Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal - part II

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

In early drafts of the first Star Wars, energy blades were common. When boarding the Princess' ship at the beginning, the stormtrooper commander says it's too close quarters for blasters, so use blades.

Then George realized that energy blades worked better as this ancient, semi-mythical thing that only a few weirdos adhering to this ancient religion have even heard of, and he came up with the neologism "lightsaber".

And the rest is history.

He also looked at the effects budget, too - or so I'd be willing to speculate.

A lotta 3-M Scotch-lite tape died in the process of brining down the Evil Galactic Empire.

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

I'd love to go, if only it were a little closer to where I live. One day hopefully.

Ditto.

From Greentongue:
Gronan of Simmerya, chirine ba kal, Is running a stable of gladiators something that happens or could reasonably happen in Tekumel?

Yes, very much so, It's usually the province of the bored rich, but there are professional clans that put on this kind of thing for the money. Pro fighters are usually not killed in fights, but are employed as entertainers more then anything else. It's like pro sports teams; the big money is in accessories and concessions.

Are there battles "For the Honor of The City" or such an not just personal honor?

Yes, again, very much so. Pro teams from one locality will go to another to do fight programs, and the fans get really into it. You'll also get 'national teams' as well, so there's all sorts of levels of events being put on. One of the big gaming events that I've always wanted to run was "A Day At The Arena", with the management putting on a full program of sorcerer, warriors, and comic acts for the amusement of the crowd. Braunstein with betting - I have the coins - and all sorts of opportunities to nobble the opposition. Got the figures, now all I'd have to do is build the arena. Biggest problem is where to get the spectators - I have all the vendors and attendants.

Just how dangerous is it actually for beginning character to handle the betting action and/or the fighting?
Can there be battles to First Blood or blunt weapon fights that don't outright kill?

If one is not out for the big money, not very dangerous. Lots of bouts of the kind you describe. Deadly fights are more from clan feuds and legal disputes, both of which provide ample fodder for the arena and both of which the professionals shy away from as being just too nasty.

Obviously I could do whatever I want in my own game, but how far off of your experience would it be?

I think you're right on, myself, based on what we saw out at Phil's. I should note that actual executions are not part of the arena programs, and are held out of town where they won't annoy people.

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

Not all arena battles are to the death, I know that.

Anka'a got her start as a nude boxer. Sort of "halftime entertainment" between the blood rounds.

Oh, for sure. She was considered a 'novelty act', intended for comic relief while the stagehand set up for the next round. See also one of Phil's favorite movies, "Sigh of the Cross", for what he thought it usually looked like - it's in the last reel.

So, the chainsaw swords...In the original Warhammer 40000 Rogue Trader it was quite clearly stated that the space marines reserved them for assault units and that in large part because they were useful for cutting through barricades and doors. It's a silly setting but at times there have been some good writers involved.

The scale of mass battles being played largely relates to the time, effort and expense involved. A lot of Warhammer 40k clubs run Apocalyse / bring everything you've got games a couple times a year but mostly they run skirmishes of around 50 figures with 3 - 4 vehicles. Those skirmish forces cost around $250.

I've never quite understood why it's so much harder to sell figures that cost $1 than figures that cost $10. Personally most of GW's design aesthetic is ugly and a bit silly. But back when the figures were cartoonier it was easier to swallow because the whole setting was taking the piss.

I've always liked Mutant Chronicles better. It's much more social satire and mostly about men with automatic weapons and grenade launchers, albeit ridiculously big and heavy ones like the Imperial Intruder battle rifle with its underslung drum fed grenade launcher.

GW cancelled Warhammer Fantasy Battle a couple years ago for the more over the top and ridiculous Age of Sigmar after blowing up the fantasy universe and replacing it with islands floating in the realm of chaos. I dislike it but I must admit that I admire them for finally blowing up a world that was always supposed to be five seconds to midnight. It was pretty funny when their world wide Storm of Chaos campaign was solidly won by the forces of light and clearly left their writers totally unprepared for that eventuality.

I don't mind Flames of War but the rules make it hard to implement historical tactics and formations. It manages to represent a lot of things well, but you end up doing silly things because they work in the rules.

Even so, 15mm metal figures cost about the same as 28mm plastics these days but 28mm leans more towards skirmishes, especially once tanks and vehicles come into play.

If you want to see beautiful big battles, the Perry Twins do lots of wonderful stuff. Those guys are the best thing to come out of GW.

From David Johansen:
So, the chainsaw swords...In the original Warhammer 40000 Rogue Trader it was quite clearly stated that the space marines reserved them for assault units and that in large part because they were useful for cutting through barricades and doors. It's a silly setting but at times there have been some good writers involved.

Ah; that makes sense. Thank you!

The scale of mass battles being played largely relates to the time, effort and expense involved. A lot of Warhammer 40k clubs run Apocalyse / bring everything you've got games a couple times a year but mostly they run skirmishes of around 50 figures with 3 - 4 vehicles. Those skirmish forces cost around $250.

Agreed. I've seen a lot of those $250 forces go by on the local used market. They usually go for very little, after they've 'aged' on the shelf. Gotten some good deals on elves, that way.

I've never quite understood why it's so much harder to sell figures that cost $1 than figures that cost $10. Personally most of GW's design aesthetic is ugly and a bit silly. But back when the figures were cartoonier it was easier to swallow because the whole setting was taking the piss.

From what I've seen, it's all about the marketing. The $10 (and up) figure is also one of the most powerful ones in the rules, so you need to buy it for the points value. $1 figures are the 'gerneric' ones, and these don't have a marketing machine behind them that will sell them to the player who wants to win. I happen to prefer these sorts of figures, much to the bafflement of people who see my miniatures. Then, I use them on the table, and things get really quiet; something about only 'knowing the rules', and not 'knowing about tactics'. I've crushed a few opponents like this over the decades, and most of them have come away from the table with a little enlightenment.

I've always liked Mutant Chronicles better. It's much more social satire and mostly about men with automatic weapons and grenade launchers, albeit ridiculously big and heavy ones like the Imperial Intruder battle rifle with its underslung drum fed grenade launcher.

Sorry, never saw it here locally. Sounds better, though - funnier!

GW cancelled Warhammer Fantasy Battle a couple years ago for the more over the top and ridiculous Age of Sigmar after blowing up the fantasy universe and replacing it with islands floating in the realm of chaos. I dislike it but I must admit that I admire them for finally blowing up a world that was always supposed to be five seconds to midnight. It was pretty funny when their world wide Storm of Chaos campaign was solidly won by the forces of light and clearly left their writers totally unprepared for that eventuality.

That is pretty choice!!!

I don't mind Flames of War but the rules make it hard to implement historical tactics and formations. It manages to represent a lot of things well, but you end up doing silly things because they work in the rules.

Agreed. It was a FoW player who told his buddy that they could not use the other companies' Shermans.

Even so, 15mm metal figures cost about the same as 28mm plastics these days but 28mm leans more towards skirmishes, especially once tanks and vehicles come into play.

Never did get into 15mm; I prefer the sheer spectacle of a big table and 500 - 750 figures on a side. I do freely admit to being weird, though!

If you want to see beautiful big battles, the Perry Twins do lots of wonderful stuff. Those guys are the best thing to come out of GW.

Agreed. There seems to be a lot of people doing some pretty great things, proving that there is life after GW...

I like 15mm for stuff with tanks. 6mm is okay, I had a fair bit of SJG's Ogre Miniatures at one point. But the infantry is fiddly and fragile and prone to miscasts. Most 15s these days are really 18s stooping over. Plastic Soldier Company's WWII stuff is nice because you can actually see them fitting in the transports. Battlefront's a bit bigger, maybe 10% or so. And yeah, Battlefront won't let people use other brands in official tournaments which is one reason I've never applied for prize support at my store.

I'm not fond of parking lot battles so, 200 figures on a side on an 8' table is hitting the maximum for me. Putting my three tanks, three transports, one super heavy tank, 3 walkers and around 100 figures on the standard 6' x 4' Warhammer 40000 table is an exercise in frustration. I'm an Imperial Guard player.

My one friend and I have enough figures to do fantasy battles at that scale but most people just don't. My FoW Rommanians are also pretty numerous, though I need more R-35s to create impassible barricades for people's Tigers.

Chirine,

I thought you might enjoy this one. Not much of stretch to imagine this on Tekumel, eh? Perhaps during the era of the Fisherman Kings? Or, you could have this as a take on the whole come to Jakalla in a boat motif that Phil was so fond of in the early days?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvA7IrNxM8o

Shemek

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

If recent developments bear fruit, I may yet be down there for this. I will, however, be bringing my Tibetan copper trumpet so that I can go "FWAAAAH! FWAAAA-FWAAA!" to rally the Knights as may be needed. Consider yourself and any passer-by duly warned.

Heh. DO keep me posted.

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

Chirine,

I thought you might enjoy this one. Not much of stretch to imagine this on Tekumel, eh? Perhaps during the era of the Fisherman Kings? Or, you could have this as a take on the whole come to Jakalla in a boat motif that Phil was so fond of in the early days?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvA7IrNxM8o

Shemek

Lord Shemek,

Now I have to see the movie. Great scene...!!! Row men!!! For citizenship and the Petal Throne!!!

Thank you,

H:0)