Slaine Reborn?

[MongooseMatt]

Hi guys,

We have space for a new book a little later this year, and I found myself thinking, with the release of RQII, how it might be fun to revisit Slaine.

However, what to do? We have a few options, so I thought I would run them past you chaps and, at this stage, we would be happy to entertain any other ideas you have to bring back Slaine to roleplaying.

Idea One
You may recall late last year I was whiottering on about a 'special' project for Slaine, and that we were just trying to figure out how to do it. Still trying to figure it out

Basically, I wanted to do a unique book for Slaine. Full colour throughout, with globs of Clint Langley's artwork. That alone might have made it the best looking RPG evar (as they say), but I wanted to top it with a very special cover - big thick leather, complete with metal clasps. Very much an olde tome. This would have a very high price point and basically be limited edition only - Slaine fanatics need only apply (price point at least £50, and possibly stretching to £75), but they would be getting one of the best RPG books ever produced.

Should we carry on looking for ways to do this book?

Idea Two
Put the Horned Lord campaign into a single volume, with minor rules section at the front and update rules to RQII. Basically, turn Slaine into a campaign. Mr Langley artwork unlikely (both because of the size of the book and because he focuses on the 'wrong' period of Slaine.

Idea Three
RQ Slaine Redux - something similar to the last RQ Slaine release, but revised for the new rules and rewritten to make it more 'funky'.

Idea Four
A smaller Slaine rulebook, perhaps 128-160pp, with the Horned Lord campaign released as free downloads.

What do you think? Please bear in mind that if Slaine was a massive seller, we would be doing something akin to the recent Dredd release. It isn't, and so we can't. but we can do _something_ for Slaine fans.

 

[Mr_Scream]

I like a lot of these ideas! I like the thought of having a big book but tbh just to bring it up to date with the new rules that seems a bit much.

I would favour a re-dux of the old book with some other artwork (not just langleys) in a smaller volume with a horned God Campeighn separate.

Personally my favourite Slaine artist was McMahon closely followed by Bisley.

 

[Robin]

Idea Four
A smaller Slaine rulebook, perhaps 128-160pp, with the Horned Lord campaign released as free downloads.

What do you think? Please bear in mind that if Slaine was a massive seller, we would be doing something akin to the recent Dredd release. It isn't, and so we can't. but we can do _something_ for Slaine fans.

Idea four

If it's not a big seller, keep it as simple as possible and as cheap as possible. A cheap game with a free campaign might at least create some casual, speculative purchases and give the setting some more exposure (I'm just being hopeful, of course; you're the expert here, and probably have more realistic expectations).

Oh, and helping the Baileoisin Chronicles along might be a good idea, too.

Regards

Robin

 

[Fiddler]

Idea #4

I a small Slaine rule book is a good idea but if you use Mr. Langley's art it
needs to be in color.

I think running the Horned Lord campaign in S&P would be great. I enjoyed the Babylon 5 campaign you ran over last year in S&P.

 

[Tal]

Will we be getting only one book?

If so I would suggest an updated RQ II book (option three) with the Baileoisin Chronicles included or Baileoisin more detailed so it could be used as a base.

If I had my wish it would be a color rulebook (not option one just a full color rulebook)with Clint Langley art. Enough size to get everything in the first RQ book did with more emphasis on writing up the cults (benefits, hindraces, special spells etc..)in the rulebook not what was in the first RQ book (or a cults book like the Cults of the Young Kingdom book). With campaign books to follow, one a year, starting with Baileoisin Chronicles(I really want to see that book). But I know that is just a dream.

I'm not real keen on the redo the Horned God campaign and leave it at that option(option 2?) Redoing the horned god in S&P soundes good though.

 

[Rex]

I'm for All of it combined but then I'm greedy. IF I had to pick just one, I'm leaning towards an RQII setting styles, with a bunch of Download Bait attached, up to and including PDF's of all the cool Slaine Art, that you could say, Pick and choose a few pages from a big catalog of pictures.

~Rex....Demands Slaine, worse yet his Origins and Gencon repeat Demo Game customers DEMAND, that Rex demands more Slaine.

~Rex

 

[SnowDog]

As cool as the big, leatherbound with metal clasps sound, I really can't afford the price Not even at the best of times and now the times are definitely "the best"...

Realistically, if you put out a product like that it will be a limited edition, like you said. If the projected sales meet what you expect that Slaine would sell (at the price like that), then go for it. I just hope to get a less expensive version

To be brutally frank, please don't use Langley's art in B/W product because it just doesn't work as we saw in the first RQ Slaine. The fine color pictures lost too much detail. If you can create a volume like Judge Dredd with normal cover and color interior art, then it's fine. If you use B/W interior art then use something that is already B/W or doesn't suffer as much from "conversion".

Personally I would like to get a book that allowed adventuring in the setting like it was in the early progs (like it was in Slaine d20) but also in more recent stories (like Slaine RQ).

Adventures are nice and I, too like the idea that Horned Lord campaign would be a free download and maybe then something more.

Anyway, am I reading this correctly that the Slaine is not as big a seller that it would allow you to produce (practically) more than the basic setting book? That's too bad.

I know this might not be the place to suggest this (sorry, all) but what about instead creating a totally new barbarian setting that combines aspects of Conan and Slaine with your own twist? Could be a still born idea...

 

[Rex]

It's been my experience from the last several Con's, that it's reasons for not being a huge seller, isn't because of the product, it's just that here on this side of the pond, folks are not very familiar with the comic itself.

Most folks Know Dredd, a few less know Strontium Dog, but Slaine is very unfamiliar (Hells there are folks that don't know CONAN has been a comic over here).

Every table we've run for it though, has always rushed off to go grab the books, so the interest is there, it's just coming slow and late which annoys me because as a setting Slaine is truly unique.

~Rex

 

[Tal]

I didn't know of Slaine till I went looking for a tribal celtic RPG. The RPG (d20, but I prefer th MRQ book) got me to track down the collected graphic novels(the King, Warrior Dawn and the Books of Invasions) on the internet, none of the comic book stores in my area had anything. Out of all the settings that have mentioned so far for MRQII Slaine and the Eternal Champion series are what I am most interested in.

 

[Mr_Scream]

Settings wise I prefer the earlier stuff that allowed for wackier adventures rather than prolonged campeighns but if we get a solid enough pocket rulebook (I know I would love a big hardback but its not practicle) and support the product then other settings and a Horned God campeighn could be supported via PDF.

I for one was not planning to switch to RQ2 but if Slain was released in a nice pocket format with some cool art from others than just langley (not everyone is a fan) and Mongoose showed that they were willing to provide support through PDF's then I would be more than willing to take the plunge.

 

[Lord Kruge]

Idea 2 and 3.

Release MRQII Slaine book and a Horned Lord Campaign book.

Oh and combine it with Idea 1 also, a limited edition MRQII Slaine. :mrgreen:

 

[tarkhan bey]

Frankly, none of the above appeal to me. I certainly don't intend to fork out over £50 for something that I have already purchased twice(D20 and MRQ). It doesn't matter how much you pretty it up.
You really have to decide if this is for new starts or for established Slaine players before you can work out where its going. Everything above, appears to based on new players, or at least those who have not been around long enough to have enjoyed the Horned Lord campaign.
As far as I can see, the listed options have nothing in them for me or my group. There certainly doesnt appear to be anything to draw back "old timers" like Tooty or Hass either.
Not to be completely negative though, I do have an idea for how to please both potential new players and the old crew.
Release MRQ2 Slaine. Include all the new "funky" rules etc. Limit the background to a similar amount that was in the original D20 rulebook. Fill out the book with new goodies such as a MRQ2 version of the Midgarder magic from S&P. Add in a detailed locality with interesting NPC's to interact with and several smaller scale adventures in said locale(Baleoisin anyone? :roll: ). Loads of brief, paragraph long, adventure hooks would also be good.It will be hard to top the Horned Lord campaign but MRQ works just a well (maybe even better) on a less epic scale. Make the Horned Lord Campaign available as a MRQ2 PDF for those who demand their campaigns to be of Epic Proportions. Release Tir Nan Og as a PDF for those who want a more detailed background than the rulebook provides. Put the Tribe books all into a single PDF.
Finally, support Slaine with new material. Hardcopy, PDF or S&P. I will be happy with any.There will be enough cut and paste in all of the PDF's mentioned above.
I love the Slaine Setting and have been an avid purchaser of Mongoose products since it was a D20 system. The above is 'probably' the only way that you will get me to buy into this.

 

[tarkhan bey]

It might also sell a little better if it you did not present it as, what appears to be, an afterthought.
"Oh, we have a spare book slot that needs filled. Lets try Slaine." :roll:
How about, "the Conan line is finished but fear not all you fans of barbaric action for MRQ2 Slaine is on its way."
"King Conan is dead, long live High King Slaine of Tir nan Og!"
Seriously guys, I reckon it will sell if you market it a bit better than the last effort. D20 Slaine seemed to do OK. I reckon it was just the poor binding and the, too dark, art issues that ruined MRQ Slaine( that and the fact that it was not Stand Alone and poorly supported).
I think that it was Rex who once mentioned that it looked like all the players of Slaine appeared to be Irish.
Well, there are 40 million+ Americans claiming Irish and Scotch Irish ancestry. There is bound to be an untapped American market for this setting.

 

[PrinceYyrkoon]

A chance to buy Slaine, what? Again? Hurrah!

But seriously...

Theres no need to reprint the Horned God again, I think we all have it, but, please print RQ stats for it somewhere. That would be useful and appreciated.

About the book, well, I can do without leather covers to be honest, especially with clasps. How on Earth could you stack it with your other books?! Space is at a premium for me, at least, this is what my missus thinks.

If you do go for it, it HAS to be self contained, complete in one volume. A hardback would be great, colour would be a bonus, but not necessary. I wouldnt go for a collectors copy, and I dont have RQII. I guess I will be buying it, but I dont actually need to buy it just yet.

I think guys that buy Slaine wont, necessarily, be going full-on for Mongoose products. If you had to have the RQII book to use a Slaine book, that would be fairly off-putting, even for me.

 

[The King]

Agreeing with Tal, I suggest a book with the new rules, with creatures and magic and which includes the Baileoisin Chronicles as well (there were too much talks about it to just let it die) with the Horned Lord campaign released as free downloads. 8)

 

[Standing-Stone]

Quoting Msprange.....

Basically, I wanted to do a unique book for Slaine. Full colour throughout, with globs of Clint Langley's artwork. That alone might have made it the best looking RPG evar (as they say), but I wanted to top it with a very special cover - big thick leather, complete with metal clasps. Very much an olde tome. This would have a very high price point and basically be limited edition only - Slaine fanatics need only apply (price point at least £50, and possibly stretching to £75), but they would be getting one of the best RPG books ever produced.

I like that idea, but wouldn't the Mike MacMahon artwork be more suitable. His work is more suggestive of woodcuttings ink blotted onto the parchment styled pages of those leather bound tomes with metal clasping in common folklore.. Wrttnen in old world style, interwoven with Oghams on real pages of normal paper. Not the glossy photgraphic paper that has beeen common of late. It's biggest drawback is no matter how clean my hasnds are, it's going to show all my finger prints, ruining the pages..
I might actualley buy this if it included the generic RuneQuest rules,. Player's guide, gamemasters section and bestiary.
So, I wouldn't have to fork out for those as well
On the subject of making requests.
Somebody once hinted that if I was polite enough, they would send mee e-mail copy of the Signs & Portents Material that has been written for Slaine before they were introduced as a free upload.for fre as well.
If I ever get to lay my eyes on those rare/lost articles on Slaine, I wouldn't too fussed if they weren't converted to Runequest rules as I'm still more partlial to the Dtwenty version. I think alot more than I orignally thought was ommitted when the rules were converted to the new system.
There' is alot of holes in the RuneQuest version.
What with lack of fanciful names for combat skill like Sundered Heads and Piles of Corpses.
Has Runequest Slaine really improved on it's predecessor?.
I guess Mongoose Publisihng have a professional obligation to not agree.

.

 

[Troll66]

I would like to see a solid rebuilt revised RQ" Slaine hardback in full colour. With a new starting adventure. Then Horned god as pdf RQ" upgrade document . Same for Tir nan og. Basically make sure old supplemets are RQquested up in main rule book and pdf supplements. Also pdf old articles again runequested up.


In another dimension I owould go for option one...love the idea!

 

[Dr. Mabuse]

Option 3 or 4.

I would like a better looking rulebook with an updated version of the rules special to the world of Slaine. And I would like a campaign either as a (free) download or as a book.

I have the MRQ1 version and some of the D20 supplements. I would still buy a new edition.

I don't like the look of MRQ1 Slaine - the illustrations are murky and the whole book look like a b/w photocopy set at "very dark". I find myself wanting to play Slaine despite the look of the book, not because of it. Either make the MRQ2 version in colour or (better) use black and white art. The d20 books look far better the MRQ1 book.

A campaign is important for me. Slaines world and the British /heavy-metal Celtic inspired mindset is fairly alien to me, so I would like a campaign both to get me going and for inspiration.

Mabuse

 

[Antiquary]

One of the reasons I did not buy the RQ Sláine because it was not a stand alone product. The other was the awful binding and not being able to read the book properly. I had given up on the probability of a corrected re-print that would have me consider again buying it.

If there is going to be a new Sláine book, I'd go for options three or four.
I managed to get some suplements of the d20 edition, although I don't like the system, just for the fluff. A reprint, or the release as free PDFs, of The Horned God campaign would be a plus for me.

 

[Standing-Stone]

D20 is a well known system, even if it considered to new, it's msotly related to and spunoff from The Advanced Dungeons and Dragons rules which is acutalley the Third Edition rules.

Have I got that right.

Anyway, you would do weel to get used to those rules as they are one of the more poplaur systems.