Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal

Originally Posted by Hrugga

Greetings Uncle,

I hope all is well. I have a quick inquiry to make. Might you have any information or insight into the Hot�kpu - A greater from of undead...??? I came across that reference the other day. I remember not where. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,

H:0)

In our games with Phil, these were the 'medium-level' Undead; he put the Mr'ur, the bottom of the line undead in EPT 'cause you'd run into them a lot, but we started noticing that these had 'leaders' who were pretty good and could use magic. These are them, as far as I know, and the Jadgi are the top of the line Undead. As for stats, I'd double anything a Mr'ur had, or use the stats for a Qol, as they are pretty much the same in practice.

The Temple of Sarku, if you wanted my opinion, is a bizarre place even by Tekumel's standards...

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

The notion that "all P-40C Kittyhawks are alike and the only determinant is player skill" seems to be virtually obsolete.

A company can sell a new model, mini, or collectible card. It’s difficult to sell "player skill."

Originally Posted by Bren

A company can sell a new model, mini, or collectible card. It’s difficult to sell "player skill."

Sigh. I know. I understand it as a marketing strategy. I'm just sorry it's become the overwhelming default, to the point where "practice makes you better" is anathema to a good share of players.

Way back around 1984 or 1985 I asked Forrest Brown of FASA why the original TV show Enterprise, which was supposed to be "the mightiest ship in space," was a third-rate also-ran in the FASA game. He said, and I quote, "We're selling to wargamers. Guns sell, and big guns sell better."

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

Sigh. I know. I understand it as a marketing strategy. I'm just sorry it's become the overwhelming default, to the point where "practice makes you better" is anathema to a good share of players.

It's difficult sometimes not to look back fondly at yesteryear and what sometimes now seems a more innocent and pure appreciation of the hobby as a labor of love rather than a crass commercial enterprise. And there are times when I'd enjoy some more tactically minded play. But then I remember that gaming was far from perfect in my youth either.

Way back around 1984 or 1985 I asked Forrest Brown of FASA why the original TV show Enterprise, which was supposed to be "the mightiest ship in space," was a third-rate also-ran in the FASA game. He said, and I quote, "We're selling to wargamers. Guns sell, and big guns sell better."

Didn't Task Force Games Star Fleet Battles create more powerful ship classes well before FASA?

Which would just echo or illustrate Forrest Brown's point as Star Fleet Battles was clearly designed as a wargame for wargamers.

Sadly that's what the X-wing game becomes. "I move 4 so I automatically get an Evade, and this card lets me do an extra Action, so I'm doing a Target Lock, and this card gives me an extra die, so your ship turns into a soggy pumpkin and three white mice."

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

Sadly that's what the X-wing game becomes. "I move 4 so I automatically get an Evade, and this card lets me do an extra Action, so I'm doing a Target Lock, and this card gives me an extra die, so your ship turns into a soggy pumpkin and three white mice."

When I want a game like that, there are a bunch of card games, like Illuminati, to choose from.

Originally Posted by Neshm hiKumala

And, yes, if you have the time, I would very much appreciate a photo of Chirine's standard, if that's not already visible on your blog (in that case, a simple link would suffice).

I'm trying to load an attachment with my standard in grey scale so you can see the design more clearly. All I did was enlarge Phil's drawing and carve it into the surface of the disc. The thing was mounted on a six foot pole with a base, and had red fabric with blue and gold ribbons; tassels in green, red, and black to indicate actions I was in. This was my standard as Governor of Hekellu, during Phil's Hekellu-Sirsum micro-campaign.

Attachment 319

You can see a color version in the "Der SpiegeL Online" article about Prof. Barker; try http://www.spiegel.de/images/image-1...eryV9-mdcb.jpg but the flash kinda wipes out the detail.

Attachment 319, the BW picture, doesn't work properly.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Attachment 319

You can see a color version in the "Der SpiegeL Online" article about Prof. Barker; try http://www.spiegel.de/images/image-1...eryV9-mdcb.jpg but the flash kinda wipes out the detail.

Hey Chirine,

Out of curiosity is that Phil's office, where the picture's taken? Is that the Glorious General to your right?

Shemek