AMA with Bruce R Cordell (The Strange, D&D, Monte Cook Games)

[BruceRCordell]

What are your favorite non-D&D/WotC (or MCG) TableTop RPG settings?

You worked on the Psionics Handbook for Wizard's 3rd Edition D&D as well as Mindscapes for Malhavoc Press. Do you plan on bringing a psionic campaign setting and expanded rules for the Cypher System? What might that setting look like?

What appeals to you most about the Cypher System as 1) a player, 2) a GM, and 3) a game designer?

I pretty much find something to like in almost any setting I play in. In the past, I have played a lot Call of Cthulhu, though

Never say never! In the short term though, no plans to create a psionic setting. But you and a few others who've asked this question in other venues recently have certainly made me think

Appeal of cypher system is pretty much the same for all 3: The mechanics throw out a lot of the "false precision" that many game systems employ for a streamlined set of rules that model reality but also give the GM/designer/and player! a lot of narrative power.

 

[BruceRCordell]

Hi Bruce,

1) With the OGL for 5e and the DM's guild available, are you planning in filling the psionic void of 5e?

2) I'm intrigued by the Cypher System, and there is a lot of support for Numenera and The Strange. Are there any short, introductory adventures available for the generic system as well, a learn the rules type of adventure?

1) I'm pretty busy writing cool settings (like Gods of the Fall!) for the Cypher System. If I could psionically clone myself, I'd consider it

2) You might find the PDF adventures Escatology Code or Mastodon useful as teaching adventures. They were both written as introductory adventures debuting at Gen Con to help people new to The Strange (and the underlying Cpher System) grok both play and the setting.

 

[BruceRCordell]

Hey Bruce!

I love the Numenera setting and the Cypher System. Are there any plans to release any of the system (even the barest bones) under the OGL or a similar licence?

I'm seeing this question a lot. Makes me think people really want to see something like the DM's Guild. Hmmmm. Well, the future of course could offer other options, though right now we have a fan use policy that's pretty open that anyone can make use of, a limited license anyone can apply for, and other licensing options (for games like Shotguns & Sorcery, and Vert).

 

[BruceRCordell]

I've had 2 neighbors now who've lost their brand new drone on the first outing due to wind blowing. keep a very tight leash on your drone, getting higher may not be a good thing...

Will do!

 

[BruceRCordell]

Here's a question:

What kind of game/RPG idea would you come up with that uses drones as part of the game play?

The sky or max altitude is the limit on this question

In my adventure Escatology Code, a military stealth drone is on call to nuke the adventure site (and Sioux Falls, SD) if the PCs fail to deal with the threat manifest by Father Foss and his "miracles." In at least a few play throughs I've been part of, the PCs have managed to get hold of that drone's remote control . . .

 

[Xethreau]

Are you voting for Goblin or Rust Monster?

 

[jamesjhaeck]

Things are different now, but when you were a game designer looking to make a name for yourself, how did you go about it? Did you seek TSR people out at conventions and hand them manuscripts? Or did you submit relentlessly to Dragon/Dungeon magazine, etc.?

 

[atherion-foehammer]

Spinner of Lies

Bruce, congratulations on your MCG endeavors. My questions are specifically about Demascus (love the name btw!)

1. Would he be considered an avenger per 4th edition rules?

2. Any chance of that work ever seeing print, or print on demand? Call me old school, but I like a paper book.

Thanks in advance and continued good fortune to you!

 

[Waylander the Slayer]

Congrats on your continued success Bruce. Going way, way back, the Illithiad and the related adventures are some of my favorite RPG books! What inspired you to author them? How do you feel about those products in hindsight? Is the RPG creative process any different then and now?

 

[Benji]

Hello Bruce.
While I understand that worlds of cypher (and upcoming Cypher stuff) will be applicable to The Strange, do you have any plans for any big Strange-specific big products, or is it going to be a case of converting stuff across from now on?