for little effort on Mongoose's part, they could rekindle interest in the line. A pdf conversion of the Moon Sow campaign stats, or a reissue of it in one volume with RQ mechanics, with, possibly, an extra chapter or updated encounter, could be enough. With a little more effort, a new campaign, or expansion of the original Tir Nan Og sourcebook. A stat book for the main characters of the storyline, a magic item supplement, etc..

There seems to be little will, probably due to poor sales, but thats what I cant understand, one would think it a pretty strong licence.

I think it may boil down to the fact that it wasnt a complete, stand alone book with setting and rules. I seem to be in the minority when I say I prefer complete rulesets, rather than having generic sets of rules supported by setting books. Thing is, I dont want to have to buy three Traveller books to play Judge Dredd, and I can see why guys who arent, otherwise, interested in RQ, wanting a complete Slaine book, because thats all they want to play. The extra fluff at the expense of actual rules neccessary to play the game must be a deciding factor.

I think its this that has killed the game.

 

[tarkhan bey]

We are both reciting from the same Ogham script,Prince Yrkoon. I personally want as much background as possible to be included in my RPG purchases.
I think it was Simon Phipp who did a review some time ago(I may be wrong) where he indicated that there was a lot of extraneous fluff for him as a Slaine first timer and it was a bit hard to wade through.

We are both agreed that MRQ Slaine should have been self supporting and not reliant upon the purchase of basic MRQ rulebooks for play.

 

[PrinceYyrkoon]

We are both reciting from the same Ogham script,Prince Yrkoon. I personally want as much background as possible to be included in my RPG purchases.
I think it was Simon Phipp who did a review some time ago(I may be wrong) where he indicated that there was a lot of extraneous fluff for him as a Slaine first timer and it was a bit hard to wade through.

We are both agreed that MRQ Slaine should have been self supporting and not reliant upon the purchase of basic MRQ rulebooks for play.

Yes. I didnt think I was disagreeing, I took your point that the fact that it wasnt complete did it quite a lot of harm. Ive mentioned that, if Mongoose were to do a Traveller 2300 game, for instance, Id prefer that to be stand alone as well, though the trend seems to be for generic rules books, followed by setting books. I feel a little hypocritical when I say I prefer things to be stand alone, becasue thats not always the case. Im quite happy with something like Basic Roleplaying to be generic, or D&D, or even GURPS for that matter. So its horses for courses really. When it comes to something like Slaine, however, I think it needed to be a stand alone book, no doubt.

 

[Standing-Stone]

Tarkhan Bey said......

a Slaine Companion reignite interest in this fantastic setting?
If it contained the rules and character creation stuff that is pertinent to Slaine from each of the MRQ rule books,a short scenario,the couple of Slaine articles from S&P as well as some converted stuff from D20 that didn't make it into the first book, it might make the game more appealing.

Yeah. agreed. Although it didn't bother me at first when my book arrived in the mail. I didn't check and didn't know that stats and rules for character creationa nbd few other things weren't included in the book until it was pointed out to me.

So I reckon it definitley needs this infusion of information. I have all the D20 stuff anyway.

I would love to see the Slaine companion book for Runequest.

Concerning all those "Signs and Portents' articles on slaine including the ones that are now on downl;oadable PDF's. Mongoose Publishing might conceed and make this into a stand alone book wether or not converted to Runequest or left in their D20 format matters to me not as I do have both sets of rules. Perhaps if qwe pettion, keep asking for it.

I'm sorry I missed thoes earlier articles. Some of which sounded really interesting. The stuff about using Leyser weapons.

Here they are listed here. Care of Toothill Man --I wonder what happened to this fellow, has he changed his login or dissappeared--

Issue Page Article Author
3 62 The Vengeance of Maeldun Ian Sturrock
7 22 Power Beyond Cognition Ian Sturrock
10 38 Formorrians: The Dark of the Sea Tim Hitchcock
15 24 The War Cheif Vincent Paul Cooper
16 54 Beyond the Wailing Marsh Matthew Pritchard
17 22 Breaching the Walls Vincent Paul Cooper
21 48 Warriors of Midguard Tim Hitchcock
22 30 Magic of Midguard Tim Hitchcock
23 56 The Temple Grontenheim Tim Hitchcock

(in PDF version roleplayer edition/free on main mongoose site)

28 32 The Nissie Stanley Barnes
32 10 Born of Madness - The Paressi Tim Hitchcock
47 13 Formorrian Lords (RQ) Nick Robinson
48 29 A Wager Lost (RQ) Nick Robinson
49 27 The Cult of Myrddin (RQ) Nick Robinson
57 The Southern Traitors (RQ) John Foody


Would love to see that happen. I 'm wondering right now if that fellow who owns the "Home of the Underdogs" site might have the entire set uploaded. Might be worth a look.

Concerning the rules themselves. About them not being stand alone and the fact that Slaine is now Runequest, while Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog rules are converted for "Traveller" rules that seem way to simplistic for these characters and their worlds.

I still believe the Palladium rules would do them all justice. To me, they rate higher in their GEEKINESS. More attention to detail, more tables, more dice rolls.

The most important thing about Paladdium rules is that they would accomadate For Slaine and the more Sci/Fi-Tastic worlds of Judge Dredd and the others being considered for "Travellar" rules.

Has the White-Wolf system ever been considered. With it's huge dice pools. How you can succeed in skill tests automatically if you have higher dice pool for skill or statistic than the one being contested against. You only really need to make a dice rool if their value matches yours, or if their value is higher or if it's lower and your attempting to do something really tricky. I always thought that was really clever.

I think the Slaine really needs it's onw systems. Perhaps a systems wirtten solely for 2000AD characters. Abit like the Diceman rules, but with more work in it.

 

[Standing-Stone]

Tarkhan Bey said......

a Slaine Companion reignite interest in this fantastic setting?
If it contained the rules and character creation stuff that is pertinent to Slaine from each of the MRQ rule books,a short scenario,the couple of Slaine articles from S&P as well as some converted stuff from D20 that didn't make it into the first book, it might make the game more appealing.

Yeah. agreed. Although it didn't bother me at first when my book arrived in the mail. I didn't check and didn't know that stats and rules for character creationa nbd few other things weren't included in the book until it was pointed out to me.

So I reckon it definitley needs this infusion of information. I have all the D20 stuff anyway.

I would love to see the Slaine companion book for Runequest.

Concerning all those "Signs and Portents' articles on slaine including the ones that are now on downl;oadable PDF's. Mongoose Publishing might conceed and make this into a stand alone book wether or not converted to Runequest or left in their D20 format matters to me not as I do have both sets of rules. Perhaps if qwe pettion, keep asking for it.

I'm sorry I missed thoes earlier articles. Some of which sounded really interesting. The stuff about using Leyser weapons.

Here they are listed here. Care of Toothill Man --I wonder what happened to this fellow, has he changed his login or dissappeared--

Issue Page Article Author
3 62 The Vengeance of Maeldun Ian Sturrock
7 22 Power Beyond Cognition Ian Sturrock
10 38 Formorrians: The Dark of the Sea Tim Hitchcock
15 24 The War Cheif Vincent Paul Cooper
16 54 Beyond the Wailing Marsh Matthew Pritchard
17 22 Breaching the Walls Vincent Paul Cooper
21 48 Warriors of Midguard Tim Hitchcock
22 30 Magic of Midguard Tim Hitchcock
23 56 The Temple Grontenheim Tim Hitchcock

(in PDF version roleplayer edition/free on main mongoose site)

28 32 The Nissie Stanley Barnes
32 10 Born of Madness - The Paressi Tim Hitchcock
47 13 Formorrian Lords (RQ) Nick Robinson
48 29 A Wager Lost (RQ) Nick Robinson
49 27 The Cult of Myrddin (RQ) Nick Robinson
57 The Southern Traitors (RQ) John Foody


Would love to see that happen. I 'm wondering right now if that fellow who owns the "Home of the Underdogs" site might have the entire set uploaded. Might be worth a look.

Concerning the rules themselves. About them not being stand alone and the fact that Slaine is now Runequest, while Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog rules are converted for "Traveller" rules that seem way to simplistic for these characters and their worlds.

I still believe the Palladium rules would do them all justice. To me, they rate higher in their GEEKINESS. More attention to detail, more tables, more dice rolls.

The most important thing about Paladdium rules is that they would accomadate For Slaine and the more Sci/Fi-Tastic worlds of Judge Dredd and the others being considered for "Travellar" rules.

Has the White-Wolf system ever been considered. With it's huge dice pools. How you can succeed in skill tests automatically if you have higher dice pool for skill or statistic than the one being contested against. You only really need to make a dice rool if their value matches yours, or if their value is higher or if it's lower and your attempting to do something really tricky. I always thought that was really clever.

I think the Slaine really needs it's onw systems. Perhaps a systems wirtten solely for 2000AD characters. Abit like the Diceman rules, but with more work in it.

 

[tarkhan bey]

@Standing Stone-It would be cool if there was a single system that could be used for all the 2000AD spin offs but I don't see it happening. Mongoose have acquired the rights to produce new editions of two of the RPG industry's big hitters in Traveller and Runequest(I fondly remember a time when White Dwarf was full of articles and adventures for both these systems-but alas, no more ).
I just cannot see them undermining the selling power of these two licenses by risking their own set of rules.
Of the other two systems you mention, I have never been into tables heavy gaming. I don't mind playing them but as a GM, they are way too much hassle. Also, mostly ignored White Wolf as I found it hard enough already to shake the "Goth" tag that has haunted me since the eighties. :lol:

 

[tarkhan bey]

@ Standing Stone-I believe that my good friend and associate, Ronzo the Grim and Trig may be able to help out with the earlier S&P articles. Ronzo has all the printed copies of S&P and if you approached him nicely, Trig and he might be able to scan and e-mail them for your viewing pleasure.

Our group are most keen to keep the Beltain fires burning for a Slaine rebirth.

 

[Ronzo The Grim]

Hard enough to shake the goth tag? eh, Tarkhan, surely you jest, YOU ARE A DODGY OLD GOTH, that shall never change.

And yes, I've got up to issue 22 of S&P, I'm sure Trig would be able to scan them or something as long as we're not breaking any tribal laws, though, being Sessair, our laws are our own and we don't have much time for others rules. :twisted:

 

[Daithi O'an tSionnaigh]

I honestly would have loved to have seen a Slaine RQ stand alone game as well but I am fine with the way it was released as I also have the RQ books. I just would like to see some more releases for this and quite honestly I hope this doesn't all of a sudden get another release in the Traveller rule set. Cause I think that can cause a lot of people throwing up their hands and not bothering. I think Slaine & RQ go hand in hand. Much better than the D20 release did as far as lethality in combat.

Slaine is always a win/win with me.

 

[Rex]

I honestly would have loved to have seen a Slaine RQ stand alone game as well but I am fine with the way it was released as I also have the RQ books. I just would like to see some more releases for this and quite honestly I hope this doesn't all of a sudden get another release in the Traveller rule set. Cause I think that can cause a lot of people throwing up their hands and not bothering. I think Slaine & RQ go hand in hand. Much better than the D20 release did as far as lethality in combat.

Slaine is always a win/win with me.

I've said before Slaine does really well for us at the Conventions. How it does for the company though, I haven't really asked. To busy having fun running Slaine.

RQ is a a great system for the setting as well. I'm not going to be happy with it's loss.

~Rex, The Black Hand, Mongoose Infantry

 

[tarkhan bey]

If Slaine is to be re-released as part of the Mongoose Rebellion thing, then I hope that it remains MRQ based as well. Someone in another post mentioned that the Traveller rules were equally as good for Sword and Sorcery games as for Sci Fi. Please Goddess, Nooooooooo! :shock:

MRQ works for Slaine. It needs a few minor tweaks(such as clarifying the naming of weapons and the reworking of several uber powerful skills into Legendary abilities) but its nothing that either a PDF online or a hardcopy of a Slaine Companion cannot remedy.

No more reprints please Mongoose. I don't want to purchase previously printed background material for a third time. Give us adventures and campaigns, extended background on the Fomorians and Midgarders and finally, give Mongoose Acolyte time to finish his Baileoisin project. :roll:

 

[Rex]

If Slaine is to be re-released as part of the Mongoose Rebellion thing, then I hope that it remains MRQ based as well. Someone in another post mentioned that the Traveller rules were equally as good for Sword and Sorcery games as for Sci Fi. Please Goddess, Nooooooooo! :shock:

MRQ works for Slaine. It needs a few minor tweaks(such as clarifying the naming of weapons and the reworking of several uber powerful skills into Legendary abilities) but its nothing that either a PDF online or a hardcopy of a Slaine Companion cannot remedy.

No more reprints please Mongoose. I don't want to purchase previously printed background material for a third time. Give us adventures and campaigns, extended background on the Fomorians and Midgarders and finally, give Mongoose Acolyte time to finish his Baileoisin project. :roll:

Well, no Reprints until they are needed. Sometimes you DO need to reprint. Publish a conversion book (anyone remember those) for those that don't want to pick up the new material (pdf is fine for that really), then more new content.

Then Slaine continues to Kick Axe. It we had more then a few folk run down to the Booth to scrounge for whatever Slaine material they could find this Gencon. Certainly some interest there, but the issue seemed to be, no one knew what it was.

Until they played it. THEN, they were as hooked as the rest of us. :twisted:

~Rex, The Black Hand, Mongoose Infantry

 

[evilernie]

Rex is right. People didn't know Slaine, until they played it. Then they loved it. I am anxiously awaiting the "news" we were told would be coming. Slaine is not dead...

 

[Rex]

Rex is right. People didn't know Slaine, until they played it. Then they loved it. I am anxiously awaiting the "news" we were told would be coming. Slaine is not dead...

You haven't played a Slaine Game till you've played one with Evil Ernie there all done up in Woad. :twisted:

Ernie's been the Slaine go to guy since Day one on the beat for us, and like he just said. Folks sit down, play once, HOOKED. It's just that good. Then they're like, "Is this a new game?"

Nope, out for years, an they go running off to buy everything in bright orange covered with Axes that they can find.

Slaine never dies. Just comes back with a bigger Axe.

~Rex