Tuesday, January 21, 2014

[Q&A] Jerry D. Grayson (Atlantis: the Second Age)

[19:11] <+Jerry> Im Jerry D Grayson. Ive been publishing RPGs since 2002 starting with GODSEND Agenda
[19:11] <+Jerry> Since then Ive published HELLAS: Worlds or sun and stone and ATLANSTIS

[19:12] <+Jerry> Im a Taurus
[19:12] <+Jerry> Done
[19:12] <~Dan> Thanks, Jerry!
[19:12] <~Dan> Would anyone like to start us off with a question?
[19:12] <+GenoFoxx> Hurray for HELLAS!!
[19:12] <~Dan> Not exactly a question, but thanks. :)
[19:12] <&Le_Squide> Who the heck do you license the Omni system from, anyway?
[19:13] <&Silverlion> Jerry: Why did you cut down the races from the original material, and spin an established line into a slightly different direction?
[19:13] <~Dan> (Question pause.)
[19:14] <&Silverlion> <--really likes the new Atlantis, but knows people will be curious
[19:14] <+Jerry> I Scott Agnew owns the Omni system
[19:14] <+Jerry> I own the Omega system...kinda like McDonals and Mac Dowells
[19:14] <+JamesGillen> Ah
[19:14] <+Jerry> SMS own the system used for Talislant aand Scott gave it a name and repackaged it
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[19:15] <+JamesGillen> So what are the differences?
[19:15] <&Le_Squide> Is Hellas the Omni system or the omega system at this point?
[19:15] <+Jerry> Each iteration is a bit different. If you want Omni talk to Scott
[19:15] <+Jerry> HELLAS is Omegas
[19:15] <+Jerry> Now for the races
[19:16] <+Jerry> I cut most out because I wanted to narrow the focus of the game
[19:16] <+Jerry> I also wanted to jetison the Tolkeine stuff in favor of a more exotic feel
[19:17] <+Jerry> I also got rid of a ton of classes and trimmed that down to 16
[19:17] <+Jerry> Done
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[19:18] <~Dan> Jerry: Did you see JamesGillen's question about the differences between Omni and Omega?
[19:18] <+Jerry> Oops no
[19:18] <+JamesGillen> heh
[19:18] <+Jerry> The big differences
[19:18] <+Jerry> Hero Points
[19:18] <+Jerry> The disadvantage system
[19:19] <+Jerry> Scaling
[19:19] <+Jerry> Charcter creation
[19:19] <+Jerry> Examples that use the name Tyrone Biggums
[19:19] <&Editor> Do you see any advantages in the jettisoning? Besides being something like that?
[19:20] <+Jerry> no derived attributes so CR and MR are free to be purchased as you see fit
[19:20] <+Jerry> Of the races?
[19:20] <+Jerry> I see a better defined game
[19:21] <+Jerry> A lot of games try and cater to everyone and manage to not be very good games. I think Ive managed to make a game that focuses or directs play into a certain style of play
[19:21] <+Jerry> or  at least thats my goal
[19:22] <+JamesGillen> what is that style?
[19:22] <&Editor> Do you feel the added complexity of magic is  worthwhile for its return?
[19:22] <+Jerry> Getting rid of a lot of the races and classes upset a lot of people. Thats cool because I cant please everyone and thats not my goal. I want to make a game that stinks of Jerry's version of ATLANTIS
[19:23] <+Jerry> BTW, here is a coupon ofr the game (Link: http://www.rpgnow.com/browse.php?discount=77972)http://www.rpgnow.com/browse.php?discount=77972
[19:23] <+Jerry> Downlaod it tonight, it goes bye bye wednesday
[19:23] <+Jerry> DONE
[19:23] <~Dan> Let's back up a bit. For those unfamiliar, can you give us a high-level overview of the setting?
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[19:24] <+Jerry> It’s a sword and sorcery RPG set in the antediluvian prehistory of  version of our earth
[19:25] <+Jerry> More sword and sorcery  and less Tolkien. Its flavored for Conan and Elric and less Lord of the Rings
[19:25] <+nick3> Is it one of those settings with Elves and Dwarves in all but name ?
[19:25] <+Jerry> Done
[19:26] <+Jerry> Nope
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[19:26] <+Jerry> It has very defined races that are very Non-European in flavor
[19:26] <+Jerry> Done?
[19:27] <+Jerry> I take that back...
[19:27] <+Jerry> I want t talk about races a bit more
[19:27] <&Editor> Isn't Elric an elf by another name/
[19:27] <+nick3> sorry, thought I was handing you an easy bridge to explain your vision further .
[19:28] <+Jerry> Nope, He's Melnibonean. It like saying A Kappa is an Asain Goblin
[19:28] <+Jerry> Asian, sorry
[19:29] <+Jerry> If Elf means any ancient and learned race then I guess but it a lot different
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[19:29] <~Dan> (Well, technically, we learn in one of the Corum books that Melniboneans and their cross-dimensional kin are called "elves" on Earth. :) )
[19:29] <&Editor> Most people usually don't agree, from my recent research. But I'm not a fan of such broad "elf" definitions
[19:29] <+Jerry> Ive heard Vulcans compared to elves as we know them in RPGs but ther arent
[19:29] <~Dan> (But that's neither here nor there.)
[19:29] <+JamesGillen> One could make the comparison but it's not totally accurate
[19:29] <~Dan> (Welcome, Wayward1! Here for the Q&A?)
[19:29] <+Wayward1> yes
[19:30] <+Jerry> Also there is a lot of baggage tied to elves in RPGs that isnt there in mythology
[19:30] <~Dan> (In progress! The floor's open to questions!)
[19:30] <~Dan> Jerry: Would you like to give an overview of the Omega system?
[19:30] <+Jerry> There are expectations in RPGs tied to those "classic" races
[19:30] <+Jerry> Sure
[19:31] <+Jerry> Omega has its roots in the early version of the Talislanta RPG, second ed I think.
[19:32] <+Jerry> 1D20 rolled  and you try to get an 11 or better for a full success. 6-10 ia a partiial and a 1-5 is a failure
[19:33] <+Jerry> 20+ is a crit . Skill +attribute  modify the roll
[19:33] <+Jerry> The roll is futhre modified by the Degree of Difficulty (DoD)  set by the GM
[19:34] <+Jerry> A roll may have a DoD of -8 to climb a wall but a hero may have a +10  to complet ethe task
[19:34] <+Jerry> This means he has a +2 to his roll.
[19:35] <+Jerry> The game runs on intent so its easy to navigate with intent
[19:35] <+JamesGillen> What's that mean?
[19:36] <+Jerry> If my intent was to swing across a building using a flag pole the GM can decde the modifire and what happens if he fails or gets a partial
[19:36] <+GenoFoxx> what is Atlantis as a fantasy setting that would appeal to a diehard science-fiction gamer?
[19:36] <+Jerry> Laser swords
[19:37] <+Wayward1> What are the long term plans for Atlantis...books, apps, other games (board)
[19:37] <+GenoFoxx> :o
[19:37] <+Jerry> Intent helps players narrow in on what they actually want to do
[19:37] <&Editor> Do you own Atlantis outright, or just the rights?
[19:37] <+BPIJonathan> Can you give us an actual play type example?
[19:37] <+Jerry> I own it.
[19:38] <+Jerry> BPIJon give me an example as if you are a player
[19:38] <+Jerry> Ill run you through it
[19:39] <+Jerry> Then Ill answer Geno in depth and then Wayward
[19:39] <+BPIJonathan> Im a loveable rogue and I need to steal the jewels out of a house to save the party... how would this work.
[19:40] <~Dan> (Oh... and question pause.)
[19:41] <+Jerry> Lets unpackage what youre doing. First you want to sneak into the house past the sleeping mastiff at the front door.  You may try stealth or your animal handling. Stealth the slink past. Your intent is not to be seen.  If you succedd you get past unnoticed. If you get a partial you sneak past with a minor trouble
[19:41] <+Jerry> You may get past but the dog wakes and start to bark
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[19:42] <+Jerry> If you use animal handling your intent may be to keep the dogs quiet and treat you as a friend.
[19:42] <~Dan> (Howdy, Songtress!)
[19:43] <+Jerry> If you fail you are seen or the dogs may know the deal and attack. Thats a pretty simple example
[19:44] <+Jerry> Intent helps a lot when figuring critical fails, critical success and partials in the game
[19:44] <+Jerry> done
[19:44] <~Dan> (I've got a follow-up question regarding criticals, but I'll let you catch up first, Jerry>)
[19:44] <+Jerry> Now on to Geno's question...what does this offer the scifi crowd?
[19:45] <+Jerry> Ask it now before Im fumble through the next question :)
[19:46] <~Dan> Oh... Well, one issue I've had with Omni is that if you don't have a positive modifier, it's impossible to crit, and if you don't have a negative modifier, it's impossible to fumble. Is that still true with Omega?
[19:46] <+Songtress> (Aww I've missed much fof the awesome Atlantis stuff, even though I'd love to get the game i was curious about the world)
[19:46] <+Jerry> Hero Points!!!
[19:46] <+Bigby> Hero Points let you fumble if you don't have a negative modifier?
[19:47] <~Dan> (We haven't gone that in-depth into the setting, Songtress.)
[19:47] <~Dan> Jerry: Ah, gotcha.
[19:47] <+Jerry> Hero Points allow you to modify the roll. If the adversary gives you a DoD-20 to hit and you only have a skill of +8 chances are you will fail the roll
[19:47] <+Jerry> Hero Points allow you to modify the roll by +2 for each point spent
[19:48] <+Jerry> Hero Points are tied to the amount of Renown you have so the more famouse you are the more Hero Points you can spend.
[19:48] <+Jerry> The more you spend the more Renown you get nbecause youve just done the impossible
[19:48] <+Jerry> Its a feedback loop
[19:49] <+Jerry> Th game is built to drive you forward into doing great deeds
[19:49] <+Jerry> Not Good deeds
[19:49] <+Jerry> But great deeds...you arent a good guy ina four color sense  but the greater your name the more you can do
[19:50] <+Jerry> It helps make the heros and players more proactive in the game environment
[19:50] * ~Dan nods
[19:50] <+Jerry> Done
[19:50] <+Jerry> now, where was I?
[19:51] <~Dan> Geno's scifi question, I think.
[19:51] <+Jerry> Oh yeah, laser swords
[19:52] <&Editor> I so would right a hard SF game for Omega if I could...hrms..
[19:52] <+GenoFoxx> keep your 'fantasy' away from my lightsabers :D
[19:52] <+Jerry> If youre looking for scifi fantasy I suggest taking a look at HELLAS.  Atlantis is very fantasy with a few twist tied to its history and past
[19:52] <+Jerry> There are Vrill swords, gas pistols, and Vril lances and cannons, but they are from the past age and are verry rare
[19:53] <+JamesGillen> So if HELLAS is now Omega, are those rules going to be redone?
[19:53] <&Editor> Hellas is AWESOME. By the way. I've got 1E nand 2E.
[19:53] <+Jerry> Thank you
[19:53] <+GenoFoxx> so do I
[19:53] <+Jerry> What ma appeal to you is the service weve paid to the diffrent races of ATLANTIS
[19:53] <&Editor> (I traded for 2E because I had two copies of 1E, 3 if you cound the first one I got..)
[19:54] <~Dan> (Just a reminder that Wayward1 has a question out there as well. :) )
[19:54] <+Bigby> I am not familiar with the setting.  Is the old Vrill stuff super advanced tech from some ancient race or magi-tech or something else altogether?
[19:54] <+Jerry> Each provides and diffrent flavor to the game that helps build and reinforces the genre and thems Im shooting for
[19:54] <+Jerry> Vril is geomantic energy that can be harnesed and used by artificers  or magic users
[19:55] <+Bigby> So Magi-Tech?
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[19:56] <+Jerry> Ley lines, World rivers, etc= Vril energy. It was the go juice of the ancient world and used for almost everything. A rogue Atlantean prince made a WMD and blew up the world
[19:56] <+GenoFoxx> so the HELLAS Atlanteans aren't related to this 'Atlantis'?
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[19:56] <+Jerry> HELLAS and ATLANTIS have no connections except a few names
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[19:56] <+GenoFoxx> :(
[19:56] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Psychman, TKTuttle! Atlantis Q&A in progress!)
[19:57] <+TKTuttle> Hellooo!
[19:57] <+Jerry> Kinda magic tech  I guess
[19:57] <+Psychman> Yeah, what have I missed?  Will it be posted up anywhere?
[19:57] <+Jerry> but tech gives it the wrong flavor
[19:57] <~Dan> The log will be posted on my blog, the link to which is in the chat topic. :)
[19:57] <+Jerry> We sang Janes Addiction songs
[19:57] <&Editor> It will be posted...yah, Dan got it :D
[19:58] <+Jerry> Ok, what was the next question? What are the publishing plans?
[19:58] <+Psychman> cheers
[19:58] <~Dan> Jerry: Yup!
[19:58] <~Dan> (Oh, also, #rpgnet2 is open for general chat.)
[19:59] <+Jerry> 3 Core Books. Core book, the Geographica, and then the monster book.
[20:00] <+Wayward1> thx
[20:00] <+Jerry> Followed by the Action Deck (a card deck), a monster Deck, a set of adventures, and small players pack book, and a few city books.
[20:00] <+Wayward1> nice
[20:00] <+Songtress> " Actually I am curious will there be a physical book/ PDF combo  available for purchase?
[20:00] <&Editor> Will you add back in Martial Artists?
[20:00] <&Editor> What about my question on magic? :D
[20:00] <+Jerry> through IPR
[20:00] <+Jerry> Im sorry editor. What was the question?
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[20:01] <+Jerry> (Link: http://www.rpgnow.com/browse.php?discount=77972)http://www.rpgnow.com/browse.php?discount=77972  free PDFs for you songtress and anyone who want it
[20:01] <&Editor> Were the changes (from Hellas to Atlantis) in magic, worth the added complexity?
[20:02] <+Jerry> The added complexity? Im not sure what you mean.  We added a lot more content because its more of a focus in ATLANTIS but its the same basic system
[20:03] <+Jerry> In ATLANTIS all magic is the unshaped dreams of teh elder gods
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[20:03] <+Songtress> Thank you Jerry
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[20:03] <+TKTuttle> Will there be a starter adventure in the Core Book?
[20:03] <+Jerry> Using it corrupts you and everyone fears a magic user
[20:03] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Guest00, Guest43! You can set your names with the /nick command.)
[20:04] <&Editor> Well I meant the various aspected elements...and such
[20:04] <+Jerry> No happy magic users just walking around. When you use magic you reek of it..sometimes literally
[20:04] <+Jerry> Ahh the element and the Atman
[20:04] <&Editor> Not even shamans? Who talk to spirits?
[20:05] <+Jerry> If you use magic you are in someone trafficing with the unknown and deeply troubled dreams of elder gods.
[20:05] <+JamesGillen> Heavy.
[20:06] <+Jerry> In the cosmology of ATLANTIS the world is formed from the fevered dreams of the elder gods. Every so often the god awake and realize that the world is covered in escaped dreams (us) and set about exterminating the vermin. that kicks off an epoch and teh world changes
[20:06] <~Dan> Let's say I really dig the rules tweaks found in the Omega version of Atlantis but like the race options in the Omni version. How hard would it be to import the latter into the former?
[20:07] <+Bigby> So are magic users mostly villains in the setting?  If you want to play a magic user will you eventually go evil and have to retire the character?  Or is there a way to walk that fine line in an extended campaign without you being the one special magic user that isn't evil?
[20:07] <+Jerry> You would have to modify all the races so they arent run over by the races in the game
[20:08] <~Dan> The races are more powerful in Omega, you mean?
[20:08] <+Jerry> Bigby no. You will be tainted by the magic
[20:08] <+Jerry> Think of magic users are being a bit off or creepy. long nails, sallow skin, sunken eyes
[20:08] <+Jerry> babies crying, milk curdling
[20:09] <~Dan> Dogs and cats, living together, mass hysteria!
[20:09] <+Jerry> You can do good but it has a cost
[20:09] <+Jerry> Dan races are very diffrent in the new version.
[20:10] <+Jerry> They arent just a few modifiers here and there. they are very diffrent and have diffrent abilities and drawbacks
[20:10] <+Jerry> also, nothing is balanced. I hate balance
[20:11] <~Dan> So it would take a lot of effort?
[20:11] <+Jerry> I shouldnt say I hate balance but ....no I think I do hat balance
[20:12] <+Jerry> Nope, but it would take some time trying to figure out what the races do that makes them interesting
[20:13] <+Jerry> done
[20:13] * ~Dan nods
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[20:14] <~Dan> I'm curious to hear your thoughts about nonhuman PCs in a swords and sorcery setting. With the exception of Elric/Corum -- who were deliberately created to be exceptions -- swords and sorcery seems to be a very humanocentric subgenre.
[20:14] <+Jerry> It is
[20:15] <+Jerry> The 7 races were a great compromise that I wanted to make work
[20:16] <+Jerry> You should see some of the early drafs of the game
[20:16] <+Songtress> Are the races only human? (the snatch from the  Geographica made it seem like there were dozens more?
[20:17] <+Jerry> I knew I wanted to seperate the Atlanteans and the humans, Nethermen are stolne from the movie Fire and Ice, Lemurians  needed to be in there because of the other Theosophy elements I crammed in there
[20:17] <+GenoFoxx> g'night
[20:17] <+Songtress> Fire & Ice was a good movi (rotoscope!)
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[20:17] <+Jerry> Yep I love Frenzetta
[20:17] <&Editor> I hate rotoscoping
[20:18] <+Jerry> Jinn are my elder race created out of the elder gods dreams...half formed being s of smoke and fire
[20:19] <+Jerry> Ahl At Rab are my serpent men  and the Andamen are my beastman army. Cant have a beast war without beast men
[20:20] <~Dan> (And may the beastman win!)
[20:21] <+Jerry> oops, done
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[20:22] <~Dan> I know you're not a balance guy, but would you say that the Lemurians are relatively overpowered?
[20:22] <+Jerry> No more question huh? that was easy!
[20:22] <+Jerry> now on to the fun stuff...
[20:23] <+Jerry> The game is full of easter eggs involving music, comics, and B movies
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[20:24] <+Jerry> Just like in HELLAS Ive thrown a ton of song references in there and few in homage to Mr. T
[20:24] <&Editor> Are there plans for other races elsewhere? A far east?
[20:24] <~Dan> (Howdy, Abstruse!)
[20:25] <+Abstruse> (Of course, the one Tuesday I'm not recording, I completely space on the Q&A!!)
[20:25] <+Jerry> Nope. There are 5  Root Races. for the game
[20:25] <+Jerry> Actualy I have a question
[20:26] <~Dan> (Jerry, this is Abstruse, podcaster and RPG columnist for Ain't It Cool News. :) )
[20:26] <+Jerry> Do you actually need more than 13 diffrent player races in the game? and if so why?
[20:26] <+Jerry> Hello Abstruse
[20:27] <+Abstruse> Jerry: Depends on the game. Some settings and some systems require it, but most don't and it leads to system bloat.
[20:27] <+Jerry> like a cup of Metamusil
[20:27] <~Dan> Not necessarily, but I kinda dig the gonzo approach to races that the last edition took. I'd love to have elves and dwarves in elf-y and dwarf-y environments along with advanced ape-men in their jungles and so forth.
[20:28] <+JamesGillen> Metamucil is more of a flushing agent, isn't it?
[20:28] <+JamesGillen> Oh yeah and why are the Lemurians apes?
[20:28] <+Jerry> Unfortunately thats not the game I wrote. I get it  but its not what I'm trying to do.
[20:28] <~Dan> Oh, sure, I get that, Jerry.
[20:29] <~Dan> I'm not slamming your approach by any means.
[20:29] <~Dan> Although I will say this:
[20:29] <+Jerry> I may be just that its an expectation of the genre but it could be so much more than D&D knock  offs
[20:29] <+Jerry> Dont get my wrong I love me some D&D but there is room for so many other takes on the genre
[20:29] <~Dan> I think that if I were going the S&S route? I'd have those races you kept but would have them as the non-PC "Other".
[20:30] <+Jerry> Its like music where veryone wants classic rock  and gets wiered out when you put on a ska album
[20:30] * ~Dan nods
[20:30] <+Jerry> Ahh, so you would have just humans and everything eles as other?
[20:31] <+Abstruse> Who doesn't like ska?!
[20:31] <~Dan> Yeah, I think so. See, I get why you cut out the Tolkien stuff...
[20:31] <~Dan> ...but having a mixed party of mer-folk and ape-men and so forth doesn't really feel S&S to me, either.
[20:31] <+Jerry> I can assure you that when you start playing the game you wont miss the elves. In fact they will look silly standing next to the other races
[20:32] <~Dan> It feels like it's own, potentially cool, thing, but not quite S&S.
[20:32] <+Jerry> Thats fair
[20:32] <~Dan> So... I guess for me, personally, it's all-in or just humans. :)
[20:33] <+Jerry> Think of the new ATLANTIS  like a Jumbalaya  and standard D&D fantasy as a steak and potatoes dinner
[20:33] <~Dan> That said, I'm definitely giving the game a look and will reserve judgment.
[20:33] * ~Dan nods
[20:33] <+Abstruse> (As a cajun, you have piqued my interested)
[20:33] <+Jerry> I wanted to make a game that cant be mistaken for anything other than what it is.
[20:33] * ~Dan nods
[20:34] <~Dan> An admirable goal.
[20:34] <+Jerry> When I wrote HELLAS  a few people asked if they could play Star Wars with it and I replied I hope not.
[20:34] <+JamesGillen> HA
[20:34] <+Jerry> I wanted you to play HELLAS with HELLAS
[20:34] * ~Dan nods
[20:35] <~Dan> I get annoyed when I hear people saying that Game X can do "anything".
[20:35] <~Dan> No. No, it cannot. I don't care what game it is.
[20:35] <&Editor> I like Hellas better than Star Wars these days.
[20:35] <+Jerry> If people want to take and port ATALNTIS I kinda hope they either give up because teh system is so ingrained in the setting that its too much trouble and just play a Pathfinder game
[20:36] <+Jerry> I want people to play TALANTIS  and know they are playing ATLANTIS, not another fantasy game based on their old D&D campainge
[20:36] <+BPIJonathan> Im thinking I was getting Atlantis to play, well Atlantis
[20:36] <+Jerry> I hope so
[20:37] <~Dan> Oh, Jerry, would you like to mention a bit about how religion works in this edition? I think that's rather cool.
[20:37] <+BPIJonathan> (Frankly if I am going to go through all the trouble to convert it to another system, I might as well write something new for that system)
[20:37] <+Jerry> NOW, this may turn some people off but Im not making the game for them. Im making it who want to play something a bit diffrent . There is soul in this game
[20:37] <+Jerry> Amen
[20:38] <+Jerry> Now I will say that I do what I do in my niche because its a small niche and I cant compete with the big boys on their level
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[20:38] <+Jerry> Im a garage band of publishers
[20:38] <~Dan> (Howdy, Pony_Knight!)
[20:38] <+Songtress> What Niche is that Jerry?
[20:38] <+Jerry> the catfish of publihers
[20:38] <+BPIJonathan> I feel that I am right there sharing space with you Jerry :D
[20:39] <~Dan> Hey, I'm in the South, buddy. Catfish is awesome. :)
[20:39] <+JamesGillen> Competing with the 'big boys' is self-defeating in any case.
[20:39] <+Jerry> If you look at all my games they are kind of skewed. I didnt do a four color supers game with GODSEND Agenda
[20:39] <+BPIJonathan> Amen Dan
[20:39] <~Dan> (Another cool game, btw. :) )
[20:40] <+Jerry> I love catfish dont get me wrong. But when you watch TV it isnt high on the list of great fish
[20:40] <+Jerry> HELLAS wasnt Traveler style scifi
[20:40] <+Jerry> and ATLANTIS isnt standard fantasy. In my estimation I will sell 1-1500 copies and that its
[20:40] <+Guest30> I have a question.  But if it's not easily answerable we can gloss over it.
[20:40] <+Jerry> shoot
[20:41] <+Guest30> I remember an email a while back where you talked about people asking for refunds.  I didn't want one but figured that it had to do with another reboot (maybe reprint?) of the Atlantis on Kickstarter.  Did that (the other reboot by ZiLa Games) significantly impact the your project?
[20:41] <~Dan> Fire away, Guest30! (And you can set your name with the /nick command. :) )
[20:41] <+Jerry> Zila and I arent competeing. We both own a peice of the pie and we are doing very diffrent things. I look forward to getting Arcanum when it comes out
[20:42] <+Jerry> Some people  on my KS felt I did a bait and switch on them. I feel I gave them more than what was orginally offered
[20:43] <+Guest30> But you own the rights to the original IP?  Did you greenlight ZiL'as project then?
[20:43] <+Jerry> As always on the internet , they were having a kneejerk reaction and soon calmed down
[20:43] <+Guest30> In terms of material, you went far beyond what you promised.  No question.
[20:44] <+Jerry> Bard Games made 3 books. The Arcanum, The Lexicon, and the Bestiry
[20:45] <+Jerry> Zila owns the Arcanum and I own the other two. I own the game world and the monsters and Zila owns the basic game without the expansion. He contacted me to see what we should do and I suggested we do whatever we wanted to do because mine would be diffrent from his
[20:45] <~Dan> That's very cool of you, Jerry.
[20:45] <+JamesGillen> This doesn't look very much like the Bard Games one, that's for sure.
[20:46] <+Jerry> I think the pools big enough for everyone to swim in and I should contact him to offer some help on the Graphic Design of his book ...not that he needs it but its what I do
[20:47] <~Dan> On a related note, your Atlantis book is gorgeous.
[20:47] <+Jerry> I hope the proofs in the pudding
[20:47] <+BPIJonathan> Speaking of which, I really need to finish skinning this catfish Im working on :D
[20:47] <+Jerry> Thank you. I hired a lot of talented artist and had a vision
[20:47] <&Editor> Very pretty, I wish I could afford him..and artists..:D
[20:48] <+Jerry> hehe
[20:48] <~Dan> You mentioned "classes"... Are those literal D&D-style classes, or more like professions?
[20:49] <+Jerry> more of a profession
[20:49] * ~Dan nods
[20:49] <+Jerry> The gameisnt level based in the D&D sense
[20:49] * ~Dan nods
[20:49] <+Jerry> You advance with Renown
[20:49] <~Dan> Oh, and did you answer that religion question? If so, I missed it.
[20:50] <+Jerry> The more Renown you have the more powerful you become
[20:50] <+BPIJonathan> Are Hellas and Atlantis the same system (I dont have either one, and I may have missed this earlier)
[20:50] <+Jerry> What religion question?
[20:50] <~Dan> About how religion works in Atlantis -- the bennies priests get and so forth.
[20:51] <+Jerry> BPIJon they use the same basic core system but HELLAS is my Legion of Superheroes  and ATLANTIS is my Conan
[20:51] <+Jerry> Religion, right!
[20:51] <+Jerry> holy men are divorsed from magic
[20:51] <+Jerry> There are no clerics in ATLANTIS
[20:52] <+Songtress> oh that's interesting.
[20:52] <+Jerry> peoplewho have the ear of the gods can beg for divine favors and depending on the god and how he feels about you he may give it to you
[20:52] <&Le_Squide> If my players understand Hellas, will Atlantis be about the same, system-wise?
[20:52] <+Jerry> Yes Le_Squide
[20:52] <+Songtress> If Holy Men are Divorced from Magic (as I assume its because of the 'tainting effect) how does one up their favor with teir deity?
[20:52] <+Abstruse> How does healing work in the system then?
[20:53] <~Dan> (Question pause.)
[20:53] <+Jerry> If I need extra Hero Points for an endevor I pray and offer sacrifice
[20:53] <+Jerry> If Im succesful I get a sum of Hero Points to use. If I want to rain fire down on a village I can
[20:54] <+Jerry> The diffrence is that Magic is something that anyone can learn and use at a cost. Its quick and open ended
[20:54] <+Jerry> Divine favor is narrow nd slow
[20:54] <+Jerry> A magic user can cast a spell to fly or turn invisble
[20:55] <+Jerry> a holy man needs to ask a god for that and it may take 15 minutes and cost a lot of Hero Points
[20:55] <~Dan> Someone on a forum thread mentioned getting +10 to Strength from an earth god so long as the character's touching the ground, for example?
[20:55] <+Jerry> Divine favor is way more powerful but slower to use and much narrower in focus
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[20:56] <+Jerry> In ATLANTIS all the gods are just shattred reflections of the Demiurge  called Olodumare
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[20:56] <+Jerry> When Olo was shatered aspects of his reflections where caught in the peices that fell to earth
[20:57] <+Jerry> That way you can have 2 gods of the sky that are diffrent but have the same domnions
[20:57] <+Jerry> They are both reflections of the orginal at diffrent angles
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[20:57] <~Dan> This being S&S, I'm assuming that there are wicked cults. What do they worship? The Elder Gods? Fragments of the Demiurge? Demons?
[20:57] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, JohnK!)
[20:57] <+Jerry> This allows for diffrent pantheons of gods with very few rules for it
[20:58] <+Jerry> Ba'al and Set where helps of Olodumare. They killed him and chopped him up
[20:58] <+Jerry> Ba'al was the destroyer and could not create but he could pervert
[20:58] <+JohnK> Thanks, Dan.  Good to be here. :)
[20:59] <+Jerry> Set was cunning and could create and made the Annunaki or the Nagaas they are called
[20:59] <+Guest30> I actually haven't looked to closely at the PDF I have as a backer but a comparison springs to mind.  How close, in terms of non-standard, or not commonly used  fantasy tropes is the Atlantis 2nd Edition to Earthdawn?
[20:59] <+Songtress> Are all the different Panteons named in the book or are players allowe some leway?
[20:59] <+Jerry> The shattered peices of Olodumare (known as Orixa) cast both Ba'al and Set out and sent them packing
[21:00] <+Jerry> All cults can trace their origins back to the two helpers Set and Ba'al
[21:00] <+JohnK> Hey, Jerry...  How u doing tonight?  Hope it's warmer where you are.
[21:00] <~Dan> Gotcha.
[21:01] <+JohnK> My first question is about the sword & sorcery feel of the game.  What is your vision of sword & sorcery for the ATLANTIS game?
[21:01] <+Jerry> Earthdawn is a lot diffrent, cool but diffrent. ATLANTIS builds on S&S fantasy mixed with Theosophy and a lot of Savage Sword of Conan comics:)
[21:02] <+Jerry> I want the game to be about the personal drives of the hero (as embodied in their Atman)
[21:02] <+Jerry> You arent just a dude with a sword but a driven hero with a purpose
[21:03] <+Jerry> You have two choices in ATLANTIS- Drive toward your destiny with a fire in your belly or die in obscurity with nothing attached to your name. no good work done
[21:03] <+Songtress> Pcs do not make their own destiny?
[21:03] <+Jerry> And the game is very anti robot so you wont find Skynet here
[21:04] <+JohnK> LOL!  Glad to hear it. :)
[21:04] <+Jerry> Yes you drive towards your destiny as defined by your Atman (soul)
[21:04] <+Jerry> There are 6 elements that make up a soul in Atlantis
[21:05] <+Jerry> Earth wind, fire water, void, and Emperyean
[21:05] <+Jerry> This in game terms are you Hero Points
[21:05] <+Jerry> Hero Points can be used for any roll in the game but diffrent Atman can get a little extra off out of it
[21:06] <+JohnK> One of the things I really like in ATLANTIS is how the Pantheons are written up.  While there are a few in the main rulebook, are there plans to write up other Pantheons in the Geographica?  Or in some other product/supplement/pdf down the line?
[21:06] <+Jerry> If you have 2 Hero Points in Earth and 3 in Air that defines yu as stoic or lyal (earth) who is a good talker (air)
[21:07] <+Jerry> Yes, there may be a book of just gods at some point
[21:07] <+JohnK> Will the Geographica sections address the Pantheons of the various places around the Antediluvian world?
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[21:08] <&Silverlion> Whee..
[21:08] <+Jerry> Nope, but I did throw  in a section on the diffrent planst to be found there . I also threw in the secret location of the Skynet base so you can attack it
[21:09] <~Dan> How different in content and tone will the new bestiary be from that of the last edition?
[21:09] <+JohnK> Shame, as I was hoping for a basic listing of some of the gods in the various areas.  Still, I understand with the size limitation of the book and the sheer amount of material to be in it.
[21:10] <+Jerry> for the gods that is a lot of ground to cover and you have to remeber - page count =$$$$
[21:11] <+Jerry> The new beast book is almost done. Its written using the monster creation system in the book. It also focuseson making the monsters non generic
[21:11] <+JohnK> Yep, I know how that stuff works with producing rpgs and all.  Sounds like a book about the deities/demons/Elder Gods might be a good idea. :)
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[21:13] <+JohnK> What can u tell us about the mythological influences in the book?  The previous edition had the Talislantan influence as well as a very European influence.  How does this version of ATLANTIS compare in that regard?
[21:13] <+Jerry> The monster book isnt full of generic beast that can roam one end of the world to another. when you are in Europa you will encounter Eropan creres
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[21:13] <+Jerry> my keyboard batteries are dying , YIKES!
[21:14] <+Jerry> Like with the other books I want the monster book to feel like its tailor made for ATLANTIS
[21:14] * ~Dan nods
[21:14] <~Dan> (Oh, and I realize that we're in "overtime", so just let me know if you need to run, Jerry.)
[21:15] <+Jerry> Lots of cultural monsters that are not the standard Western European myths
[21:15] <+Jerry> Ok, in a bit unless Ive exhuasted all teh questions
[21:16] <+TKTuttle> Will there be a starter adventure in the Core Book?
[21:16] <+JohnK> I've got just one more.  One of the things my players always say is that while the game world is neat and all, what do the player characters *do* in the game world?  How would u answer that?
[21:16] <&Silverlion> (Link: https://perils-of-ocean-point.obsidianportal.com/maps/50374)https://perils-of-ocean-point.obsidianportal.com/maps/50374
[21:16] <~Dan> (Oh, and do you want to repost that link to the freebie, Jerry?)
[21:16] <&Silverlion> Oops ignore...sorry
[21:16] <+Jerry> Sadly there was no room. There will be one on website soon. Im spinning a lot of plates
[21:16] <&Silverlion> Yeah yeah..:D
[21:17] <+Bigby> How important do you feel the companion book is (Geographica?) to getting a feel for the setting?  And when will it be available?
[21:17] <+Jerry> sure (Link: http://www.rpgnow.com/browse.php?discount=77972)http://www.rpgnow.com/browse.php?discount=77972  get it while its hot. the link goes dead  wednesday
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[21:17] <+Jerry> Geographica  is the middle book that ties the 3 core books together. Its the egg in the cake
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[21:18] <+Jerry> You dodnt need it and can make thing sup as you go but its cool to have around to know what all that stuff on the map means
[21:19] <~Dan> Is it all flavor text, re: Geographica?
[21:19] <+Jerry> Almost all falvor except for all the Flora stuff in the book
[21:19] <+Jerry> and a few other things
[21:20] <+Jerry> Do you need it? NO. Will you want it? YES
[21:20] * ~Dan nods
[21:20] * ~Dan chuckles
[21:20] <+Bigby> So it's the real meat of the setting.  Cool.
[21:21] <+Jerry> Players Handbook , the GM guid and the Monster Manual needed Grey Hawk to make it awesome for me
[21:21] <+Jerry> There are over 150+ plot hooks in the book
[21:21] <~Dan> Nice!
[21:22] <+Jerry> each region has its own them and hooks so there are a ton of things that make it worth the $975 price tag
[21:22] <~Dan> O.o
[21:22] <+Bigby> That's a little rich for me...
[21:22] <+Jerry> each book is gold leaved and wrapped in Truffles
[21:22] <+Bigby> lol
[21:22] <~Dan> Heh. :)
[21:23] <+Jerry> Prince does the soundtrack
[21:23] <+Songtress> so the pages are edible ..
[21:23] <+JamesGillen> hey!
[21:24] <+Jerry> Yeah the book is made by hand by an Iron Chef
[21:25] <+JohnK> I assume this was asked earlier tonight:  Is there any word on when the main book will be out in the hardcover?
[21:25] <~Dan> Oh, before I forget: Is there anything you'd like to mention that we haven't covered, Jerry?
[21:25] <+Yog_Sothoth> I thnk you mean truffle covered.
[21:25] <+Bigby> So when will it be available?
[21:26] <+Jerry> The book is on its way. Shipping to me as we speak. I wish I had a little red line that hit spot as Raiders music plays
[21:27] <+Jerry> the PDF is availabe now, the book will be soon after those rascals in Austrailia get their KS copies
[21:28] <+Jerry> When it hits the shelves there will be a few other surpises I want to unveil.
[21:28] <+Songtress> will it have a PoD from Drivethru or is going to be purely aviable from your publisher Jerry?
[21:28] <+Jerry> Its too much book for POD.
[21:28] <+Bigby> I meant Geographica.  Is it on RPGNow and I just missed it?
[21:28] <+JohnK> Ooh, I like surprises! :)
[21:29] <+Jerry> The phyical book will look so much better than a POD version that I cant do it. I respect the book too much
[21:29] <+Jerry> No Geographica is on my harddrive in my home and at work (dont tell my boss)
[21:29] <+JohnK> Is the book being printed by the same folks who did the HELLAS books for you?
[21:29] <+Jerry> The same who did the revised printing yes
[21:30] <+Songtress> Of course I didn't know whether there would be  a way to get it..
[21:30] <+JohnK> That is good news!  That book was really solid in construction and feel.
[21:31] <+Jerry> You will be able to get the books through IPR, Amazon, and a limited Chronicles City I think
[21:31] <~Dan> Oh, you're working with Angus?
[21:31] <+Jerry> Im always doing dodgey deals with people
[21:31] <+JohnK> LOL!
[21:31] <+Jerry> no, Angus is woking with ME!
[21:31] * ~Dan chuckles
[21:31] <+Jerry> hehe
[21:31] <&Silverlion> Whee
[21:32] <+Jerry> but yeah, Angus and I go way back. He stole his look from me
[21:32] * ~Dan laughs
[21:32] <+Bigby> Well, back to work.
[21:32] <+Bigby> Night all.
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[21:32] <+Jerry> cya
[21:32] <+JohnK> Silverlion, what was the link you mentioned up above?  (I always come into these things late.)
[21:33] <&Silverlion> No, it was from my game in the other room, ignore it--a map of Ocean Point for my H&S (supers) game
[21:33] <+JohnK> Ah, okay, thanks for that. I got confused by that one. :)
[21:34] <+BPIJonathan> Nothing to see here, move along.. :D
[21:34] <&Silverlion> Sorry my bad...trying to run  agame and pester Jerry because I like Jerry and OMEGA stuff
[21:34] <+JohnK> Jerry, will there be a Starter Kit sort of pdf, the way there was for HELLAS?
[21:34] <+Jerry> and I like you Tim
[21:34] <+BPIJonathan> I was here to learn about Atlantis and to procrastinate... :D
[21:35] <+Jerry> Imnot sure if I will do that.
[21:35] <+Jerry> Its a good idea to do but I suffre from a ailment called Lazy
[21:35] <+BPIJonathan> Jerry, I keep trying to teach game books to write themselves and call me when they are done so I can review their work. They are lazy and never listen, even showed them how
[21:36] <+JohnK> In that case, any convention type scenarios (or a starter scenario) with pre-gens?
[21:36] <+Jerry> I know right?
[21:36] <&Silverlion> I want an adventure. Maybe I should write one...
[21:36] <&Silverlion> Mind you I'm doing a humanocentric S&S game using HV's system so :D at some point
[21:36] <~Dan> Do you have any future plans for Omega that you can discuss?
[21:37] <+JohnK> BPIJonathan, if the game books wrote themselves, that would put you guys and gals out of business.
[21:37] <+Jerry> the adventures will be along soon. Stuff like that is very hard to do when its a one man band. At the moment Im doing layout on Geographica, writing bits of the Monster book, and trying to get stuff put together for the core so I can send out everything
[21:37] <+Jerry> Bussines...Ha!
[21:37] <+BPIJonathan> Maybe, but I think they can be taught eventually :D
[21:37] <+JohnK> I'll be running a couple of home-grown ATLANTIS scenarios at the local Ottawa convention, CanGames, here in mid-May.  Currently writing them.
[21:38] <+Jerry> Thats good and probaly better than what I will come up with
[21:38] <+Jerry> Im just a simple country doctor
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[21:39] <+JohnK> Dangerous, BPIJonathan, if the games start getting sentient.  Jasper Fforde and the world of fiction troubles, you know. ;)
[21:39] <+Jerry> like Skynet...not on my watch
[21:39] <+JohnK> I knew that you were juggling a lot right now, Jerry, but had hopes.  Will Doug or Kieran be doing any adventure writing for the book?
[21:39] <+BPIJonathan> I think they already are, since they never seem to want to cooperate :D
[21:39] <+JohnK> Err, rather the game.
[21:40] <+JohnK> I thought that was gamers, Jonathan, not the games themselves! LOL
[21:40] <+Jerry> The 3 of us will be writing  adventures . The idea is that its all basedon the 13 month calender of the Atlanteans
[21:40] <+Jerry> But thats way in the future
[21:41] <+JohnK> Well, that sounds like a cool concept.  That means 13 adventures, one per month on the calendar! <g>
[21:41] <+Jerry> Wow its getting late and I have Attack on Titan episodes to watch. Ok guys I have to get going. Use the link before tomorrow and thank you all for the kind words. Be good to one another and do great works that help make the world a better place.
[21:41] <+JohnK> Oh, that reminds me... are you still doing the Action Decks?
[21:42] <+Jerry> Yes, worked on them today
[21:42] <+JohnK> Excellent.  Night, Jerry. :)
[21:42] <~Dan> Thanks for coming by, Jerry!
[21:42] <~Dan> I'll have the log posted shortly and will email you the link!
[21:42] <+Jerry> Anyway, chow mein guys. Thanks!
[21:42] <~Dan> Bye, Jerry!

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