[Black Company] I have the book...any questions?

[Maester Luwin]

Hey Robert! I know it's still a ways off but how compatible will the Thieve's World magic system be to The Black Company's? Thanks Maester Luwin

 

[rjs]

Campaign Setting: I'm toying with mixing BC with a Malazan campaign...

Looks pretty cool so far. One recommendation, you may want to "show your math"

 

[rjs]

Thieves' World

Hey Robert! I know it's still a ways off but how compatible will the Thieve's World magic system be to The Black Company's? Thanks Maester Luwin

On another thread on the Necromancer Games board, I answered this question. Basically, the essential mechanics are nailed down for Thieves' World. In fact yesterday, I wrapped the 1st draft of the magic system. In looking at the two, they are, in fact, different, though there are similarities. The short version goes something like this: In the Black Company novels, there are few instances where there are "actual rules" for magic. This led us to the freeform magic system used in the BCCS.

In Thieves' World, Lynn Abbey is very clear about how magic works, establishing that, like Black Company, there is one source, but different techniques (Magic, Prayer, and Witchcraft--this is pretty strongly defined in Sanctuary).

I don't want to get into too many particulars, but even though they use different systems of magic, given their nature, you shouldn't have much difficulty using them side by side.

 

[Red Spire Press]

Now that sir is a VERY interesting idea. In fact, I believe Dark Legacies has a soldier class too.

Indeed it does.

Hmm. Black Company crosses the Plane of Glittering Stone to Earth 2999. That, IMO, is a beautiful thing.

Everyone's welcome! Just be careful on your way through the Abyss.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I've given the book a once over.

Does it look like healing is going to take some more paperwork or am I misunderstanding it?

IN terms of casting spells, will we get a bonus download of 'popular' spells with assumed ranks and bonuses? That would be a lifesaver. The on the fly thing probably isn't going to be too reliable with some of the people I game with as they are 'math' poor.

Is there a section that talks about different starting power levels? A lot of the NPCs border on demi-god status but I didn't really see anything addressing it.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Double Post...

Minor Negatives...

When picking up the Wheel of Time to see if I could use the Ways with the Glittering Stone, I noticed that despite being a smaller book it was way heavier. Makes me wonder how much use/abuse this one will take.

Art was pretty dark in some areas...

Combat looks like it's going to have characters who survive to higher levels inevitably be cripples missing limbs and eyes and whatnot. I'll have to mess with the combat system a little and see how it plays out.

 

[rjs]

Combat looks like it's going to have characters who survive to higher levels inevitably be cripples missing limbs and eyes and whatnot. I'll have to mess with the combat system a little and see how it plays out.

You'll notice from the novels that combats are wildly quick, sometimes mentioned in a single sentence. And when the Black Company fought, they won by outsmarting their opponents. They lost when they faced their foes head-on. Soldiers Live, the last book in the series, reflects this with the deaths of nearly every major character during Sleepy's march to take Taglios.

From a game perspective, yes, characters who kick down doors and try to chop to pieces everyone inside wil either die abruptly or be maimed for their careers. Which is as it should be in the Black Company.

 

[Yuan-Ti]

Combat will definitely require some adjustments on the parts of players and DMs. Players have to learn that they need to enter combat with care and only when they have an advantage (or absolutely must). DMs will need to provide opportunities for careful players to avoid combat and to get an advantage before entering combat.

Remember, as well, that the Grievious Injuries table only causes a serious effect on rolls of 44 or higher.

Nonetheless, before I run a campaign, I may grant players the ability to use Action Points to decrease the roll on the Grevious Injuries table by 1d6 x 10.

 

[hellbender]

I do not have the book yet, however, from the sound of it, why adjust combat at all? It sounds as if the combat is harsh like in the original Warhammer rpg. This is an accurate portrayal of fights involving knives, swords, and other cutting and blunt weapons. Why make it easier on the players? If you follow the novels you will also learn to achieve the same goal without conflict, which, as Croaker points out, pays the same. There is no need for every confrontation to draw blood, the idea is to be effective with minimal loss.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I do not have the book yet, however, from the sound of it, why adjust combat at all? It sounds as if the combat is harsh like in the original Warhammer rpg. This is an accurate portrayal of fights involving knives, swords, and other cutting and blunt weapons. Why make it easier on the players? If you follow the novels you will also learn to achieve the same goal without conflict, which, as Croaker points out, pays the same. There is no need for every confrontation to draw blood, the idea is to be effective with minimal loss.

My thoughts exactly. I think D& combat is way too easy on the PC's.