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Chaosium Digest Volume 34 Number 03
Chaosium Digest Volume 34, Number 03
Date: Saturday, June 30, 2001
Number: 1 of 1
Contents:
* Revised insanity rules (CTHULHU)
by Andrew Hunt (Andrew.hunt@cableinet.co.uk)
Editor's Note:
Work on the archive continues. As suggested by one of our readers, I've
added a Search box to assist users in finding the articles they're looking
for. I'm also slowly listing the contents of each issue under the link for
that particular issue. I started at the end of the list and have been
working my way back. As always, I'm open to additional suggestions for
revising the archive.
Today is the last day for submissions to qualify for the 2nd quarter
Contest. Submissions received after today will be eligible for the 3rd
quarter contest.
In this issue we have a large announcement from the Glorantha Trading
Association and an article that suggests ways to allow your Call of Cthulhu
investigators to keep their sanity intact for a longer period of time. Now
why would any Keeper want to do that? ;-)
Enjoy!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
* TALES FROM THE GLORANTHA TRADING ASSOCIATION
Longest Day (June, 2001)
Hail to Thee from the Glorantha Trading Association.
You've hopefully noticed that Hero Wars is not only out, but that there are
great supplements coming out more and more regularly. You'll really like
Thunder Rebels (the Orlanthi source book) and brand new is Storm Tribe (the
Orlanthi cult compendium. Both contain lots of brand new information, even
for people who actually own a copy of Cults of Prax! Anaxial's Roster is the
major bestiary that adds a lot to the Deluxe Hero Wars core rules. And more
is on
the way.
Below you'll find tales about:
Best of Glorantha 2000 - Well Done
Lunar Lands Mapped!
Just Over the Next Rise
Issaries Convention Schedule
The Masks of Pavis
The Glorantha Tribe wants YOU!
Glorantha Trading Association News
David Hall Apotheosized
Gloranthan Releases Available from Wizards Attic
Unspoken Words in Print
Griffin Mountain Reborn
Parting Shot: A Drawing!
BEST OF GLORANTHA 2000 - WELL DONE
The GTA has voted, and the Best of Glorantha 2000 have been named.
Congratulations, may the Tribe remain ascendant. The winners are:
King of Dragon Pass, Best of the Best
King of Dragon Pass, Best Visual Art
King of Dragon Pass, Best Play Aid
Jeff Kyer's Chasing Kites, Best Hero Wars Scenario
Mark Galeotti's Gagarth's Wolves Heroband, Best Hero Wars Description
Wesley Quadros, Best Glorantha Website
Tales of the Reaching Moon #18, Best Glorantha in Print
Graham Robinson's Extended Contests without AP, Best Hero Wars House Rule
John Boyle's Road of Kings, Best Glorantha Short Fiction
Introduction to the Hero Wars, Best Issaries Inc Publication
Nick Brooke's Songbook, Spirit of Glorantha
To my mild surprise, the majority of these champions are not North
Americans, despite the GTA center of gravity. Will the Old World dominate
next year too?
By the way, Graham's House Rules have moved, and been expanded, see
<http://gjr.thestableyard.net/glorantha/hw/house_rules.html>
With the improvements I see so far, the Best of Glorantha 2001 will be a
tough contest, too. So get your stuff ready.
LUNAR LANDS MAPPED!
I managed to get one of the gorgeous maps of the Lunar Lands, recently
revealed by Mark Galeotti. The map by Wesley Quadros and Martin Laurie is
much bigger and more precise than their web version of it at Issaries, for
which see <http://www.issaries.com/new/maps_lunar.html>.
This one is printed in color, 59+ x 70 cm on glossy paper. A real value at
£17 or $27, says this map lover. Sterling checks payable to `M.Galeotti &
S.Bray' sent with a note of your address, to PO Box 278, Crewe CW3 9YY
England. Or, you can use Paypal, transferring $27 to
<Mark@Galeotti.fsbusiness.co.uk>. Then, email Mark saying you have done this
transfer, and give him a postal address for your map.
JUST OVER THE NEXT RISE
Issaries has more Hero Wars material coming. Next should be Hero's Book (a
new player's guide to Hero Wars) and The Complete Griselda (short fiction
set in Pavis, by Oliver Dickinson) in July, followed by Sartar Rising in
August. The 2nd edition of Hero Wars should come soon there after, and an
Orlanthi Narrator's Kit follows that correction edition.
And in the middle distance, I see ...
"A Promise of Thunder," Robin D. Laws' full novel of Tarkalor as a young
man. A complete novel from a major Gloranthan game designer, the book
reveals Tarkalor's early reluctance and the burden of royal blood and divine
descent during Sartar's War with the Lunar Empire, before he becomes the
greatest king of Sartar. Self contained, there are no hanging endings in
this brand new tale.
Robin is known for his fiction such as Pierced Heart and The Rough & the
Smooth, as well as roleplaying games like Feng Shui and Hero Wars. Laws
comments, "I've always wanted to write fiction set in Glorantha. My Tarkalor
novel deals with the nature of heroism, the clash of ideologies, and
passionate family conflict; all perfect for good fiction."
ISSARIES CONVENTION SCHEDULE
Contrary to our practice in previous years, Origins and GenCon are going to
be devoid of the presence of Issaries, Inc. in 2001.
Wizard's Attic will represent us by selling product. If you need to get an
item, please go to them and buy it. GTA members and people wishing to play
Hero Wars can also use the Wizard's Attic booth as a meeting place.
Normally, we attend these conventions because it is a chance to spend some
time face to face with fans, to promote the game in person, and to make
business contacts. This year, the value of those activities is outweighed by
the expense of going and also by a unique opportunity that Greg has to
perform service to extraordinary people. Put another way, "Would I rather go
to the 25th convention in a row, or take the time to help out the teacher
who saved my life?" No question for me.
THE MASKS OF PAVIS
Another new item has surfaced. The Masks of Pavis is a Ye Book of
Tentacles - produced book of scenarios and other information on Pavis,
mostly by Ian Thomson. It was originally called Pavis & Big Rubble Companion
part 2 as part 1 was in YBoT 3. Ian has single handedly nearly doubled the
number of Hero Wars scenarios, and all of these are integrated with each
others and other published material. Masks includes character creation
developed for Multisim by Issaries, Inc. This book works for both Runequest
and Hero Wars, so Glorantha fans unite! For purchase information, ask Fabian
Kuechler <tentacles.press@tentacles-convention.de>.
THE GLORANTHA TRIBE WANTS YOU!
The Hero Wars are at a critical point. The material is there, the new
material keeps coming and it's high quality, but not everyone has heard how
the Storm Tribe is rising. You can make a difference to Glorantha if you'll
take on a specific or regular responsibility:
(1) post a thoughtful online review of each Hero Wars publication, see
<http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_4375.html> or
<http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_3982.html>
Note that the rpg.net database index is quite poor ... at last count I note
at least 5 reviews of Hero Wars books that are not shown in the archive, and
(when they do show) three publishers appear "Issary", "Issaries,Inc" and
"Issaries Inc"! And www.gamingoutpost.com has no Hero Wars reviews at all.
Be sure to drop a note to <gta@glorantha.com> when you post, as we hope to
have a Reviews page up on the web site soon.
(2) If you like to web surf or follow rpg related news groups, how about
periodically checking for new Hero Wars postings, and correcting omissions
or adding your own point of view?
(3) If you're going to Origins or GenCon, let's get together. Wouldn't it be
great if there was 1 or 2 pickup Hero Wars sessions? Are you game enough to
be part of it? Who knows, if there's enough interest, we could have a GTA
members only game! Since Issaries won't be able to attend, maybe the Wizards
Attic booth is the place to leave me a note on how to reach you and what
times would be good.
(4) The official Glorantha web site is updated regularly with new material.
Go to <www.HeroWars.com> to learn about the Lunar Army, check the errata,
read about Tentacles, and look in wonder on brand new maps of Slontos,
southern Sartar, and the Shadow Plateau. Coming soon: Hero Wars keywords for
the gods of Pavis!
GLORANTHA TRADING ASSOCIATION NEWS
The Glorantha Trading association now boasts a total of 220 members,
including 1 Demi-God, 26 Heroes, 38 Runemasters, and 155 Initiates. We don't
know the exact number of Observers, but it is in the neighborhood of 1000!
The Glorantha Trading Association is still open to new members! If you want
to become an Initiate, Rune Master, or Hero and gain all of their fabulous
benefits (including free books and exclusive access to Gloranthan
information on-line), go to <www.HeroWars.com/inc/gta.html> or email
<gta@glorantha.com> for information! We would love to see you rise in the
tribe!
DAVID HALL APOTHEOSIZED
Issaries Thanks David Hall (Kudos by Greg Stafford, to appear also in Tales
of the Reaching Moon 20)
After a time of great brilliance, darkness descended upon the realm. Panic,
depression and despair marched forward, armed like gladiators and as hungry
as emptiness. Darkness descended over all. Glorantha was doomed.
A spark endured. Among men a fire burned. The light reached from the ruins
and glowed from afar. Unquenchable, its beautiful spark kept the tribe of
Glorantha alive.
Oh, let us see too that it flickers, troubled by cold winds, misunderstood
communiqués, and bad magics sent from the gods far away in the Underworld.
Truly, it seems alone in the world. It burns, and by its light, we look at
all these pretty pictures, facts and insights.
I cannot ever forget the day I met David in person. My wife and I were
wearing our motorcycle jackets and were ending our travels that day as
guests at Conjunction, toting our luggage and pretty tired after cruising
those English "roads" all day to get to Cambridge. Mr. Hall was not host
that day, just another guest and frankly, I was a bit nervous to meet him.
He had already published a bunch of great magazines during a time when I had
been unable to do much myself for Glorantha. I was aware of the flame borne
by him, and frankly had not yet figured the way to communicate my
appreciation. At first we were each, -- um, shocked? Or just shy shall we
say? Me in leathers, David in his most casual dress-down for the convention,
which to me still looked like formal accounting fashion. Nonetheless,
barriers broke when we spoke, and the common ground of Glorantha opened
before us.
Although I have sometimes stumbled in my dialogue, the Tales of the Reaching
Moon have not. For years David has guided Tales to provide information
through a drought in my own output.
Thanks in part to David the spark is a fire again and with the new Hero Wars
game it is as if the very cosmos around Glorantha has changed. The fire is
different, and although I look upon the movement of David and Tales to a
different place, it is for happy personal reasons and in a good way.
I am happy to have this opportunity in the last issue of Tales to personally
thank you David, for the loyalty, creativity and good work you have done for
Glorantha, Issaries and me. In recognition of this service, which truly
cannot be measured, Issaries is honored to grant to you the most esteemed
status in our GTA tribe. We are proud to announce this here, for all of the
best to see.
David Hall is a Demi-God of the Glorantha Tribe With all honors and
privileges granted therefore.
GLORANTHA PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FROM WIZARDS ATTIC
Wizard's Attic carries all kinds of Glorantha stuff. In addition to the
forthcoming Griffin Mountain reprint (and additional copies of the Pavis &
Big Rubble reprint), they offer The Masks of Pavis, Tradetalk 8, and Tales
of the Reaching Moon 19. Check out
<http://www.wizards-attic.com/IssariesSoon.html>http://www.wizards-attic.com
/IssariesSoon.html>
and
<http://www.wizards-attic.com/NewReleases.html>http://www.wizards-attic.com/
NewReleases.html>
UNSPOKEN WORDS IN PRINT
If you like the Lunar Map offered for sale by Mark Galeotti, you'll be
interested in his new Glorantha publication too. The 68 page Unspoken Word
is now out, by subscription from the UK. It will also be carried by Wizard's
Attic.
UW #1 includes the official Cult of Maran, including Greg's narrative of a
pilgrim's progress to the temple. UW1 also has Greg's unpublished notes on
Tarsh history, with Shaun Appleby's maps showing its evolution from its
scouring during the Dragonkill to the late fifteenth century, plus a
full-color map by Wesley Quadros (Arim's Footsteps to the Warnstone, with an
illustrated gazetteer). He also promises detail on Furthest (complete with
street map), Talfort and Copper Town. Simon Bray's illustrations accompany
Tarshite NPC summaries. Peter Metcalfe and David Dunham contribute too.
Martin Laurie describes the Army of Tarsh, Shieldwall Regiments to the
Kingslayers.
Single issues cost £7 (cheque)or $11 through the PayPal service, one-year
subscription (3 issues) costs £20/$30. For orders to the rest of the world,
the rates are £8/$11 and £22/$33, respectively. Prices include P&P (airmail
printed rate for overseas orders). Mark says you can send cheques in UK
sterling at the sterling rates above, payable to `M Galeotti & S Bray' to
The Unspoken Word, PO Box 278, Crewe CW3 9YY, UK. Alternatively, transfers
sent to <Mark@Galeotti.fsbusiness.co.uk>, through the Paypal system
<http://www.paypal.com>.
GRIFFIN MOUNTAIN REBORN
With the efforts of Rick Meints and Moon Design Productions, Griffin
Mountain has been reprinted along with new material. It will have all 256
pages of the original plus magazine articles about Balazaring clans, a
section on running Gloranthan campaigns by Greg Stafford, and several pages
of designer's notes. He says he's added in new bits that were in Griffin
Island, like Granny Keeneye, the maps of the major Inns in the three
Citadels, and some of the player handouts. Hurrah!
Hardcover UK £40 (US $60), Softcover UK £25 (US $40), prices include
international shipping. It can be advance ordered, for expected shipping on
June 24 (just after midsummer). You can pay in UK pounds by check or postal
money order, in US dollars by money orders or Paypal to <RJMeints@cs.com>.
Orders and attaboys go to: Rick Meints, 22 Foxglove Road, Rush Green,
Romford RM7 0YQ, UK
Issaries will also offer GM through Wizards Attic in mid July, which might
save US buyers some postage.
Future reprints are planned, including Cults of Prax, Cults of Terror,
Borderlands, and Plunder!
PARTING SHOT
A Drawing!
As originally promised, Issaries will hold its first general GTA drawing! On
July 2nd, Issaries will select two non-paid GTA members at random to receive
a gift copy of Storm Tribe autographed by Greg Stafford! To be eligible for
this drawing, we must receive an email message from you by July 1st to
<gta@glorantha.com> by July 1st. To ensure that we do not overlook your
message, ensure that you put GTA STORM TRIBE DRAWING in the subject line of
the message.
HawkBear aka Mark Leymaster
<gta@glorantha.com>
RELEASES
* Chaosium
June/July
CHA 2018 Slaves of Fate (D20 Dragon Lords of Melniboné Adventure) $8.95
http://www.chaosium.com/woec/2018.shtml
CHA 5115 Stormbringer 5th Edition RPG $29.95
http://www.chaosium.com/elric/2115.shtml
JULY:
CHA 2399 20th Anniversary Call of Cthulhu (Very Limited!) $79.95
http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/rpg/2399.shtml
CHA 2019 Straits of Chaos (D20 Dragon Lords of Melniboné Adventure) $8.95
http://www.chaosium.com/woec/2019.shtml
CHA 6032 Song of Cthulhu $12.95
http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/fiction/6032.shtml
--------------------
Revised insanity rules
by Andrew Hunt (Andrew.hunt@cableinet.co.uk)
Introduction
My players have often complained about the fact that Call of Cthulhu
characters just don't last too long. It doesn't take many adventures before
their hero has a low sanity and any and all threats they meet turn their
characters into insane wrecks. To counter this I propose the following
amendments to the sanity rules.
Temporary Insanity
This is rated from +6 to -6 and covers all those more mundane events such as
creepy woods and weird noises. It includes reading of mythos books but
specifically excludes any sanity loss from exposure to mythos creatures.
Sanity checks should be made with reference to the characters background.
For instance characters heaving served in WW1 Would be much less likely to
baulk at dead bodies.
Each character starts of with a rating of 0. As events progress this rating
will vary and fluctuate. For example, creeping though a wood (lose 1
sanity), hear an odd noise (lose 1 sanity), think something is creeping up
on you (lose 1 sanity), oh its only a dog (gain 2 sanity). Cumulative
temporary sanity -1. Obviously the number of rolls and effect on temporary
sanity of the roles are up to the keeper.
Each test would be made as normal and adds to sanity would result from such
activities as having a nice cup of tea in front of a fire with friends.
However if a character accumulates -6 points of sanity that is when the
normal temporary insanity rules come into force. In addition the character
will lose 1D6 points of normal sanity.
Normal Sanity
Normally in Call of Cthulhu a failed sanity roll occurs once you've rolled
over your current sanity. Under this system the reverse is true, you fail a
sanity check if you roll under your current sanity as your mind realizes the
implications of what you have learnt.
For instance Dread Cthulhu rises in front of a cultist (sanity 10) and a
character (sanity 80). The cultist has seen it all before so should have
less chance of losing more sanity, the poor character however.
Sanity checks made this way should only be made when character interacts
with obvious physical representations of the mythos.
Low Sanity
For every 10 points of permanent lost sanity characters should start adding
some kind of quirk to their character reflecting the characters fragile
mental state. The nearer to zero sanity points the more series the quirk
should be. Quirks could be anything related to the episode which last caused
them to lose significant amounts of sanity.
Conclusion
The effect of these rules should be to slow down the rate of sanity loss
while still enforcing the inevitableness of characters insanity as they
become aware of more of the Cthulhu mythos.
Please feel free to e-mail me any comments or observations.
--
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