[Atlas] Ars Magica d20 and Rune d20

[Word]

Hi there,

For those of you who have often asked about Ars Magica d20, I hope this thread's title got your attention.

Two new Coriolis titles have gone to press: Black Monks of Glastonbury (Ars Magica d20) and Last Hero in Scandinavia (Rune d20). Black monks are expected in the warehouse next week. I'm assuming they'll bring copies of the book with them. The last hero in Scandinavia is off plundering copies of his epic campaign right now and should come back to Minnesota with his spoils in July.

You can see the covers of these new books now at www.atlas-games.com.

word,
Will Hindmarch
Atlas Games

EDIT: Correction of simple numbskullery.

 

[Voadam]

How in depth are the conversion notes in the Black monks module?

Is there a license for converting ars magica spells and magus abilities into OGC?

 

[JohnNephew]

> How in depth are the conversion notes in the Black monks module?

The approach of these, like the other Coriolis titles, is not to do conversions but rather to run parallel stats. These books will play rather differently in "native" mechanics versus d20. However, they do include OGC interpretations of various game concepts (e.g., vis in Black Monks, competitive play in Last Hero).

> Is there a license for converting ars magica spells and magus abilities
> into OGC?

Nope. The ArM rules material is not open. All the d20 material in the book is, of course open.

 

[Word]

Hi,

While "Black Monks" and "Last Hero" are both primarily adventures, I like to say that they "teach by example." By seeing how David Chart and Chris Aylott import other game elements into d20, you'll find it much easier to start plundering your Rune books for d20 encounters or transmuting elements of Ars Magica books into d20 crunch.

The importation of vis into d20 is a great concept, well done by David Chart. The somewhat-competitive experience chit awards that Chris Aylott put into "Last Hero" are a real treat for over the course of a campaign-style adventure like this one. (Especially if you use Hershey's kisses as the experience chits. Mmm.)

"Last Hero" actually contains a bit of what could reasonably be called conversion rules, though, in that they give d20 rules for hordes. Something like the faceless mook rules from "Burning Shaolin" in theory (but very different in practice), Chris Aylott's horde rules give GMs another means of handling huge groups of low-powered monsters like goblins or kobolds. It's necessary to get through the huge volume of enemies in "Last Hero," but it's also a central concept of Rune gameplay translated neatly into d20.

These are also the largest Coriolis books yet, in part because they do deal with so much background material and new crunchiness. They're almost adventure-sourcebooks, I guess. But, like John says, they're not conversion guides.

word,
Will

 

[spacecrime.com]

As far as conversion issues, "whut Will and John said." If you're curious about the process, I generally wrote a scene using either the Rune or D20 rules (it'll be interesting to tell if people can tell which one I used first), then figured out how to bring the same "mood" off in the other system. Actually quite a lot of fun.

BTW, Will and John, I've been too busy bragging and showing it to family members to tell you just yet, but the Last Hero cover is awesome. Am I correct in guessing that Scott Reeves has once again proved that he rocks?

cheers,