Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 1 May 2011 to 2 May 2011 (#2011-35) From: MYSTARA-L automatic digest system Date: 03/05/2011, 17:00 To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 3 messages totalling 129 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Missing Adventure: Connections To Society 2. Started to read PC4 Night Howlers, Not Impressed (2) ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 02:06:27 -0700 From: Joaquin Menchaca Subject: Re: Missing Adventure: Connections To Society @Erol: Excellent comments. Some thoughts about the sociological structures. Anytime a society has weak institutions in the area of law and policing, criminal syndicates move in to fulfill that role. They can enforce contracts, payments, or act as protection against rivals. Sometimes the criminal syndicates have competition against corrupt officials. In the feudal system, the baron can be the corrupt thug that takes over activities that are generally the domain of criminals. It could be a corrupt relative of a baron or noble family above the law. Additionally, criminal organizations can grant access to capital that merchants couldn't get otherwise. I'm not sure how merchants raised capital before the invention of banking during the Crusades. I think this complex intrigue enriches the game and makes real villains, really authenticate, and when they are vanquished, it is so much more rewarding. The bottom line though, is how the players feel. They cannot feel like victims all the time, where society is constantly against them, and they have to be presented with a win scenario (whether they are the bandit heroes or to the other extreme the side connected to the nobility). I think this is default for any campaign. The bottom line though is that they enjoy the game, and are not demoralized to the point they develop a suicidal streak. The game master has to understand their desires and goals, and great a game that everyone enjoys (as much as possible). If the opportunity presents itself, developing character goals beyond hack-n-slash or rule-based achievements (XP) can make for real intriguing game (but must be developed) An example, a party guards a caravan, but gets share of profit (unheard of in medieval times). This can trust players into a merchant style campaign, fighting off humanoids, competitors, rivals, bandits, and dealing with international intrigue, as well as boundless opportunities for adventure. One adventure could be that the adventures have to perform a "favor" (quest) for authorities or nobility to move goods off the dock in Minrothad, or adventurers selling rare acquired items to collectors around the world, and must do a major dungeon crawl to acquire the last piece of a collection for higher profits, which can fuel expansion. Possible wealthy merchants can contribute to war campaigns (especially against nations or factions that disrupt trade) and place heroes in war campaign from an economic side... ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 02:31:06 -0700 From: Joaquin Menchaca Subject: Re: Started to read PC4 Night Howlers, Not Impressed I don't know where that was said? I like the horror or gothic representation of afflicted lycanthropes, though might be good, they thirst to eat human flesh. In the dark night, sitting at a table with candle light, your beloved friend is standing behind you, no one else in the room. You feel heavy breathing of nostrils breath on your neck, and you look at the distorted reflection from silverware of a hideous man-beast standing behind you. What do you do? Some would freeze in horror, maybe grab a weapon, spin around to face your darkest nightmares, only to see your friend, normal as can be, look at you in a perplexed manner, wondering, "what?", shrugging. Later you question reality, your vary sanity and further strange events that will unfold... Mystara PC4 treated lycanthropes in a comical fashion, more as good creatures, where some where good, and some were evil, ignoring the realities of the affliction. Lycanthropy seemed more like a good benefit, rather than a curse, where man uncontrollably turns to a beast and gives in primal needs to kill... WhiteWolf has various clans, where some are more violent, and some are more spiritual like Native Americans. Lycanthropy was more of a blessing from Gaia and were nature's warriors against the Wyrm, a belief in a destructive force that destroys nature, destroys order (Sphere of Entropy in Mystara). Here they follow that Lycanthropy is more of a race, than an affliction. Then there's UnderWorld where Werewolves are victims called Lycans, slaves of the vampires (which are more like Werebats stuck in human form and can reproduce rather than true undead creatures of the night). The progenitors are Marcus (obvious werebat) and William, a feral bloodthirsty killer werewolf of immense power. I personally tend to ignore the PC4, as it is hard to adapt into a true gothic setting for Glantri or Karameikos, and makes werewolves seem silly IMHO. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 07:13:40 -0700 From: Emperor Xan Subject: Re: Started to read PC4 Night Howlers, Not Impressed Obviously, Marie de France predates the Gothic horror era. I'm going to assume that for you, she doesn't count as she doesn't treat werewolves as creatures of horror, but they're not comical in her piece either by being good. -----Original Message----- From: Mystara RPG Discussion [mailto:MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM] On Behalf Of Joaquin Menchaca Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 2:31 AM To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] Started to read PC4 Night Howlers, Not Impressed I don't know where that was said? I like the horror or gothic representation of afflicted lycanthropes, though might be good, they thirst to eat human flesh. In the dark night, sitting at a table with candle light, your beloved friend is standing behind you, no one else in the room. You feel heavy breathing of nostrils breath on your neck, and you look at the distorted reflection from silverware of a hideous man-beast standing behind you. What do you do? Some would freeze in horror, maybe grab a weapon, spin around to face your darkest nightmares, only to see your friend, normal as can be, look at you in a perplexed manner, wondering, "what?", shrugging. Later you question reality, your vary sanity and further strange events that will unfold... Mystara PC4 treated lycanthropes in a comical fashion, more as good creatures, where some where good, and some were evil, ignoring the realities of the affliction. Lycanthropy seemed more like a good benefit, rather than a curse, where man uncontrollably turns to a beast and gives in primal needs to kill... WhiteWolf has various clans, where some are more violent, and some are more spiritual like Native Americans. Lycanthropy was more of a blessing from Gaia and were nature's warriors against the Wyrm, a belief in a destructive force that destroys nature, destroys order (Sphere of Entropy in Mystara). Here they follow that Lycanthropy is more of a race, than an affliction. Then there's UnderWorld where Werewolves are victims called Lycans, slaves of the vampires (which are more like Werebats stuck in human form and can reproduce rather than true undead creatures of the night). The progenitors are Marcus (obvious werebat) and William, a feral bloodthirsty killer werewolf of immense power. I personally tend to ignore the PC4, as it is hard to adapt into a true gothic setting for Glantri or Karameikos, and makes werewolves seem silly IMHO. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 1 May 2011 to 2 May 2011 (#2011-35) *************************************************************