Jack Vance, Dying Earth, and the Primer of Practical Magic

[Belegbeth]

Lyonesse had such a languid feel to it. Mr Vance definately captured something subtle there. ...

Who knows though, there may yet be a market for some of this kind of stuff. ...

Ah we can dream.
J

I just picked up SS's "Excalibur" sourcebook. It looks like it has some very interesting ideas for running a campaign with a strong "Arthurian" feel.

Maybe once I get my hands on the Primer (my FLGS still does not have it; I might have to resort to an online purchase), I might be able to cobble together something for a Lyonesse campaign -- or, more likely, a campaign with a strong "Lyonesse feel."

Noble knights, legendary magic, flighty Faerie, and Sandestin Magic. It might work...

 

[Drifter Bob]

Primer review

The first review is out...

http://www.gamewyrd.com/review/434

Not bad overall, if not as nice as I would have been!

DB

 

[Drifter Bob]

I just picked up SS's "Excalibur" sourcebook. It looks like it has some very interesting ideas for running a campaign with a strong "Arthurian" feel.

I hope people don't get mad at me for saying this, but though for a long time a big fan of both Monty Python's Holy Grail and the Excalibur movie of early 1980s vintage (at that time, one of a precious few fantasy themed movies of any remote quality ever made) I lost interest in the Camelot tales after reading that they were almost entirely invented from the 12th century (or therabouts) onward by nobles attempting to create Monarchist propaganda.

It just never seemed as cool after that, and all the wierd inconsistencies that I used to assume just didn't make sense due to my ignorance, suddenly seemed self serving...

I did like Avalance Press's take on it, an interesting spin where Arthur is the villain and mordred the hero.

Maybe once I get my hands on the Primer (my FLGS still does not have it; I might have to resort to an online purchase), I might be able to cobble together something for a Lyonesse campaign -- or, more likely, a campaign with a strong "Lyonesse feel."

Noble knights, legendary magic, flighty Faerie, and Sandestin Magic. It might work...

That would be really, really nice. A great world to adventure in. I wonder what the legal status of the Lyoneaise stuff is? I think I'll pose a question to Simon at Pelgrane.

DB

 

[Olive]

Not bad overall, if not as nice as I would have been!

Thanks for the link. I reckon that this reviewer is coming at the whole thing in a similar way to me. And it sounds good enough for me to be interested in! I'll ask the FLGS to order a copy for me...

 

[redkobold]

The first review is out...

http://www.gamewyrd.com/review/434

Not bad overall, if not as nice as I would have been!

DB

It has not diminished my interest. I just placed my order and now eagerly await its delivery!

 

[Drifter Bob]

I'm glad to hear that, please let me know what you think of it.

I know there is at least one other review coming out on rpg.net which is more negative, it should be out soon. I'm very nervous about that! You never know what somebody is going to think.

Wasn't there somebody else on this thread who had ordered the book? Any feedback?

DB

 

[Drifter Bob]

Krieg's Primer

Not yet. I had it sent to work rather than the house...so of course when I checked the tracking number it was delivered today (Sat)! lol

I will have it in my hands on Monday.

Krieg, have you had a chance to look at the book yet? Did you like it or hate it?

DB

 

[Olive]

I know there is at least one other review coming out on rpg.net which is more negative, it should be out soon. I'm very nervous about that! You never know what somebody is going to think.

I wouldn't worry too much: it's one of those things that happens, and no one ever likes everything! Take the over all feedback as a guide, not the occasional bad review.

 

[Drifter Bob]

Reviews and fear

I wouldn't worry too much: it's one of those things that happens, and no one ever likes everything! Take the over all feedback as a guide, not the occasional bad review.

Thanks for the words of encouragement... I need 'em!

Here is the much more negative review from RPG.net

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/10/10216.phtml

JR

 

[Krieg]

Krieg, have you had a chance to look at the book yet? Did you like it or hate it?

DB

I only had a chance to look at it briefly as I am in the middle of moving (in fact if you asked me where exactly my copy was right now I couldn't tell you...lol).

The short of it is that I liked it a lot. From a flavor stand point it was great. The spell failure rules are a major case of "why didn't I think of that!", and the vat creature mechanics are going to replace the current rules for acquiring familiars in my games ASAP.

On the negative side from my cursory look I think there may be balance issues with some of the spells & feats, but I'll have to have some time to study them more in-depth to be absolutely certain.

Oh yeah, count me among the "more info on the Sandistans would have been nice!" group.

All in all it was a great book to steal ideas from. It wasn't perfect but was definitely worth buying (BTW the lack of editing errors was a pleasant surprise as well!!).

Whenever I get settled in & I'll take a longer look at it & give you my impressions.