In an effort to gauge what You -the Reader- would like to see more of on this blog I have posted a poll (see above) simply asking, which game system would you choose if you were to run a Sword & Sanity style game? There are only a select number of games to choose from, but this is by design. These are the games I am a fan of, and would be willing to develop for. Some are "old-school" and some are considered "new-school", but all are great games that I think are fun. Many are games that can be acquired freely just by downloading, which I am a huge advocate of (see the links to the right under Free Games!), while others are not free, but are damn fine games nonetheless. Admittedly, I have more experience with some of the games listed than others, but I have included a couple simply because I feel they would be great vehicles for Sword & Sanity.
So there it is. Please take a moment to cast a vote, and if you feel strongly enough about it please leave a response letting me know why. The more information I can obtain the better. For the lurkers out there, please do me a favor and de-cloak for a moment and vote. It will be quick and painless, I promise! If you have a suggestion not listed, please select your favorite from the list and then share your real choice with a comment. Thanks!
14 comments:
I'm torn, between Barbarians of Lemuria and LL/AEC. Both are great games, I was selfish in my final vote in that I chose LL, since that's what I'm looking at running next, so I thought I could "borrow" stuff you work up with that ruleset.
Tough to answer, since there are several systems on the list I am not familiar with.
I'd want to use something a little less bleak than CoC.
I like the free Conan hacks that Elflair games has produced, but I don't know if those are "sanity" enough...
I voted for Barbarians of Lemuria. It has a good buzz going now that I'd like to see build. However, as far as my gaming group goes, I think Savage Worlds would be the most accepted. Its already being played by our group in a pulp setting so this would be an easier transition. If I had my druthers, though I love to haunt the OSR blogs, my two favorite systems are Reign and the new Mongoose RQ2.
I voted LL, which is probably one of the more "safe" and traditional games there, but I also think it would be familiar and applicable to the most readers, myself included. I'd also like to see rules and ideas to help the system handle this type of setting more specifically than it does.
@Brutorz Bill - I am intrigued with Barbarians of Lemuria, and readily admit that Labyrinth Lord is a "comfort zone" game for me.
@Paladin - I too have been following the Elflair write ups for the Hyborian Age. Good stuff there. I tend to agree with you comment on Call of Cthulhu, and that is why I shy away from running it. There are way too many preconceived notions that go along with that game for my taste. I mainly added it to the list to see just how many people who read my blog use it for their games. If you are unfamiliar with some of the games listed then I highly recommend that you take a look at all of them, especially the free ones. I feel they are all top notch games that deserve more attention than they have gotten.
@Greipr - Savage Worlds and BoL are the two games I have neglected more than any of the others on the list. I have been looking at RQ2, but I am disappointed that it is not OGL this time around... so I chose to add OpenQuest to the list instead. OQ is a great game, and you should check it out if you have not done so already.
I've done both in Savage and Labyrinth Lord. I love them both. If I could vote for both I would. I went Savage because it of the Realms of Cthulhu book already available for it. It is a thing of awesome. I'm going to steal BRP sanity for LL next time I run a Cthulhuy LL game. Right now I'm using Ravenloft's fear and horror checks.
Since 'my system' isn't an option on the poll, I feel I have to speak up. I use the Storytelling system, with a leaning towards Mage: the Awakening. The setting is Sword & Sanity-related, although with a personal touch. It loosely resembles our own world, 17th Century-ish, with orcs, dangerous elves, both new and forgotten gods coming into the world, and with Cthulhu awakening in the deep.
The Sanity-aspect is toned down a bit, but the system's Humanity-rating lends itself well to this function when needed. The reason for the low emphasis on insanity is that the game is more epic than the stereotypical Lovecraftian one, and with characters loosing their minds every three sessions the world would have ended a long time ago. The PCs are heroes, rather than investigators.
Chalk this up as one vote for the Storytelling system.
Just to clarify, Basic Fantasy Role-playing and Basic RolePlaying (BRP) are not the same system. I just wanted to add that since I have had emails from a couple of people who may be getting the two systems confused. See the links to the right under Free Games! to download Basic Fantasy Role-playing (which is free) and the quickstart rules for BRP.
Thanks for reading!
Shane
Some good comments left by Gerall under the "Sword & Sorcery, Sword & Planet, Sword & Sandal, and now… Sword & Sanity" post about his preference of using BRP (though Basic Fantasy Roleplaying was mentioned I believe he meant BRP):
My vote is posted for the Basic Fantasy Roleplaying rules for several reasons:
1) They're modular and can be fitted to given genres relatively quickly. For example, I could tell my group "We're using Sanity, Strike Ranks, and Heroic Hits instead of Hit Locations." and everyone would be on the same page.
2) Stats for characters already include elements that can be "psychically damaged" instead of tacking-on a foreign subsystem. There are already effects within the magic system(s) for the game that affect morale, confusion, and (in some rare cases) dementia / insanities.
And finally 3) I'm a huge BRP fan. This may not be a shining endorsement of the system's abilities, but it works for me.
As many did, I started off with the unholy fusion of Red Box D&D / AD&D (because, as an acquaintance put it, "No one really knew the difference between them in 1983..."). Then, I was exposed to BRP with some RuneQuest and Call of Cthulhu. I've been hooked since. Thanks for putting Swords Against the Outer Dark on the interwebs and asking our opinions about this interesting genre choice. I'm a regular reader and very interested in hearing more about how your game unfolds!
Regards,
Gerall
I'd go with OpenQuest, esp with the Major Mental Damage rules that where written by a very very experienced CoC Keeper for the latest version (OpenQuest Con-Quest edition), but then again I'm biased :)
Although we didn't use Lovecraftian monsters directly in The Savage North setting/adventure book, I created my own Horror Mythos instead, the influence is there and John's original drafts of the adventures (which used RQ3) were peppered with Cthulhu references, Deep Ones and other Cthulhiod monsters.
http://d101games.co.uk/books/openquest/the-savage-north/
Oh and don't forget OQ is free, there's a plain text version available from the website.
Mangus I voted Nemises. I have some experience with most of the games you posted. I think the system worked great for "mid-level" heroes. The system allowed for the style of play I look for in Sword and Sanity: high adventure in the vein of Howard.
@Newt - thanks for stopping in. OpenQuest is a great game that I think everyone should check out. I have added a link (see Free Games!) that will direct folks to the Developer's Kit.
@Hunsinger - this whole Sword & Sanity journey began with a NEMESIS game a few years ago, which I am sure we would both agree was all to short, but fun as hell!
Thanks for the catch, Magnus!
Yeah, I was referring to the generic BRP rulebook. Now that I'm aware of Basic Fantasy Roleplaying I'll have to do some reading.
I'd agree that Call of Cthulhu wouldn't be a good match. Given my choice isn't on your list of potentials, my vote has been changed to Newt's OpenQuest. My copy of Furnace Edition is going to get a workout at my next convention! Very nice implementation of the percentile rules I had fun with back in the 80's and 90's.
Will your games be using Yog-Sothothery as presented by HPL himself, or something more Clark Ashton Smith / Robert E. Howard in outlook? It would be interesting to see variations of the Mythos or other, original Cosmic Horror settings.
Thanks again for the blog! Lots of fun reading it.
Gerall,
My games (and reading tastes) pull from Lovecraft, Howard and Smith equally. I will be offering more information on my plans in the near future...
Shane
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