Cool. The metagame tools aren't so integrated that they can't be cut as desired. As said, it can even be left to each individual player whether to use them, rather than the GM making the call which is somewhat refreshing.

Quote from: 3rik;761249Interestingly, Great Works make my teeth itch more than Disadvantages, perhaps because I started playing RPGs with GURPS. I'd rather allow for ignoring a Disadvantage at the cost of Hero Points than gaining Hero Points for actually playing your Advantages, though.

Yeah, I think its the player potential to introduce those elements that's more likely to be an issue. If you make it with GM driven or GM permissive, then it becomes less of an issue. I make it GM permissive, though I am quite permissive as a GM as I actively encourage direct player input.

Where it said Advantages I meant to write Disadvantages. I edited it in my original post.

If a PC sheet has a Disadvantage on it, the player has to play it. I don't see why that should earn him Hero Points. But I haven't read yet how it's worded exactly in the pdf.

I think if I were to use Great Works in a game, my players wouldn't have a clue what to pick anyway. Neither would I, by the way.

Quote from: 3rik;761406If a PC sheet has a Disadvantage on it, the player has to play it. I don't see why that should earn him Hero Points. But I haven't read yet how it's worded exactly in the pdf.

Cool. In the book, its worded in reverse, so the player can actively introduce a disadvantage to gain Hero Points. Effectively, its a carrot for a player to embrace complication.

As you say, you can turn it around and have them lose Hero Points for refusing to play out a disadvantage. Effectively, a stick against ignoring complication.

The difference between the two is that the latter is driven more by the GM and the former by the player. Either works fine though.

I just got a notice from Amazon that my Kickstarter reward - corebook and geographica; not that interested in the bestiary, sorry - is on its way, so we'll see.

Awesome. Thanks for letting me know (still waiting on mine).

The Theragraphica is looking good from what I have seen. There is not a "generic" fantasy monster in there, and like Geographica is a good Sword & Sorcery bestiary for any S&S RPG.

There is expanded sections on Demons and Ophideans (including dragons) too

Session 1.4: Amadi found himself in the Library of Zorlacc to collect on his reward for helping two Librarians escape the Winged Guard. He met Zorlacc himself in a room where snakes themselves were used as books. Zorlacc recognised Amadi as the King of Dar in exile and repaid the debt by informing him that there were two armies in the city he could recruit - the restless gladiators and an Ophidean horde amassing outside of the city, who wanted to retrieve the Eye of Set. That night Achindra dreamt of the ghost of a Jinn called Tsanda, who warned him that Jinn were being hunted. In the morning, the PCs decided to prepare for a night time assault on the Tower of Birds, being the likely location of Baram's soul mirror. The city was abuzz with the gladiatorial celebration called the Culling Festival. Achindra visited the Library of Zorlacc, where he received a vision of the Eye of Set through a strange black oblong stone embedded in the floor. Tali warned Amadi that the Grey Council were looking for him, though their connection to Stelaro's nemesis, the Great Darkness, remained unclear.

Just got my copy of the Hero's Guide and it looks good. It is only meant as a deluxe play-aid to ease the burden on the rulebook during PC creation, but its actually pretty meaty.

The racial sections are repeated in full, and there's the PC creation flowchart. Then there are full stats for every profession for each race. Plus there is a few pages of magic items, new talents and professions.

I am not sure what the end price point will be, but if its low enough having 2 or 3 of these at the table would be excellent.

Session 1.5: The PCs assaulted the Tower that was Illythia's temple to retrieve Baram's soul mirror. On ascending the tower, they came across an alcove closed by a silver curtain. Achindra, the Jinn, became fascinated by it as it reminded him of being in his jar. Amadi recalled seeing the same curtain when the soulless gladiators attacked the followers of Ebynia. At the top of the tower awaited Arla, revealing herself to be Illythia's head priestess. She revealed that she had given Baram's soul mirror to Eshrigel the Medusa, who had created it in the first place. She also revealed that Eshrigel had brought the Eye of Set to the city. During this conversation, the Eye of Set was unleashed on the tower sending Illythia and her followers into a frenzy, forcing the PCs to flee for their lives. Achindra and Phaedra jumped through the silver curtain sensing it to be a portal of a kind. The other three followed the fleeing Arla to a series of hang gliders on the top of the tower. Bahadur landed in the middle of the Culling Festival, which seemed to have erupted into a city wide slaughter. Stelaro landed back at the inn the PCs were staying at. Amadi chased down, and jumped on to the top of, Arla's hang glider still aloft above the city.

My copy of Geographica from the KS finally arrived.

JohnK has posted some pictures of it:

Whoa. Big session! Four entirely different subplots in rotation. All hitting the PCs Destiny, Fate, Great Works and Disadvantages pretty hard giving them what they want but at horrible cost. I also love how several PCs are currently in conflict with each other

Session 1.6: Amadi was taken back to the dwelling of Arla, the priestess of Illthyia. There they had a tryst in which she gave to him the attire he Hellene gladiator hero Deiphobos so he could win over the gladiators from which to build his army. Bahadur won a victory against the gladiators for Ebynia. Afterwards, he was persuaded into using his elixir to merge the blood-swollen corpus of Ebynia with the fading presence of Estra, creating a new God of Death. Stelaro returned to the Murderous Crows to discover that the city was under attack from a hidden force of Ophideans seeking the Eye of Set. He led the Crows to the Occlusion, the focus of the snakemen's assault and where Tali, his companion, was imprisoned. Uaba also revealed to him that the Grey Council was somehow in league with the Ophideans. Finally, Phaedra awoke in the former temple of Estra to meet Eshrigel the Medusa. Eshrigel explained her devotion to Set and her plan to awaken a God to set the world ablaze. She also revealed that her plan was built on the unknown works of Phaedra's mother. Phaedra, in despair, watched her mother's ghost be flung into a bottomless well. Eshrigel then gave Phaedra to Zephyrus, who offered to replace her, as the vessel through which the Eye of Set would be activated, with Achindra.

I have acquired the core book during a lunch-time excursion to a non-local game store.

Very interesting; I'm now also queued up to read a pdf of the Geographica.

I blame Skywalker (as I have for other, similar acquisitions over the years).

Quote from: Skywalker;754664Shadows of the Moon. I a big Red Nails fan and always thought it was a great con scenario set up. Shadows of the Moon is an obvious homage. It's not quite as good but it's original in its presentation.

Also, I see no Xoth.Net scenario by the name Shadows of the Moon ... madness ensues.

Do you mean Slaves of the Moon, by any chance, from the Spider-God's Bride collection?

Quote from: Molotov;773717Very interesting; I'm now also queued up to read a pdf of the Geographica.[/QUOTE

Geographica is the best of the three Atlantis books IMO. So many cool ideas and setting hooks, yet with plenty of room to add your own stuff.

Oh and watch out for the City of Atlantis mini-supplement that went from 20 pages to over 50

[sblock=City of Atlantis][/sblock]

QuoteI blame Skywalker (as I have for other, similar acquisitions over the years).

I feel your pain

Quote from: Molotov;773720Do you mean Slaves of the Moon, by any chance, from the Spider-God's Bride collection?

Yes, it is in that collection (and an excellent collection it is).

Quote from: Molotov;773717Very interesting; I'm now also queued up to read a pdf of the Geographica.

Its a great RPG. Geographica is the best of the three Atlantis books IMO. So many cool ideas and setting hooks, yet with plenty of room to add your own stuff.

Oh and watch out for the City of Atlantis mini-supplement that went from 20 pages to over 50

Spoiler

Quote from: Molotov;773720I blame Skywalker (as I have for other, similar acquisitions over the years).

I feel your pain

Quote from: Molotov;773720Do you mean Slaves of the Moon, by any chance, from the Spider-God's Bride collection?

Yes, it is in that collection (and an excellent collection it is).

Dang, that map of Atlantis looks good.

Thanks for confirming re: Spider-God's Bride. I'd been putting that off a little too long.

Any other non-Khepera but recommended resources?