Deadlands and Ars Magica for free... anyone played them?
- Thread starter Krug
- Start date
s/LaSH
First Post
No.
Of course, both products are positively brimming with 'For more information, see this book that isn't available for free on the Net', and although Ars Magica is technically complete, Deadlands really does seem to need the Marshall's Handbook.
However, I do think there's some good stuff in there. If my gaming friends could actually spare some time to game, I'd be in game up to my eyeballs.
Of course, both products are positively brimming with 'For more information, see this book that isn't available for free on the Net', and although Ars Magica is technically complete, Deadlands really does seem to need the Marshall's Handbook.
However, I do think there's some good stuff in there. If my gaming friends could actually spare some time to game, I'd be in game up to my eyeballs.
Capellan
Explorer
I spent 15 hours last weekend running Deadlands at the local convention. Of course, I would have done that irrespective of the release of the free PDF, since I have a near-complete collection on my shelf 
I haven't actually looked at either PDF yet, to be honest, though I downloaded both.
I haven't actually looked at either PDF yet, to be honest, though I downloaded both.
Gothmog
First Post
Nope, I haven't downloaded them, but have complete collections for both game lines.
Ars Magica hands down has the best magic system ever made in a game. Its based on medieval ideas of the world, elements, and philosophy, but it works really well during play. Also, 3E closely mirrors Ars Magica in many of its mechanics, which becomes pretty obvious once you have read through Ars. I'd love to run an Ars Magica game some day, but thusfar nobody has been terribly interested in it.
Deadlands is another incredible game. Of all of the games I have ever played or run, its hands down the most wild, campy, and fun game. Unfortunately, many people are reluctant to try it because it has an unusual genre (western, horror, and fantasy). Plus the magic system requiring a poker hand to be drawn for a spell to work is brilliant. You won't be sorry if you give this game a shot.
Ars Magica hands down has the best magic system ever made in a game. Its based on medieval ideas of the world, elements, and philosophy, but it works really well during play. Also, 3E closely mirrors Ars Magica in many of its mechanics, which becomes pretty obvious once you have read through Ars. I'd love to run an Ars Magica game some day, but thusfar nobody has been terribly interested in it.
Deadlands is another incredible game. Of all of the games I have ever played or run, its hands down the most wild, campy, and fun game. Unfortunately, many people are reluctant to try it because it has an unusual genre (western, horror, and fantasy). Plus the magic system requiring a poker hand to be drawn for a spell to work is brilliant. You won't be sorry if you give this game a shot.
JohnNephew
First Post
Krug said:
I know you probably don't mean to imply anything, but it's important to note that neither book was released into the public domain, in the legal sense of that word -- that would mean that the copyright owners (us, in the case of Ars Magica) were giving up their copyright. We're definitely NOT doing that -- we're just giving free access to anyone who wants it, while most definitely retaining ownership of copyright in the work.
Having said that, it looks like a tremendous success from our point of view. We're especially seeing lots of overseas downloads -- this must be really good for people in countries where RPGs stores are hard to find. So we're doing our part to spread gaming all over the globe!
Assenpfeffer
First Post
Never much cared for Deadlands. Haven't seen the free download.
Ars Magica rocks, however. As has been pointed out, it has the best magic system ever, and the book is quite complete.
Ars Magica rocks, however. As has been pointed out, it has the best magic system ever, and the book is quite complete.
Murrdox
First Post
I haven't seen the PDF... but I LOVE Deadlands.
My only REALLY big complaint about this system is the REQUIREMENT of multiple books.
You can play a NORMAL character with the Player's Guide AND the Marshall's handbook (Marshall's handbook is practically required... it's not supplemental info like the DMG)
If you want to play ANY spellcasting character you're going to be disappointed in your abilities unless you get the corresponding expansion book for that character class.
Once you get past all that... Deadlands is GREAT.
My only REALLY big complaint about this system is the REQUIREMENT of multiple books.
You can play a NORMAL character with the Player's Guide AND the Marshall's handbook (Marshall's handbook is practically required... it's not supplemental info like the DMG)
If you want to play ANY spellcasting character you're going to be disappointed in your abilities unless you get the corresponding expansion book for that character class.
Once you get past all that... Deadlands is GREAT.
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EarthsShadow
First Post
Murrdox said:
So, in a manner of speaking, its kind of like D&D with the plethora of books available for it. I know you don't need all the other books, but they do make it much better.
I have never played either but if I could find a person that would be willing to run a game with them I'd be all for playing.
s/LaSH
First Post
Assenpfeffer said:
Well, I found its basic principles rather vague and diffuse. It's great, no question about that, but... something just rubs me the wrong way about being able to use every Technique and Form to create attack spells, and I have my doubts about precisely how some of those damage totals were arrived at (compare the havoc potential for Ball Of Abyssal Flame to that of The Earth Split Asunder). Also, how hard is it to levitate a mountain? Nobody really knows.
When I read it, I was reminded of why I created my own magic system (not available except in summary form). One Attack ability. (You want to blast someone with a jet of water? Attack, modify to Ranged spell, modify damage type to Bashing. Or fill an area with lightning discharges, or envelop them in perpetual fire, or make your hands burn like acid.) It falls under the auspices of the Fire Sphere, but it's not a strictly Hermetic system and Fire Sphere only means that the tasks it covers are best epitomised by fire (light, attack, drawing energy from natural sources etc). Similarly, the Earth (Modify) ability takes two lines to explain how to change the shape of any living being - it's the most capable shape-changing system I've ever seen (if I say so myself), and I try to read around. Twilight is not Ars Magica, but give me an hour and I'm sure it could be.
I'm not saying Ars Magica is awful. If you don't really care about the balance of innovative uses of magic, and are content to employ the basic spells or elementary modifications thereof without too much thought, it'd work just fine. I don't work that way, hence Twilight's magic system.
On the other hand, I like the coven creation rules - they're great.
And Deadlands has great atmosphere. If you forgot all the zombies, jackalopes and other weird critters, ditched magic, and basically played Non-Weird West, the free download would give you everything you needed for a horribly violent and tense showdown. Poker cards as a key gameplay mechanic... neato. Agreed about the prolific nature of the line, though - it's easy for them to release this great book for free, because to make the most of it you've got to grab yerself four or five extra books. And I'm not too sure as to the guidelines implemented fer Weird Science - again, spontaneity kin easily turn into imbalance.
Hey, this is turning into a 'my system's best' rant fest. I'd better stop before someone takes me up on that.
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