Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

From AsenRG:
Well, I like it. There's a lot to choose from in my career, isn't there, and it should provide lots of ideas for adventures.

Indeed there is...

Good point! I can also think of the time Krupp was selling artillery to the Imperial Chinese, only to have the guns used on the German gunboats. Or Vickers paying Krupp royalties throughout the First World War for the use of the Krupp 'Patent Shell Fuse' on the rounds being fired at the Germans...

"The royalties are killing us" - Germans in WWI.

I think that this is very true. We were very, very integrated into the setting, while the other groups were quite up-front about not being all that integrated / involved in the setting.

And that's why I suspect they might have received a slightly different deal including more direction...

I think it will. I'll have a lot more time for writing, as well as actually getting out of the house and seeing people. I have great hopes for stress reduction, as well!

Then it should help either way.

'Niche protection'? 'Lack of'? I'm frankly astonished by the notion.

The notion is why I refused for a long time to have anything to do with D&D...

Everybody played, and everybody got to do things.

Obviously that's not how some people want it, though.

'Lying to your players'? Not here, thank you. Didn't play like that, don't play like that, won't play like that.

Yeah - I don't think I'm lying, either. But according to the guy, by constructing custom stats for the opponents (in a game where each enemy combatant has his, her or its unique skills), I'm lying to the players...
Yes, I called BS already, according to my own advice.

All very appropriate, I think. Like the medieval English army commander who simply pole-axed one of his subordinates for not doing anything during a battle.

Oh yes, I'm sure there's a long and illustrious tradition! The first time I got acquainted with it, I was 7 - when I read "The Good Soldier Švejk"...they mentioned court martial there. And there was even a mention of "that officer was a bastard, so of course he got shot in the first battle - some of the holes were in his back, reportedly"...
I'd call that "a court martial from your social inferiors".

Nope; the OAL hunted hiom down, out in the Tsolei Islands where he'd fled to, and wrapped him in wet Vraoz fibers and let him dry out. The stuff is as strong as steel wire, and shrinks as it dries...

A death of thousand cuts, then. Fits with OAL.
Didn't they confiscate the Eye and apply it again?

Yes, but usually it didn't come to that; after a few games, nobody would play with or run games with them, and they'd eventually get the message and drift off.

"A few games" is longer than such people tend to last.
One of my favourite GMs was fond of telling the story of such a player. Said player decided to go with a shirt and epee to war. Then, while sneaking around looking for recon, hidden in a swamp, he noticed a man in good, expensive armour and with a glaive. Said character had met some guy they didn't know, either. The two exchanged some words, and the guy with the glaive killed the other, seemingly in vengeance.
What did the PC decide? Why, of course, he jumped up, pulled his epee, and charged. While in waist-deep water.
They guy met him head on while he was still in knee-deep water, unarmoured and with no shield. You can guess what happened exactly two swings of the glaive later; it's not like the unarmoured guy should have counted on his mobility to even stand a chance, not at all...

The player had the gall to complain that "it's too easy to die in that system" (which they were playtesting). One of the other players looked at him and replied "the system's fine, it's you who's the moron".

I'm still boggled by this; we always thought and fought tactically, as it just seemed like a useful survival mechanism. Arneson was what was called a 'killer referee', and Phil's Tekumel was just plain deadly.

Well, it seems some people think only brute strength matters. It's a way of thinking, I guess.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

This affair highlighted one of the basic problems Phil had with his campaign: what to do with all of the other Tekumel campaigns that were happening. In the early days, he'd include events from other groups - like Lord Gamalu, in upstate New York - as part of the meta-game and the over-all timeline. We, in our time at AGI, encouraged this, as a way to promote and support the world-setting. By the middle to end of the 1980s. phil had gotten away from doing this - he said he didn't want to take the time to coordinate things. We started doing this for him, and it worked very well; we had GMs and players from all over the world writing in, and we managed to keep track of everything with maps and index cards. It was, maybe, the proto-'living' campaign kind of thing that Henry Lopez did with Blackmoor and Greyhawk, decades later.

Phil's issue was his perceived 'lack of control' over his world; Dave Arneson told him bluntly, one night, that if he had issues with people playing in Tekumel then he should never have published EPT.

So, my campaign continues. Phil may be gone, but the world lives on.

...I'm afraid I must agree with Dave Arneson. He can decide whether to accept what has happened in their games or not. But "losing control"? That's impossible.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Well done. And where do we find these people, so I don't go there...

FLGS, mostly?
(Actually, I'm afraid they're everywhere).

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

Is that a Bethorm module? I recently purchased a copy of the rules, but have not tried them out. How does the game play? What are the rules like? Are they "user friendly"? Any concerns, or obvious breaks?

Shemek

It's a Bethorm module.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

You're welcome. Dating is always a problem with Phil's campaign, and I've had to do a big wall chart with blocks of time to show all of his books and articles set against time and what was going on in the campaign(s).

I agree with you about his legacy; I'l like to hope that he's pleased...

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

I though you'd be amused at the thought of all these people running smack dab into Yours Truly. I am looking forward to this, oh, I am...

I don;t know if I'd call the staff an 'organized body of troops', but they do seem to be a cut above your usual street robbers and highwaymen. Highwaypersons, actually, for all I know. Light cavalry, more or less, and organized into small troops with leaders. A very nice little operation, and so far very successful and - I daresay - profitable, to the point where the local caravan guides are paying us for our escort services in advance. The players, who seem to be nice people, are of that goody-twoshoes 'Lawful Good' type that are such pains in the butt to us business types. As I understand it, they've shown up at our steppe fort to wipe us out, not quite understanding that while there is a small garrison at home, the rest of us are out in the steppes. Behind them.

You'll forgive me if I laugh.

Time for another lesson from Uncle Chirine, I suppose...

Surrounded and outnumbered by light cavalry in a field?
I think these guys would need their roleplaying skills for negotiating a surrender.

As for your Modesty Blaise advantage, you mean this Modesty Blaise right?

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

You know, it never has ceased to amaze me over all these years, just how many times I've seen people walk right into an artillery barrage, archery beaten zones, and pretty much anything of the like. No matter what period, what set of rules, no nothing, it seems that one can size up "those other people" and make sure to have a little gift waiting for them when they come racing across the table at one. I think i have lost count of the times in RPGs where I've set an ambush, and "those other people" have walked right into the kill zone and gotten pasted.

I should run training courses for people on how to clear an Underworld. Wouldn't be hard; I've got those nice tiles, and this might give me enough of an excuse to build "The Tomb Complex of Nereshanbo" in miniature. The gods know I have enough miniatures to stock the thing.

["Those other people" - Gen. Robert E. Lee]

I'd consider signing for those courses.

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

* makes popcorn and grills a few gegresha *

If you really want to break their tiny little minds, argue from the point of view that as the authority who holds the castle, we ARE the lawful rulers. We collect tolls just like their lord Baron de Coucy does, we escort caravans and travellers just like their lord Baron de Coucy does, we live in a castle just like their lord Baron de Coucy does...

Now that would be just cruel!

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

(I suspect that none of you pesky player-characters knows who Modesty Blaise is, which gives me a built-in advantage.)

I assume you mean the comics version, not either of the two movies. Also, I find it difficult to believe that Gronan doesn't know who Modesty Blaise is.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

You know, it never has ceased to amaze me over all these years, just how many times I've seen people walk right into an artillery barrage, archery beaten zones, and pretty much anything of the like. No matter what period, what set of rules, no nothing, it seems that one can size up "those other people" and make sure to have a little gift waiting for them when they come racing across the table at one. I think i have lost count of the times in RPGs where I've set an ambush, and "those other people" have walked right into the kill zone and gotten pasted.

Tell them about the "55 MPH rolling artillery barrage," oh, do, please!

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

Tell them about the "55 MPH rolling artillery barrage," oh, do, please!

The one on the road to Bastonge?

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

The one on the road to Bastonge?

I was more thinking of the demolition of the Gullivernian Assault Force.

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

Hey Guys,

Has anyone heard of, or have a copy of the Tekumel fanzine called The Excellent Travelling Volume? If so, what's the magazine's format like. Does it consist of articles from various authors? Is it a "gaming" magazine, i.e., rule sets are discussed, modules included, etc., like the old Dragon Magazine was, or is it a series of articles that are more "scholarly" in nature and deal with Tekumel's history, politics, and religions? Apparently it's written/published by James Maliszewski, a long time fan of Tekumel. Any information would be appreciated as I was thinking of ordering a copy, but I'd like to know what's in it before I buy it.

Shemek.

Lord Shemek, Yes. Buy it. You will not regret it. Lots of goodies that can be used in your own campaigns. I think JM has just reprinted some of the older volumes due to popular demand. So get them while they last. They are a real labor of love. TETV is an old school type fanzine. Highly recommended. Be well.

H:0)

PS I see Uncle beat me to the punch. But I second his thoughts.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

The one on the road to Bastonge?

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

I was more thinking of the demolition of the Gullivernian Assault Force.

I lodge henceforth an official request that both stories be told.

Originally Posted by Hrugga

Lord Shemek, Yes. Buy it. You will not regret it. Lots of goodies that can be used in your own campaigns. I think JM has just reprinted some of the older volumes due to popular demand. So get them while they last. They are a real labor of love. TETV is an old school type fanzine. Highly recommended. Be well.

H:0)

PS I see Uncle beat me to the punch. But I second his thoughts.

Mighty Hrugga of the Epics,

Long time no see This is good to know. After what you and Chirine have said I will pick up a copy of the latest one. I think that it's still for sale. Thank you for the heads up.

Shemek

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

1You're welcome. Dating is always a problem with Phil's campaign, and I've had to do a big wall chart with blocks of time to show all of his books and articles set against time and what was going on in the campaign(s).

2I agree with you about his legacy; I like to hope that he's pleased...

1. I'd love to see that chart. That would be most interesting.

2. Me too, for what it's worth.

Shemek.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

1. You know, it never has ceased to amaze me over all these years, just how many times I've seen people walk right into an artillery barrage, archery beaten zones, and pretty much anything of the like. No matter what period, what set of rules, no nothing, it seems that one can size up "those other people" and make sure to have a little gift waiting for them when they come racing across the table at one. I think i have lost count of the times in RPGs where I've set an ambush, and "those other people" have walked right into the kill zone and gotten pasted.

2. I should run training courses for people on how to clear an Underworld. Wouldn't be hard; I've got those nice tiles, and this might give me enough of an excuse to build "The Tomb Complex of Nereshanbo" in miniature. The gods know I have enough miniatures to stock the thing.

["Those other people" - Gen. Robert E. Lee]

1. Exactly! Sometimes it's "too easy". Fortunately I have been playing with the current group for enough years that they generally sniff out any ambushes before they can be sprung. However, they do occasionally slip up, and I'm right there to "push them off the cliff".

2. Why not? May be you could do it via email, or skype? You can call it "Chirine's Tactics: Basic 101" The stories would be great fodder for this thread!

Shemek

Shemek