Darran Sims

Here is a small Youtube presentation of the 'Sartar: Kingdom of Heroes'.

This is where my Supernatual HeroQuest games takes place tomorrow at Dragonmeet 2009.
I am in the Upper Foyer right near the lifts.
The game runs from 14:30 until 18:00.

Just who will survive at the end?
The Winchester Brothers? Bobby? Will Ruby get dusted? Will Bela get the loot?

So I have managed to sort out my uploading problems with my podcasts and it seems to be working.
So here is one from last year from Dragonmeet 2008.

This is the first in a series of special recordings from Dragonmeet 2008.
This was recorded at Dragonmeet 2008 at Kensington Town Hall, London, UK on Saturday 29th November 2008.
Ken Hite and Robin Laws talk about writing roleplaying games and their experiences in the roleplaying game industry and hobby. Insightful discussion as the panellist field questions from the audience.
Panellists were Robin Laws, and Ken Hite.

Running Time: 01:02:05.


Dragonmeet 2008: 'Robin & Ken on Roleplaying Games'

Dragonmeet 2008: 'Robin & Ken on Roleplaying Games' MP3 version

0 Dragonmeet 2009. Kensington Town Hall, London, UK.
Saturday 28th November 2009.
http://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/

This is the HeroQuest game I am running at Dragonmeet 2009.



'Cropcircles and Lights Out' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Supernatural: HeroQuest 2.0 adventure for 5 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.
Based on the TV series.

"Police reports are coming in from Fulton County, Georgia of cars driving at night without their headlights on. When helpful members of the public flash their lights in courtesy to warn the drivers they become victims to the drivers.
All that seems to be left are the abandoned cars with their headlights smashed out. No trace of the occupants have been found. Forensic reports do confirm that the blood found in the broken headlights is canine, not human.
Are these incidents related to the gang tags found in the recent spate of crop circles that also plague the area?"

Greetings

I'm delighted to announce that, with effect from tomorrow, 15th November, Continuum 2010 is open for registrations.

The event is to be held at John Foster Hall, University of Leicester, from Friday 2nd July 2010, until Monday 5th July 2010. The registration pricing is as follows:

Early Bird Registration (15th November 2009 - 15th February 2010: £20
Standard Reg (February 16th onwards): £25
En-Suite Room per night: £45
En-Suite for 3 Nights: £120
Twin Room per night: £90
Twin Room for 3 Nights: £240

There are two ways to register:

Via Paypal. Our email address for Paypal payments is payment@continuum.uk.net. Please include the following:

Your name
Address
Number of nights accommodation required, and the nights you'll be staying
Any special rooming requirements (ie, I want be next door to X, Y or Z)

Don't forget that, in addition to the room cost you need to include your registration fee. Thus, a single night would cost £20+£45 = £65. Registration is a fixed fee for the whole weekend - so you don't need to pay a registration fee for each night you need.

Twin rooms are very limited in numbers, but en-suite rooms - and all single rooms are en-suite - are plentiful and comfortable.

If you wish to register by snail mail, a registration form will be made available shortly and we will accept cheque payments. The address to send a paper registration to is:

Continuum
53 Stepping Lane
Derby
DE1 1GL

We look forward to welcoming you to Continuum 2010 - The Year the Con Made Contact!

Here is the third sword in a series of three.
It is a short Lunar Army scimitar with the Lunar rune at the base of the blade. This is smallest of the three.

Here is the second sword in a series of three.
It is a Lunar Army scimitar with Lunar Imperial runes at the base of the blade. This is smaller than the first one.
The pommel is a crescent moon shape with sharp tips and mirrors the hand guards that are crescent shaped also.

Here is a listing of the RPG conventions that will take place over the next year or so.
I am quite chuffed as it is top and tailed by two of the conventions I have been heavily involved in organising as well as having another big convention that I am doing in there!
[I am almost a convention listing myself :lol:]

0 Furnace 2009. The Garrison Hotel, Sheffield. UK
Saturday 10th - Sunday 11th October 2009.
http://www.rpgfurnace.com/

0 Game '09. Palace Hotel, Manchester, UK.
Friday 16th - Sunday 18th October 2009.
http://gamecon.game-host.org/apex/f?p=1 ... 1856348190

0 Spiel 2009. Messe Essen, Essen, Germany.
Thursday 22nd - Sunday 25th October 2009.
http://www.merz-verlag.com/spiel/e000.php4

0 GamesFest 4. The Watford Colosseum, Watford, UK.
Saturday 24th October 2009.
http://www.gamesfest.co.uk/

0 Gaelcon 2009. D4 Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland.
Saturday 24th - Sunday 26th October 2009.
http://www.gaelcon.com

0 OddCon 2009. Park Inn, Telford. UK.
Friday 30th October - Sunday 1st November 2009.
http://www.oddconuk.org.uk/

0 Chimeriades 2009. Lycée agricole Legta Valabre, Aix-en-Provence, France.
Friday 30th October - Sunday 1st November 2009.
http://chimeriades.googlepages.com/accueils

0 Dominicon N SPAAAAAAAAACE!!! 2009. N.U.I Maynooth, Kildare, Ireland.
Friday 13th - Sunday 15th November 2009.
http://www.dominicon.ie/

0 Indiecon' 09. Holbourne, Naish, Christchurch, Dorset, UK.
Thursday 12th - Monday 16th November 2009.
http://www.indiecon.net/

0 Curious Consequences. Holbourne, Naish, Christchurch, Dorset, UK.
Thursday 19th - Sunday 22nd November 2009.
http://www.ishtari.co.uk/consequences/c/

0 Dragonmeet 2009. Kensington Town Hall, London, UK.
Saturday 28th November 2009.
http://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/

0 Ludicrus '09. Kesgrave Community Centre, Ipswich, UK.
Saturday 5th - Sunday 6th December 2009.
http://www.ludicrus.org/

0 WarpCon XX. University College Cork, Ireland.
Friday 29th - Sunday 31st January 2010.
http://www.warpcon.com/

0 Conception 2010. Naish Holiday Village, Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset, UK.
Wednesday 27th - Sunday 31st January 2010.
http://www.conceptionuk.org/

0 Conflagration 2010. Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow. Scotland.
Saturday – Sunday February 2010.
http://www.conflagration.org.uk/

0 Leprecon XXXI. Goldsmith Hall, Pearse St. Dublin 2, Ireland.
Friday 5th - Sunday 7th March 2010.
http://www.leprecon.ie

0 CONcrete Cow 10. Old Bath House, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, UK.
Saturday 20th March 2010.
http://www.mk-rpg.org.uk/Concrete_Cow

0 Itzacon VI. NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Friday - Sunday March 2010.
http://www.itzaconeire.com/

0 Conpulsion 2010. Teviot Student Union, Edinburgh University, Scotland.
Saturday 26th - 28th March 2010.
http://www.conpulsion.org

0 Dragonmeet Midlands 2010. Derby Assembly Rooms, Derby, UK.
Saturday 10th April 2010.
http://www.dragonmeetmidlands.co.uk

0 Student Nationals RPG Championships 2010. Heriot Watt, Edinburgh, UK.
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th April 2010.
http://www.studentnationals.org.uk/index.php

0 Salute 2010. ExCel, London, UK.
Saturday 24th April 2010.
http://www.salute.co.uk/

0 Beer & Pretzels XXI. Town Hall, Burton-upon-Trent, UK.
Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th May 2010.
http://www.spiritgames.co.uk/bnpdetails.php

0 Eternal-Con.de 2010. Castle Stahleck, Bacharach, Germany.
Friday 21st - Monday 24th May 2010.
http://www.eternal-con.de//node/24

0 UK Game Expo 2010. The Clarendon Suites, Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Friday 4th - Sunday 6th June 2010.
http://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk

0 Continuum 2010. John Foster Hall, Leicester University. UK.
Friday 2nd - Monday 5th July 2010.
http://www.continuum.uk.net

Here is the cover for the Furnace 2009 Con Book, not the one I wanted to use as that got taken up elsewhere.



I am still doing the layout for the con book as I only got the Games Programme yesterday - not had any sleep last night and will no doubt not get any tonight as well.
Hopefully it will be printed and ready for the con!

So here is the new Dr Who logo.

Here is one sword in a series of three.
It is a Lunar Army scimitar with Lunar Imperial runes at the base of the blade. The pommel is a crescent moon shape with sharp tips and mirrors the hand guards that are crescent shaped also.

I didn't post last week due to being away on holiday.
This week's sword is a broadsword with a single edge on the curved blade.
It has a long hilt with a heavy pommel for a double handed grip and a 'Y' shaped guard.
In a way it resembles a Katana.

This week's sword isn't really a sword but evolved from an axe.
It is also the ancestor to the Falcata I have featured in the last few weeks.

This sword is so cool looking, called a sickle-sword or khopesh, it has featured as the weapon of choice for many an Egyptian Pharaoh.

This is another falcata, a more elegant one with a lion's head pommel as part of the handle. Certainly an officer's weapon.

This falcata has a straighter blade but maintains its curved cutting edge. Falcatas are know as 'limb loppers' as they are very good at cutting off limbs. The curved edge encourages the cutting action but if you can't cut the limb off first time the sword gets struck.

So another elegant Falcata. This one has less of a curve in its blade and has a bird motif handle.

This is one of my player characters when I took part in a HeroQuest playtest last year.
No 100 words but rather a quick character generation system that allows the players to get into play straight away.

He is a Sartarite Hunter in Pavis - set in Glorantha and a worshipper of the lightning aspect of Orlanth.

No a bad character actually and I had fun playing him even though I am not keen on being a player as I would rather GM.



Furnit Many-Feather
Sartarite Hunter – Zavor initiate Rubble explorer and Gorp killer/fryer.

Keywords
Sartarite 13
Hunter 13
Zavor Initiate 17

Goal
Fry Gorp

Flaws
Can’t kill anything but Gorp 5M
Big Bar Tab 13

Interviewed for a special scroll on Gorps by Gorgoria [PC]

Abilities
Burning Lighting 5M
Married to Doug & Dinsdale’s Sister 14
Hates Grita Many-Need [wife] Golden Arches 14
Lightning Bow of Gorp Kill 18
Flirts with Yolanta 14
Shiny Metal Armour 13
Light Darkness 19

Here is my favourite type of sword a Falcata!
If I was ever have to fight hand-to-hand this would be the sword I would use. Its elegance is belied by its simplicity.
The curve of the blade assists the cutting action of the edge and the shape of the blade distributes the mass in such a way that the falcata is capable of delivering a blow with the momentum of an axe, while maintaining the cutting edge of a sword.
The hilt is cool as well as it is stylised in the shape of a horse yet it guards the hand well.
Beautiful!

So I have designed some character sheets for my up coming Supernatural HeroQuest game.
I went for a police report look, finding a real letterhead for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation plus Georgia court stamps on the web was good.
The mug-shots were hard to do as I had to make up the ones for Bobby, Ruby and Bela, photoshopping the height chart behind them.
Getting the information for the police report was hard as well - date of births for the two main characters of the show was available but it was harder to get info on the others. Some I just had to make up but most info was from the actors themselves.
I then added some more polaroids of items tied to the characters for more genre flavour.

The final touch was using a pentagram symbol in place of the mastery rune - again very genre specific that I thinks adds to the game.


Sam Winchester




( See more Supernatural Character sheets... )

So here is another scimitar, this one is a short cutlas. It has a leather bound handle with a slight pommel and an extended thumb guard.

0 Furnace 2009. The Garrison Hotel, Sheffield. UK
Saturday 10th - Sunday 11th October 2009.
http://www.rpgfurnace.com/

Here are my HeroQuest games I am running at Furnace 2009 later this year.

+



'Street Urchins of Ancient Pavis' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Mythic Glorantha: HeroQuest 2.0 adventure for up to 6 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Abandoned by Family, Ancestors and the City itself, the street urchins have a very hard existence in the shattered remains of Ancient Pavis. They live on the discarded scraps from the city dwellers and *other* denizens of the Rubble, a place where life is very, very cheap.
The only future they have to look forward to is a quick death somewhere in the unforgiving ruins of this once splendid city.
The River Flock has a nice hidey-hole under the Sculpture Garden, a safe haven in this deadly world. Yet many of the street urchins are turning up dead, their bodies discarded.
Now a stranger in red is poking around the upper entrance.
Just what is he after and is he responsible for the deaths of the other urchins?"

+



'Cropcircles and Lights Out' by Darran Sims narrated by Darran Sims.
Supernatural: HeroQuest 2.0 adventure for 5 players.
Newcomers very welcome. Maturity preferred.

"Police reports are coming in from Fulton County, Georgia of cars driving at night without their headlights on. When helpful members of the public flash their lights in courtesy to warn the drivers they become victims to the drivers.
All that seems to be left are the abandoned cars with their headlights smashed out. No trace of the occupants have been found. Forensic reports do confirm that the blood found in the broken headlights is canine, not human.
Are these incidents related to the gang tags found in the recent spate of crop circles that also plague the area?"

+

Here is a character that could be fun to play - not used it yet but I can see using the setting would be easy with HeroQuest.
Sorting out the Airbending magic would be so easy and the crucial things are the relationships of the characters.

This is the starting character of Aang at the beginning of Book One - Water.

Aang's Story

"Wow, I haven't cleaned my room in 100 years... Not looking forward to that..."

"I laugh at gravity all the time. Haha! Gravity."

"Walking stinks! How can anyone get around without a flying bison?"

As the last Airbender, only known survivor of the Air Nomads, Aang’s great destiny is to become the Avatar, master of all four elements and bring peace to the Four Nations. Though Aang would rather search for adventure, a life full of fun experiences, not heavy responsibilities. Aang generally acts in a playful, carefree manner, he does become more serious during crisis and danger. Aang's desires are as simple as the animals he loves; his giant sky bison, Appa, and his winged-lemur, Momo.

Aang dislikes being regarded as the mythical Avatar as wherever he goes, always the focus of attention.

100 words

 

 

KeyWords

The Avatar

Last Airbender

 

Flaws

Dislikes being the Focus of Attention

Shirks Heavy Responsibilities

Only Known Surviving Air Nomad

 

Personality

Carefree manner

Playful

Serious During Crisis

Simple Desires

 

Relationships

Evades Zuko [Adversary]

Friend to Sokka

Loves Animal Followers

Only Known Surviving Air Nomad

Unrequited Love for Katara

 

Abilities

Acts Well in Danger

Great Destiny

Life Full of Fun Experiences

Must Master All Four Elements

Search For Adventure

Seeks to Bring Peace to Four Nations

 

Followers

Appa

Giant Sky Bison

 

Momo

Winged Lemur

 

 

Wealth

Standard of Living: Common 13

ITEMS:- Glider-stave, Sleeping gear, Monk robes.

Reaching Moon Missionaries

Reaching Moon Missionaries is the official organisation sponsored by Moon Designs for HeroQuest Core Rules demonstration narrators and game masters.
The volunteer game masters will help promote HeroQuest Core Rules and other Moon Designs products at conventions, game shops, game meets, etc, by running games and talking about HeroQuest.



Reaching Moon Missionaries will be a global organisation and will provide help, support and encouragement for its members, whether experienced veterans or new to the game.
Benefits will include a points awards scheme to reward the members that will give discount on Moon Designs products and to get new play-test material and sneak-peeks at works in progress.

Interested HeroQuest game masters should contact Darran Sims
darransims AT gmail DOT com

Or visit the website:
http://heroquestdemos.ning.com/

Here is a standard fair scimitar. A sharp curved blade with a solid hilt.

So here is the last of The Betty crew members. DeStephano was one character I added later to the mix. A martial character who is AWOL from the Alliance military who also has some experience of the dodgy dealings that the Alliance commits in secret research. This is important for the plot line in my 'Left For Dead' story arc.

DeStephano's Story

“I thought you were dead.”
“Begging your pardon, Sir, but F*CK YOU!”

Vincent DiStephano is the recent convert to the crew of The Betty. He was veteran Alliance soldier on protection detail to ‘Special Military Research’ at secret bases on remote planets.

DiStephano is strong and physically fit and socially privileged. He is familiar with Parliament conspiracies having seen many unfold. When one of these backfired, despite conflicting loyalties he allied with the Betty who was bringing in illicit cargo to the base he was guarding at the time. He owes Elgyn his life as he rescued him when base the destroyed by the Alliance. He fears his past will catch up with him so doesn’t get emotionally attached to anyone.

Words 109

Keywords

Former Alliance Trooper 5M

Smuggler 12

Flaws

Conflicting Loyalties 15M

Fears Past Will Catch Up 5M2

Relationships

Alliance Space Corps [Contacts] 8M

Special Military Research [Adversary] 3M

Alliance Admiralty [Adversary] 15M

Parliament [Adversary] 5M2

Battle Unit [Former Member of] 5M

Former Comrades [Mourns] 5M

The Betty’s Crew [Loyal to] 19

Black Market [Contacts] 13

Underworld [Contacts] 13

Elgyn Rane [Indebted to] 12M

Personality

Brave 5M

Callous 12

Cunning 13

Devil-May-Care 12

Emotionally Detached 20

Hates Alliance 5M

Loyal 5M

Self-Centered 17

Obedient 5M

Resilient 15M

Abilities

Distrusts Researchers/Scientists 5M

Guard Cargo 5M

Handle Illicit Cargo 19

Identify Foe 15M

Knows Parliament Conspiracies 19

Knows Remote Planets 19

Knows Secret Bases 1M

Lookout 5M

Owes Elgyn His Life 10M

Physically Fit 9M

Protection Detail Tactics 5M

Seen Conspiracies Unfold 10M

Scouting 10M

Socially Privileged 20

Strong 8M

Use Newtech Weapons 15M

Veteran 19

Wealth

Standard of Living: Common 13

WEAPONS:- Knife, Newtech Pistol, Spare Ammo.

ITEMS:- Ident Card, Fake Permits, Old Uniform & Insignia.

This sword has a nicely balanced curved blade yet is slim and light as well. A simple ring guard, a curved handle and a shapely pommel are the main details.
This is for a skilled swordsman with no ostentatious demands.

I haven't posted for a while but I will give you another of The Betty crew from the film Alien: Resurrection.
Vriess is the engineer aboard The Betty. Vriess was disabled from the waist down as a result of shrapnel injuries sustained on the swamp planet Kawlang and was bound to a motorised wheelchair. Despite being handicapped, Vriess still remains a valuable member to the crew of The Betty, such as using his wheelchair to smuggle weapons and stealing parts to maintain the ship.

Vriess’ Story

“Wanna check the chair?”

“They never check the chair”

“The Kawlang Manoeuvre, right?”

Vriess is the Betty's chief mechanic. Though his legs are paralysed, he hasn't allowed this infirmity to interfere with his work. Vriess has strong arms with that he climbs and crawls over the hidden parts of the ship. Vriess uses his re-vamped, motorised wheelchair that has hidden weapons and guns concealed within its workings. He is not above using his vulnerability to gain ill-placed sympathy to get his way but he never tricks his crewmates.

Vriess has a murky past from that he still keeps many criminal contacts.

In stressful situations Vriess provides comic relief, something that helps him deal with his unrequited love for his friend Call.

108 words.

 

 

KeyWords

Chief Mechanic 5M

Murky Past 15

 

Flaws

Legs Paralysed 5M2

Never Tricks Crewmates 1M

Unrequited Love for Call 5M

 

Personality

Curious 5M

Cunning 15

Inspired 5M

Meticulous 5M

Patient 5M

Suspicious 15

Tinkerer 5M

 

Relationships

Gang [Former-Member of] 17

Former Comrades [Friends of] 17

The Betty’s Crew [Loyal to] 19

Black Market [Contacts] 15

Underworld [Contacts] 15

Criminal Boss [Contacts] 15

Parts Supplier [Contacts] 5M

Junkyard Owner [Contacts] 5M

Trusted By Elgyn 10M

 

Abilities

Adapt Technology 15M

Climbs 4M

Comic Relief 19

Conceal Weapon 19

Crawls 19

Deals with Stressful Situations 19

Kawlang Manoeuvre 19

Knows Hidden Parts of Ship 5M

Nothing Interferes with Work 15M

Overcome Infirmity 5M

Repair Anything 20M

Strong Arms 5M

Take out Frustration on Objects 15M

Understand Function 5M2

Uses Vulnerability to Gain Ill-placed Sympathy 19

 

Wheelchair

Re-Vamped Motor 19

Weapons concealed in its workings 19

Tough 19

Speedy 5M

 

Wealth

Standard of Living: Common 13

WEAPONS:- Hidden Guns, Hidden Weapons, Knife, Wrench.

ITEMS:- Fake Papers, Assortment of Loot, Assorted Tools, Spare Parts, Overalls, Wheelchair

Here is a longer cutlas with a good bucket guard and a killer curve to the blade.

Here is a list of RPG conventions take will take place in the UK and Europe.
Some have yet to have their dates confirmed.

0 AmberCon UK '09. Harben House, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, UK.
Friday 10th - Sunday 12th July 2009
http://www.ambercon.org.uk/

0 PaizoCon UK 2009. Aston University Business School, Birmingham, UK.
Saturday 11th - Sunday 12th July 2009
http://paizocon.co.uk/

0 Sceaptune Games Open Games Day. Shipton Bellinger Sports & Social Club, Tidworth, Hampshire, UK.
Saturday 25th July 2009.
http://www.sceaptunegames.co.uk/news.htm

0 Constitution 2009. New Hall, Cambridge, UK.
Friday 31st July - Sunday 2nd August 2009.
http://www.constitution-con.org.uk/

0 Ropecon 2009. Dipoli, Espoo, Finland.
Friday 31st July - Sunday 2nd August 2009.
http://www.ropecon.fi/2009/index_en.html

0 Confess 2009. Southern Hotel, Sligo, Ireland.
Friday 18th - Sunday 20th September 2009.
http://www.bebo.com/confess09

0 CONcrete Cow '09½. Old Bath House, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, UK.
Saturday 19th September 2009.
http://www.mk-rpg.org.uk/Concrete_Cow

0 Furnace 2009. The Garrison Hotel, Sheffield. UK
Saturday 10th - Sunday 11th October 2009.
http://www.rpgfurnace.com/

0 Game '09. Palace Hotel, Manchester, UK.
Friday 16th - Sunday 18th October 2009.
http://gamecon.game-host.org/apex/f?p=1 ... 1856348190

0 Spiel 2009. Messe Essen, Essen, Germany.
Thursday 22nd - Sunday 25th October 2009.
http://www.merz-verlag.com/spiel/e000.php4

0 GamesFest 4. The Watford Colosseum, Watford, UK.
Saturday 24th October 2009.
http://www.gamesfest.co.uk/

0 OddCon 2009. Park Inn, Telford. UK.
Friday 30th October - Sunday 1st November 2009.
http://www.oddconuk.org.uk/

0 Chimeriades 2009. Lycée agricole Legta Valabre, Aix-en-Provence, France.
Friday 30th October - Sunday 1st November 2009.
http://chimeriades.googlepages.com/accueils

0 Dominicon N SPAAAAAAAAACE!!! 2009. N.U.I Maynooth, Kildare, Ireland.
Friday 13th - Sunday 15th November 2009.
http://www.dominicon.ie/

0 Indiecon' 09. Holbourne, Naish, Christchurch, Dorset, UK.
Thursday 12th - Monday 16th November 2009.
http://www.indiecon.net/

0 Curious Consequences. Holbourne, Naish, Christchurch, Dorset, UK.
Thursday 19th - Sunday 22nd November 2009.
http://www.ishtari.co.uk/consequences/c/

0 Dragonmeet 2009. Kensington Town Hall, London, UK.
Saturday 28th November 2009.
http://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/

0 Ludicrus '09. Kesgrave Community Centre, Ipswich, UK.
Saturday 5th - Sunday 6th December 2009.
http://www.ludicrus.org/

0 WarpCon XX. University College Cork, Ireland.
Friday - Sunday January 2010.
http://www.warpcon.com/

0 Conception 2010. Naish Holiday Village, Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset, UK.
Wednesday 27th - Sunday 31st January 2010.
http://www.conceptionuk.org/

0 Conflagration 2010. Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow. Scotland.
Saturday – Sunday February 2010.
http://www.conflagration.org.uk/

0 Leprecon XXXI. Goldsmith Hall, Pearse St. Dublin 2, Ireland.
Friday 5th - Sunday 7th March 2010.
http://www.leprecon.ie

0 Itzacon VI. NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Friday - Sunday March 2010.
http://www.itzaconeire.com/

0 Conpulsion 2010. Teviot Student Union, Edinburgh University, Scotland.
Saturday 26th - 28th March 2010.
http://www.conpulsion.org

0 Dragonmeet Midlands 2010. Derby Assembly Rooms, Derby, UK.
Saturday 10th April 2010.
http://www.dragonmeetmidlands.co.uk

0 Student Nationals RPG Championships 2010. Heriot Watt, Edinburgh, UK.
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th April 2010.
http://www.studentnationals.org.uk/index.php

0 Salute 2010. ExCel, London, UK.
Saturday 24th April 2010.
http://www.salute.co.uk/

0 Beer & Pretzels XXI. Town Hall, Burton-upon-Trent, UK.
Saturday - Sunday May 2010.
http://www.spiritgames.co.uk/bnpdetails.php

0 UK GAME EXPO 2010. The Clarendon Suites, Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Friday 4th - Sunday 6th June 2010.
http://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk

0 Continuum 2010. John Foster Hall, Leicester University. UK.
Friday 2nd - Monday 5th July 2010.
http://www.continuum.uk.net

Posted from the Moon Design Development Blog, vingkot .


Moon Design is proud to announce that the HeroQuest Core Rules are now available for sale from www.glorantha.com or www.heroquest-rpg.com!

You can directly order copies of the new HeroQuest Core Rules book and download pdfs from the website. We regret to inform you that our current eCommerce vendors do not support bundles of books and pdfs. We are exploring options to fix that in the future but until then, comfort yourself with the knowledge that the money will be going to make sure we have more money to pay for art and writers!

BTW, we are still working out the kinks with Plimus (our PDF vendor). If it takes a little while for you to get an email with the download link - be patient. They are still checking to make sure that we aren't some sort of nefarious international outfit! The first dozen or so PDF downloaders are likely to get some initial weirdness (for example, you may get a phone call from Plimus just to make sure that you really ordered the PDF). Just be patient and we will make sure that you will get your PDF!

But without any further ado:

Anything you can imagine, you can play…

HeroQuest is the innovative, dynamic, and flexible rules engine by Robin Laws, suitable for play in any genre or setting. It present a simple and flexible system that allows Game Masters to make decisions the way authors and screenwriters do when creating novels, TV episodes and movies. HeroQuest encourages creative input from your players, resulting in an exciting, unpredictable narrative created through group collaboration. Its resolution methods and scalable character levels make it equally suited for any genre, from epic fantasy to satirical soap opera. Whether your next game idea draws on horror, war, westerns, martial arts, pulps, cyberpunk, cliff-hangers, giant robots, super-powered heroes, space opera, cop action, corporate intrigue, furry animals, swashbuckling adventure, Greek tragedy or even drawing room comedy, HeroQuest can handle it! You can even use HeroQuest to emulate a musical – although it won’t do the singing or dancing for you.

Completely rewritten by the Robin Laws, this new edition opens and details running the core system for any genre.

What’s in this book?

This book contains everything needed for play:

• Character Creation – describe your character and get playing in minutes.
• Overcoming Obstacles – handling conflict, be it with swords, words, magic, superpowers, guns or armies.
• Playing Stories – how to vividly run your adventures in engaging and creative ways.
• Narrating - the secrets for balancing the give and take between narrators and players.
• Followers and Support – how your sidekick, followers, horde, army or community help you.
• Creating Genres – details for creating and detailing your game world.
• Gaming in Glorantha - a separate section on applying this system to Glorantha.
• Quick Reference – so you don’t have to hunt for the information you really need.

However, the new HeroQuest Core Rules are not the only new thing for sale on the new and upgraded glorantha.com website! We will have much of the Stafford Library up and for sale in both book form and as downloadable pdfs, including:

• Glorious Reascent of Yelm - THE Dara Happan background book
• Arcane Lore - Greg's notes on the development of his thoughts concerning heroquesting and Gloranthan magic
• The Middle Sea Empire - THE background book for the God Learners and the Jrusteli Empire
• History of the Heortling Peoples - THE background book for the Orlanthi of Sartar and Heortland, as well as the Arkat Wars, Harmast and the EWF

We will also have a number of older books back in print and for sale in both book form and as downloadable pdfs, including:

• Dragon Pass: Gazetteer of Kerofinela
  
• Imperial Lunar Handbook, volumes 1 and 2
  
• Blood Over Gold
  
• Men of the Sea
  
• Masters of Luck and Death
  

With the exception of Dragon Pass: Gazetteer of Kerofinela (which is statless), these books were written for First Edition HeroQuest but can easily be retrofitted for the new HeroQuest Core Rules.

Check out the website and maybe buy yourself a book or download. Or two. Or three (or four, five, six or more!)

I was asked to come up with a logo for the new HeroQuest core rules and other future products by Moon Designs.
I did several designs that used the Gloranthan runic writing font of the old logo as well as other lettering styles.
None of them really worked that well though I was happy with the different textures and colours I came up with for the letter fill.

Then I looked back at the lettering styles of the old Chaosium boxsets for 'Pavis' and the 'Big Rubble'.

I did like that font style though I didn't have it myself.
So I decided to design my own from scratch, using the old font as a starting point but changing the style somewhat. I added a slight curve to the base of the serifs and fattened the letters more.
I added a metal trim to the edge of each letter to give it a 'classy look' and used the textured fills I had come up with earlier to solidify the lettering. A white highlight was added to give them a shiny look and I added a shadow to give it a solid dimension.

To finish it off I did a line of runes across the top to give it a retro look. This design has half Gloranthan runes and the other half symbols drawn from other possible genres and settings [The new HeroQuest rules are genric now, not just tied to Glorantha].

I have done variations to the main design so any colour can be used. The red does suit the jonhodgson cover for the core rules but other cover art may need a different colour to set off the logo. We have several different marble like textures and colours as well as some metal textures that will suit other works better.
Also for solely Gloranthan products the line of runes will be purely Gloranthan ones.





The new HeroQuest logo

This week's scimitar is a short cutlas!

The dates for Continuum 2010 are
Friday 2nd to Monday 5th July 2010.

The Yahoo Group is at:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Continuum2010/

The Facebook event is at:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=94299599526&ref=mf

More news will follow over the next few weeks!

So a quick role-playing questionnaire I have stolen off Facebook.
Basically details my role-playing history and my likes and dis-likes in runing games. I hope that you may it informative?

1. What was the first RPG you ever played?
RuneQuest II

2. How long ago?
1981.

3. Tell us something about it?
I was introduced by my older brother as I had been drawing some treasure maps. The first scenario was from Chaosium's Apple Lane supplement 'Rainbow Mounds'.
I was playing a Black Fang Brotherhood Assassin who managed to fall off the bridge into the water. The GM, a friend of my brother, then switched to dealing with how my sister was doing with her character.
Only after an hour did he reveal I had been rescued by Newtlings.
After that I brought the rule book along with the RQ box set miniatures from Derby's CoOp. I do remember doing my English Speaking Board exams on Glorantha every year while at school. Since then I have been playing RuneQuest, I remember clubbing together to buy one copy of RuneQuest III from Games Workshop in Nottingham as it was too expensive.
I only switched to Hero Wars in 2000, then onto HeroQuest.

4. How soon after did you start playing a regular session?
Straight away.

5. Which genres have you played?
I tried a bit of most but I prefer good settings rather than genres.

6. Which games have you played?
I am a Chaosium fan boi so I have played all their games - QuestWorlds, Stormbringer, Call of Cthulhu, ElfQuest, RingWorld, Worlds of Wonders and RuneQuest. Now I mainly play HeroQuest.

7. Give a list of some or all of the PC's you've played.
Darsimis, a Yelmalian mercenary who is guarding a couple of dodgy dealing, Lunar merchants who want to make a trade route to Kralorela over the Rockwood mountains in Griffin Mountain.
Keelhaul Whyduh - Bloodbeard Pirate with his own set of Sea Dogs and knowledgeable on the infamous Pirates Code!
Ashanara - A Lunar swirling twin scimitar swordswoman devoted to the Lunar Way and emancipating women everywhere.
Manushi Many-Flight, a noble from Teshnos who is visiting a small charming town next to a delightful ruin. Along with his gigantic Phomia [elephant] called Nippletooth and his Orangatag 'man' servant he has visited several interesting locations in Pavis and the Big Rubble.
Sir Kaulth, an Esvulari knight from Durengard. Started working as a guard for Sir Guis de Brut in Caldvale Manor, a nice pleasant place with no real problems. Then it got really dark quite fast. Ended up wearing vampire armour and fighting machines.
Duran Duranis - a Sartarite warrior and spearman who ended up travelling the whole of Glorantha.

8. What's your favourite genre?
After Glorantha I would say Spaceships with ashtrays like Firefly.

9. What's your favourite game/system?
HeroQuest.

10. What's your favourite supplement?
King of Sartar by Greg Stafford.

11. Who are your favourite PC's?
see 7 above.

12. Have you GM'ed?
Yes.

13. Which game did you GM first?
RuneQuest II.

14. How did it go?!
It went well though hit a few snags.
Every time the players defeated a bunch of foes they would sell off the armour and weapons. They would spend the money to get better so I would have to send more foes at them with bigger and better armour and weapons. They would defeat them, sell the goods and get better again so I would send even more enemies with more armour and weapons against them. It just kept going on and on.

15. Which is your favourite campaign that you've GM'ed?
I ma enjoying my Air & Motion campaign for my HeroQuest game as well as my Left For Dead series in my Firefly game.

16. Do you prefer to GM or PC?
I prefer to GM.

17. Which genre that you haven't tried would you most like to try?
I would love to run a party-less game based on War & Peace but with some serious fantasy elements.

18. Which game/system that you haven't tried would you most like to try?
Nephilim RPG.

19. Do you play a typical character of any kind?
I usually play the dark and savage one usually who often plans.

20. What do you like best about role-playing?
The creating of stories together.

So this week's scimitar is in fact a Falchion type sword. It has a single-edged broad blade with a single fuller and though it has a sharp stabbing point this is a slashing weapon. Most of the blade is straight with only the tip being curved to allow a better slash attack.
The crossguard is a large, simple bar with an elegant curve to it. The hilt is bound in leather and pommel is heavy and allows for a two-handed grip if necessary. Though this weapon looks crude it is in fact a very efficient sword and suits being used against armoured foes.

So missed last week's as I was away in Germany for Tentacles but we'll have another now.
This one is another fantasy sabre with moon-curved handguards and an inverted cresent moon as a prommel.
An excellent example of a Lunar Trooper's sword.

So here is another Midweek Character, this one is again from my Supernatural game that takes place at Tentacles Omega convention this weekend.
Bobby is the go-to-guy in the Supernatural TV series and has a lot to offer in the game - without him the mystery may never get solved.


Bobby Singer.

Bobby Singer's Story 

"Do I look like a ditch-able prom date to you?". 

Dean "This isn't your fight". Bobby "The hell it isn't!!!!, family don't end with blood, boy!". 

Bobby Singer is a passionate, tough hunter who runs an auto salvage yard as his day job, and is a go-to guy for supernatural research. He seems to have amassed quite a bit of experience over the years plus his house is full of books about demons and 'other things'. John Winchester was an old friend, though they had a falling out. 

Bobby's a no bullsh!t kinda guy. He's straight-up loyal and has helped many other hunters whenever they need him and he knows his sh!t. 

Bobby is cautious and shrewd, he laces his beer with holy water, and plans his hunts and works out tactics. 

107 words 

 

KeyWords 

Hunter of the Supernatural 

Salvager 

Mechanic 

 

Flaws 

Fell Out With John 

Has a Day Job 

Over the Years 

 

Personality 

Cautious 

Experienced 

Loyal 

No Bullsh!t Kinda Guy 

Passionate 

Shrewd 

Straight-up 

 

Relationships 

Distrusts Bela Talbot 

Friend to Dean 

Friend to Sam 

Old Friend to John 

Mourns his Wife 

Hates Ruby 

 

Abilities 

Amassed Experience 

Books About Demons 

Books About 'Other Things' 

Good With Holy Water 

Go-To Guy 

Helps Hunters 

Knows Demonology 

Knows His Sh!t 

Knows Mythology 

Knows Supernatural 

Laces Beer With Holy Water 

Often Needed 

Plan Hunt 

Tough 

Works Out Tactics 

 

Items 

Arcane Paraphernalia 

Auto Salvage Yard 

Holy Water 

House Full of Books 

Sawed-off Shotgun

My good friend Simon has written another Serenity freegame for 32 players that we will run at Tentacles Omega convention that takes place in a castle above the Rhine Valley in Germany this weekend.

I have assisted with the writing, along with Colin, as well as producing of some of the props and items for the game.
Trouble is Simon has just out-classed us all with those masks below that he has made today!

Here is the blurb for the game:
Serenity/Firefly: Showboat!
by Simon Bray, Darran Sims and Colin Driver

In the inky dark of the Black a small transport ship drifts into view alongside a huge cruise ship bound for the Rim.
"Out in the black it's not all broken down boats, Reavers and space dust, hell that's only half of any story. Not all the high and mighty Core dwellers stay at home you know, some come out here into the Rim, looking for adventure and beauty away from the sterility that the Alliance has to offer. All aboard their fine showboats and cruise ships they ride out in the lap of luxury. They bring with them shiny purses full of credits, cases full of fancy medicines and a might of other secrets to. Of course such a pretty little box of goodies comes with a lock or two, all as you need is the right key," said the Captain. He grinned at the beautiful courtesan at his side who returned his smile with a petulant sneer.
"I would expect no less from you, this is my business, not yours," she gracefully snarled as she stormed from the room.
"Then again some boxes are just pure trouble when they are opened, just look at that one of Pandora's. I would say that a ship full of tourists, parliamentary lobbyists, alliance guards and such forth, looks like a mighty box of trouble," said the older man from the doorway clutching his chest; the Doctor stood looking worried as usual at his side.
The Captain just smiled his boyish grin, "You know how much I was hoping you would say that old friend?"
"Are we there yet? I thought you said you could get me there on time," said the passenger from the top of the gantry. "I have very important business, and must not be late. Also I want to discuss a refund, this ship is infested if you ask me."
"Cleanest ship in the Verse!" snapped the Captain defensively "Tell him Doc!"
"We're just *cough!* about to dock *cough!* sir," choked the pilot.
All aboard the luxury cruise ship "Venturer", where the rich, famous and fortunate live like kings in the height of luxury. On this very ship the Alliance is conducting a passionate debate to decide the future of the Verse. But riches and politics attract less wholesome folks like flies around honey.

Play a space rogue, courtesan, politician, special agent or valiant captain in this game of daring exploits, devious politics and deadly secrets. This is a game of good role-playing; newcomers are always welcome but only if they are coming to chew scenery and make this game go with a bang. Costuming a necessity and turning up on the day even more so



Reaver Masks by Simon Bray.

Nice!
Hopefully it will not give too much plot away by showing these!

So I haven't posted a Sunday Scimitar picture for a while due to being away on holiday so here is another one.
This one is another Chinese sword with a curved handle, a board blade with a wide tip and a single deep fuller.

So I haven't posted for a while due to being away on holiday so here is a tasty character to play.