So... tell me about Dawforge, Fireborn, & Midnight

[Lobo Lurker]

The title says it all. I've skimmed some reviews of Midnight, but I'd never heard of Dawnforge before I saw another ENworld member running a PbP game with it. And while I've heard Fireborn mentioned... I've yet to see any reviews on it.

So...

Dawnforge - What's it like? Is it atmospheric? How so? What have your play/dm experiences been with it? Did it inspire you to go out play/dm? Thought/Opinions about it?

Fireborn - What's it like? Is it atmospheric? How so? What have your play/dm experiences been with it? Did it inspire you to go out play/dm? Thought/Opinions about it? Is this a D20 Modern Game?

Midnight - I know there's a second edition coming out... or is it out already? Did it improve? Is it atmospheric? How so? What's it like? What have your play/dm experiences been with it? Did it inspire you to go out play/dm? Thought/Opinions about it?

 

[Crothian]

Fireborn - What's it like? Is it atmospheric? How so? What have your play/dm experiences been with it? Did it inspire you to go out play/dm? Thought/Opinions about it? Is this a D20 Modern Game?

This is a non d20 game. It is very cool though. Basically the magic is coming back to the world starting in London where it is set. The characters are humans that used to be dragons and they slowly rediscover their past. There are flashbacks to the mythic earth which is freaking awsomely described. In the flashbacks the players role play the dragon they used to be in full glory. There are a lot of cool things this game does with the flashbacks, the modern age, and the powers of the characters,

 

[Lobo Lurker]

That sounds incredibly neat Crothian. If I were to pick these up, would you recommend the two supplements as well, or should be well off with just the 'core' book?

 

[Infernal Teddy]

You'll definatly need the Gamemaster's Guide and the "Lost Lore" Online Suppliment to play Fireborn, but it's a brilliant, fast-moving game. I love it to bits...

 

[BWP]

Midnight - I know there's a second edition coming out... or is it out already? Did it improve? Is it atmospheric? How so? What's it like? What have your play/dm experiences been with it? Did it inspire you to go out play/dm? Thought/Opinions about it?

2nd ed. Midnight has been out for a couple of months now. It is certainly an improvement mechanically (integration with 3.5e, better balancing of character classes and races, etc.). It's not at all different from 1st ed. in terms of atmosphere, setting etc. What's it like? The typical description is "like Lord of the Rings, only Sauron won" which is true in many ways but glosses over many of the unique features of the setting. I guess the fundamental point is that the characters are struggling to not only survive in the face of overwhelming opposition, but also struggling to make a mark, to make the world a little better by striking back at the powers of Darkness in whatever manner they can. It's this air of desperation that makes it stand out from most other settings that I'm aware of.

I've been running a MN game for several months now and it's interesting how quickly the players have adapted to the grittiness of it. It's definitely a change from the more traditional "off we go to the dungeon" style of D&D gaming.

 

[tetsujin28]

Dawnforge: uninspiring.

Fireborn: uninspiring and clunky. The line is also pretty much dead as a doornail due to it selling like a bag of hammers.

Midnight: One of the best d20 settings you'll ever find, if you like your dark fantasy dark.

 

[BryonD]

They are clearing out the 1st Ed Midnight at 50% off over at Stiggybaby.com.

 

[Tetsubo]

Dawnforge: One of the best takes on Epic that I've ever seen. This is the setting to play if you want to play HEROES on the scale of the classical Greeks.

Fireborn: Haven't looked at it.

Midnight: Meh. It did nothing for me. The Bad Guys win idea is old and tired too me. Depressing as well. Sterling did it with the Draka series of novels and no one has done it better.

 

[Crothian]

That sounds incredibly neat Crothian. If I were to pick these up, would you recommend the two supplements as well, or should be well off with just the 'core' book?

There isn't much out for and it seems the game is not going to be supported anymore. So you might be able to find all the books really cheap as it was not a strong seller.

 

[Vocenoctum]

Fireborn was neat enough mechanically, but I don't think they managed to get the setting across efficiently. The Players Guide is pretty much mechanics. The other book had some regional/historical stuff, but not enough and what was there did little for me. I sold both books on Ebay. It's a shame, because the setting looked really neat, it just wasn't presented well. (IMO)

I've got Midnight 1, very nice and I like it a lot. Not sure whether Midnight 2 is worth buying since I already own 1. The human nations have fallen to the Big Bad, the elf and dwarf nations are under siege and falling, it's dark, but has potential to be fun.