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Author Topic: Soul's Calling RPG (out 2011)  (Read 858 times)

Omnifray

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Soul's Calling RPG (out 2011)
« on: December 21, 2010, 06:12:31 AM »
What is Soul's Calling? --- This dynamic and atmospheric game grabs you by the throat and demands that you roleplay immersively. See through the eyes of an inhabitant of the Enshrouded Lands, a highly believable world of secret magic, hidden terrors and occult fantasy. Embark on a journey of exciting challenges, poignant themes, intrigue, mystery, suspense, discovery, fear, horror, tragedy and triumph. Explore how far you will go to stay true to yourself, and how far to answer your Soul's Calling. Out 2011.

OK - this is the draft blurb. I would really appreciate feedback on what it conveys to you and whether the game sounds interesting. What kind of game do you think it is?
I did not write this but would like to mention it:-
http://jimboboz.livejournal.com/7305.html

I did however write this Player's Quickstarter for the forthcoming Soul's Calling RPG, free to download here, and a bunch of other Soul's Calling stuff available via Lulu.

As for this, I can't comment one way or the other on the correctness of the factual assertions made, but it makes for chilling reading:-
http://home.roadrunner.com/~b.gleichman/Theory/Threefold/GNS.htm

The Butcher

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Soul's Calling RPG (out 2011)
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2010, 11:34:52 AM »
Quote from: Omnifray;427675
OK - this is the draft blurb. I would really appreciate feedback on what it conveys to you and whether the game sounds interesting. What kind of game do you think it is?


World of Darkness heartbreaker.

Like any heartbreaker, it can be good or bad, but the blurb itself doesn't swing me either way.

trechriron

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Soul's Calling RPG (out 2011)
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2010, 01:28:36 PM »
Quote from: Omnifray;427675
...

OK - this is the draft blurb. I would really appreciate feedback on what it conveys to you and whether the game sounds interesting. What kind of game do you think it is?


Here are your claims - dynamic, atmospheric, demands immersive roleplay, highly believable world, poignant themes...

A good marketing blurb tells the potential customer what this is, what it includes (generally the good stuff to garner interest), and why it's different.  Also, a good marketer doesn't have to tell you how to think about their product. They can describe it, sell it, and evoke those thoughts and feelings from the audience.

Your blurb is a wash of adjectives and directives with no substance.  As a customer, I imagine a book full of pictures with subliminal messages ordering me to send you money.

Start over.  That was not a marketing blurb.

What is this Souls Calling game?  Tell us something about the setting.  Tell us something unique about the game.  What do the characters do?  Why is this setting different or unique based on the settings available out there? Excite me. Make me want to jump up right now, make a character, and play your game.

My two cents...
Trentin C Bergeron (trechriron)
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kryyst

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Soul's Calling RPG (out 2011)
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2010, 02:22:49 PM »
Quote from: Omnifray;427675
What is Soul's Calling? --- This dynamic and atmospheric game grabs you by the throat and demands that you roleplay immersively


I'm sure there is a market for people that buy into that line of bunk.  For the rest of us it sounds ridiculous.    I honestly thought you were going to start poking fun of the game, then I realized you were being serious.
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flyingmice

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Soul's Calling RPG (out 2011)
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2010, 02:56:49 PM »
Geez! My blurbs are basically a bullet list of what's in the game. I don't think I use adjectives at all. No wonder my game company chunks out bestseller after bestseller! :D

My understanding of the ocean of marketing wouldn't fill a thimble. I would do better writing blurbs in Urdu.

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trechriron

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Soul's Calling RPG (out 2011)
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2010, 04:47:52 PM »
Here would be an example of how I might entice someone to buy/play my game;

1000 years ago the Illiam fell upon Jana like a plague of meteors, bringing destruction and chaos wherever they landed. The Seer foretold their coming and a handful of wise Aldermen built the Towers of Respite to protect as many people as their magic could contain. Some towers held. Others were tainted. More still crumbled under the might of the Illiam's power.

Then the Illiam disappeared. The chaos outside went silent.

Nearly 50 years ago the last of the Aldermen passed on. This morning the magic barriers dissipated, like the last breath of a dying elder. The tower archways lay open to the new world beyond, beckoning the beleaguered people to come forth from their protections.

Jana has regrown and renewed herself! 250 years of unchecked and untouched wild-lands restored to a beauty not seen since the time before Jankind. But what lurks beyond?

The new Aldermen wish to know more about the new Jana before leaving the safety of the towers.  Other towers must be contacted.  The world must be explored in the local area.  Any dangers must be discovered unless untold evils destroy what is left of the Jana peoples.

You have been called to explore the world outside your tower. The hope of your people rests in what you discover!

Jana Rising - a wondrous fantasy Roleplaying game for 2 - 6 players.

* Play one of 10 explorer archetypes fully customizable for limitless play!
* Over a dozen Janakind species to choose from!
* Nearly 1000 endowments for characters! Learn the Dark Arts of the Shaleen or the Resplendent Devotions of the Kalem'Dar. Channel the elements of Jana to become immortal avatars of your people!
* A simple yet comprehensive system focused on quick play and character interaction.
* Emotion mechanics bringing your characters feelings and motivations front-and-center during play.
* Social mechanics equally detailed as conflict mechanics. Jana Rising will support many play styles from adventurous battles to courtly intrigue!
* 6 tower cultures detailed for immediate play with 6 corrupted or fallen towers for explorers to encounter and explore!
* A unique and detailed Adversary system allowing for fast, balanced, and enjoyable adventures for brave explorers!
* A quick NPC generator system for detailed and believable people to interact with.
* nearly 250 adversaries detailed for quick set-up and play out of the box!

Jana Rising will be released as a lavishly illustrated core box set consisting of a players guide, GM's guide, Adversary guide, Setting Encyclopedia, full color character sheets, a full color landscape format GM screen and introductory adventure - everything you and your friends need to play!
Trentin C Bergeron (trechriron)
Bard, Creative & RPG Enthusiast

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D.O.N.G. Black-Belt (Thanks tenbones!)

Omnifray

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Soul's Calling RPG (out 2011)
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2010, 04:57:37 PM »
Quote from: trechriron;427750
Here are your claims - dynamic, atmospheric, demands immersive roleplay, highly believable world, poignant themes...

A good marketing blurb tells the potential customer what this is, what it includes (generally the good stuff to garner interest), and why it's different.  Also, a good marketer doesn't have to tell you how to think about their product. They can describe it, sell it, and evoke those thoughts and feelings from the audience.
...
What is this Souls Calling game?  Tell us something about the setting.  Tell us something unique about the game.  What do the characters do?  Why is this setting different or unique based on the settings available out there? Excite me. Make me want to jump up right now, make a character, and play your game.
...

OK, let's think. Bullet points of what's included as per Flying Mice. This will have to be considered a work in progress...

* an immersive tabletop roleplaying game set in the Enshrouded Lands
* where knights, peasants and priests alike know nothing of the eldritch,
* but the world teems with secret magic, hidden terrors and occult fantasy
* take the part of one of the bold few chosen to behold these mysteries

* the ref reflects your alter-ego's persuasiveness and empathy in his roleplay
* that method depends on direct speech - you have to speak AS your character to speak FOR him
* dialogue is never interrupted to roll dice about dialogue
* combat can be handled impressionistically or in detail
* the rules are structured around d12 + stat v d12 + stat roll-offs
* your character's abilities are balanced around his best way of tackling the challenges of adventuring - close quarter combat, ranged combat, stealth, persuasion or eldritch talent
* the Fates reward those who stay true to themselves
* but your cosmic masters reward you for answering your Soul's Calling
* and you can opt in to incentives to toy with your fellow players

* huge flexibility of CharGen and magic system

So - how's that?
« Last Edit: December 22, 2010, 05:02:51 PM by Omnifray »
I did not write this but would like to mention it:-
http://jimboboz.livejournal.com/7305.html

I did however write this Player's Quickstarter for the forthcoming Soul's Calling RPG, free to download here, and a bunch of other Soul's Calling stuff available via Lulu.

As for this, I can't comment one way or the other on the correctness of the factual assertions made, but it makes for chilling reading:-
http://home.roadrunner.com/~b.gleichman/Theory/Threefold/GNS.htm

flyingcircus

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Soul's Calling RPG (out 2011)
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2015, 01:08:03 PM »
Awesome, you sold me, MAKE THIS GAME!

Quote from: trechriron;427969
Here would be an example of how I might entice someone to buy/play my game;

1000 years ago the Illiam fell upon Jana like a plague of meteors, bringing destruction and chaos wherever they landed. The Seer foretold their coming and a handful of wise Aldermen built the Towers of Respite to protect as many people as their magic could contain. Some towers held. Others were tainted. More still crumbled under the might of the Illiam's power.

Then the Illiam disappeared. The chaos outside went silent.

Nearly 50 years ago the last of the Aldermen passed on. This morning the magic barriers dissipated, like the last breath of a dying elder. The tower archways lay open to the new world beyond, beckoning the beleaguered people to come forth from their protections.

Jana has regrown and renewed herself! 250 years of unchecked and untouched wild-lands restored to a beauty not seen since the time before Jankind. But what lurks beyond?

The new Aldermen wish to know more about the new Jana before leaving the safety of the towers.  Other towers must be contacted.  The world must be explored in the local area.  Any dangers must be discovered unless untold evils destroy what is left of the Jana peoples.

You have been called to explore the world outside your tower. The hope of your people rests in what you discover!

Jana Rising - a wondrous fantasy Roleplaying game for 2 - 6 players.

* Play one of 10 explorer archetypes fully customizable for limitless play!
* Over a dozen Janakind species to choose from!
* Nearly 1000 endowments for characters! Learn the Dark Arts of the Shaleen or the Resplendent Devotions of the Kalem'Dar. Channel the elements of Jana to become immortal avatars of your people!
* A simple yet comprehensive system focused on quick play and character interaction.
* Emotion mechanics bringing your characters feelings and motivations front-and-center during play.
* Social mechanics equally detailed as conflict mechanics. Jana Rising will support many play styles from adventurous battles to courtly intrigue!
* 6 tower cultures detailed for immediate play with 6 corrupted or fallen towers for explorers to encounter and explore!
* A unique and detailed Adversary system allowing for fast, balanced, and enjoyable adventures for brave explorers!
* A quick NPC generator system for detailed and believable people to interact with.
* nearly 250 adversaries detailed for quick set-up and play out of the box!

Jana Rising will be released as a lavishly illustrated core box set consisting of a players guide, GM's guide, Adversary guide, Setting Encyclopedia, full color character sheets, a full color landscape format GM screen and introductory adventure - everything you and your friends need to play!
Current Games I Am GMing:  HarnMaster (HarnWorld)
Games I am Playing In None.

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