Check Out The Cover of Swords of the Serpentine From Pelgrane

Swords of the Serpentine is an upcoming GUMSHOE-powered fantasy game by Kevin Kulp and Emily Dresner. Publisher Pelgrane Press has just shared the cover!

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"Swords of the Serpentine is a sword & sorcery game of investigation, heroism, sly politics and bloody savagery, set in a fantasy city rife with skullduggery and death. The rules adapt the GUMSHOE investigative roleplaying system to create a fantasy RPG with a focus on high-action roleplaying and investigation inspired by the stories of Fritz Leiber, Terry Pratchett, Robert E. Howard, and others.

Your characters will discover leads that, if followed, propel them headlong into danger and forbidden knowledge. A lead might point the way to sunken treasure, jungle ruins, the missing key to a sorcerous trap, or the true identity of a notorious murderer. The GUMSHOE game mechanics ensure that you’ll always notice leads if you look for them. It’s up to you to choose which one you’ll follow into whatever perils lie ahead, in hopes of fortune, glory, justice, or just staying alive another day.

If you want to track down foul sorcerers in a corrupt and decadent city, clamber through underground ruins to sneak into an enemy’s home and rob them, or wage a secret war against a rival political faction, you’re in the right place."

I'm not sure when the release date is, but the product page says "forthcoming".

 

[unnatural 20]

Kev ran a fantasy GUMSHOE game at a previous NC Gameday (This year's, I think?) so I shouldn't be surprised. Given TimeWatch's quality, this should be a lot of fun.

As for suitability, I've stolen GUMSHOE's core "proficiency gating" mechanic many times for other games, pathfinder and 5e included, to avoid the whole "well, you failed to find the incriminating stationary wedged behind the dresser, so adventure's over" thing.

Very cool! I might have to check out Gumshoe before this release.

 

[Rich August]

I'm looking forward to seeing how the GUMSHOE system handles heroic fantasy. I love the point spend mechanic, and am a huge fan of the tweaks in Night's Black Agents which lent the action a spy-movie feel. Intrigued to see where it goes in SoS. The time travel of Timewatch was cleverly woven into the game, so I'm sure this will be just as successful.

 

[Jer]

Pelgrane has posted a page about the "guidelines" that Dresner & Kulp used when writing the game:

http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/swords-of-the-serpentine-guidelines/

Sounds good to me - I'm very curious how the point spend system works with a "cinematic action" focus.

 

[innerdude]

Interest level significantly piqued ---- I bought Night's Black Agents a few years ago, and though I haven't run it (yet), GUMSHOE seemed very fun conceptually.

This is definitely going on the "watch list".

 

[ToddBS]

They seem to have no regard whatsoever for people who are deathly afraid of heights. My palms are sweating just looking at that cover

Still, it looks like something I'll have to pick up. One can never have too much Howard + Leiber on the shelf, and Pelgrane makes a good product.

 

[jacleg05]

Cover reminds of the game 'Jaws of the Six Serpents' supplement Serpents Teeth. I do look forward to see how they use GUMSHOE for fantasy.

 

[Von Ether]

Pelgrane has posted a page about the "guidelines" that Dresner & Kulp used when writing the game:

http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/swords-of-the-serpentine-guidelines/

Sounds good to me - I'm very curious how the point spend system works with a "cinematic action" focus.

The guidelines say the release is sometime next year with several upcoming months of previews planned.

I got a kick out of the idea that not all of your adventures would be in chronological order, harkening back to the old days of pulp.

 

[Nebulous]

I'm actually quite tired in DnD when the player walks into a room and says, I'll roll a Perception check, 17, what did I find? Or Investigate 20, so tell me I can find every hidden secret door. I'm more inclined for them to just describe what they're doing and where they are looking, and I'll tell them unless it is particularly well hidden or concealed. If a vital clue needs to be found, I'm inclined to just make it obvious.

 

[Nebulous]

For example, if they search a desk, and they roll an 8 or an 18, it doesn't matter! They'll see the parchment they need, so rolling is not even necessary.

 

[Jer]

For example, if they search a desk, and they roll an 8 or an 18, it doesn't matter! They'll see the parchment they need, so rolling is not even necessary.

That's how I run investigation in all games I run now for the most part. Both for "clue finding" rolls and knowledge checks - if they look in the right place or have the relevant skill they get the clue. What I've borrowed feom Gumshoe is that sometimes I still have them roll and get extra info if they roll well, but nothing that would stop the game if they didn't get it.