Birthright!

[Rune]

Does the fact that this is just a conversion mean that all we'll get is crunchy bits? If so, it looks like the people who just want a book for running domains and rules will be happier than those (like myself) who want an actual book with actual flavor content.

 

[King_Stannis]

Is this a real book or a long downloadable (free??) PDF?

yes, i think it's going to be a free download.

 

[mmadsen]

Is this a real book or a long downloadable (free??) PDF?

From the original announcement, I'd assumed this would be a "real" book, like 3E Ravenloft. (Isn't 3E Darksun coming out too, as a real book?) Anyway, it looks like it's going to be a free PDF. Arjan, the birthright.net webmaster, said it would only cost "time and bandwidth to download it".

Wouldn't a physical book make money?

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Yes it is a conversion from the blurb we got. But remember this was done by the official Birthright site, and therefore it gets the blessing of WotC allowing it to ignore all of those OGL rules, because it is in a way an actual WotC product. If I recall all official products developed by the official sites have to be checked by a committee from WotC.

And secondly why would those involved with the Birthright site want to develop a generic book, when this is their favourite setting you're talking about? Think about that fact.

 

[Ranger REG]

I'm ... confused.

Granted, Birthright.net is the official fan site for Birthright. But I didn't know that they have acquired a special agreement with Wizards to publish an official BR book for 3e (or d20).

Did I miss an earlier press release that mention Wizards?

 

[mmadsen]

It's like a cross between Tolkien and Highlander, and the epic scale of the adventures possible in it make it very appealing.

Could you explain how it makes epic-scale adventures possible? I looks like a lower-magic D&D world -- which sounds good to me; I just don't see how that's more epic than Greyhawk or Forgotten Realms.

 

[Sulimo]

I never picked up Birthright because I looked at it and said 'oh joy, another fantasy setting, how exciting'. After I found out about the domain and political rules, I kicked myself for not taking a closer look.

When I picked it up it was mainly just to steal the domain rules and use with other settings (Greyhawk was the plan). But in the end, like a lot of things it didnt happen...

So still, the only generic small scale domain rules are those that appear in the 'blue' Companion Set.

Not that I dislike the setting, its not a bad setting. Even played in a few (albeit mostly PBEM), although they seemed to played out more like a D&D Risk game than a straight RPG.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I think in the case of Birthright "epic" can be taken to meant that adventures take on a more earth-shaking aspect. Not only do "blooded" characters get special abilities, if they are regents they can actually draw upon the power of the land itself. In effect, BR PCs are very likely to be at least heirs to heroes whose names have gone down in legend.

Now that I think about it, though, Birthright, or rather its setting, Cerilia, is well-suited for Epic Level play. That is, the setting seems predisposed towards that kind of play due to its inherent nature. To fully understand that, you'd really have to read the background material for Cerilia.

Birthright is still one of my favorite RPG settings, mostly due to the setting itself rather than the rules that define it.

 

[rounser]

I just don't see how that's more epic than Greyhawk or Forgotten Realms.

From what I gather from hearsay on teh intarweb, here are some of the setting's fortes (bear in mind, I've never played nor read it so these probably have inaccuracies that need correction) that have certainly piqued my interest:

Unlike FR and GH, the BR setting is set up from the start for PCs and DM to have a direct effect on the world - to start wars, treaties, expand, conquer, trade etc. and reshape the landscape and politics in general. Although this is theoretically possible with FR and GH if you make an effort (GH moreso than FR methinks), BR is specifically set up to be malleable rather than static in terms of macro level change (as FR and GH can often seem). Therein lies the epic - PCs changing the fate of nations pretty much directly - and I gather that this setting malleability filters down rather readily into regular D&D campaigns in the setting as well, rather than just ones using the dominion rules.

Some monsters, such as the Gorgon, are unique - from what I gather they actually take on an anthropomorphic man-monster representation as a blooded ruler of one of the lands. To know that you're up against the monster of a given type adds an epic feel to the game in a less-is-more kind of way, making the villain more special than in a standard "monster mash" D&D game.

The setting draws heavily upon celtic and arthurian themes, revamps the role of demihumans to bring them closer to mythological rather than tolkienesque roots, and introduces realm magic which affects entire armies or lands. This adds up to a thick atmosphere (and one very similar to one that I've tried to create using FR's Moonshaes in the past, which are also based on celtic and arthurian building blocks).

Okay, now someone who really knows BR can correct me.

 

[Voneth]

I'm ... confused.

Granted, Birthright.net is the official fan site for Birthright. But I didn't know that they have acquired a special agreement with Wizards to publish an official BR book for 3e (or d20).

Did I miss an earlier press release that mention Wizards?

In essence, that what differenates an offical fan site from the rest, the right to create new material and have WotC approve it. It's already happened on Kargate the offical Ravenloft site and Athas.org, the offical Dark Sun site. Funny enough, once the fans gathered up steam, other companies pick up the licencing rights. I don't know if the fans then became writers for the books, or if the companies just started from scratch.