(NOTE: Not trying to shill as I know there are other members who have expressed positive views on his work. More an FYI)
Any fans of Stars Without Number, Godbound, Silent Legions etc. may be happy to hear Crawford is going to be doing a Kickstarter for his new rpg "Wolves of God"
I do think he is one of the more accomplished OSR authors out there so I'm pretty excited to hear more about it.
Got this from DTRPG since I'm subscribed to his updates:
Quoted from the email:
"Munificent patron,
Listen! A cold shadow groans on the October horizon. It is a promise of iron and winter, a tale of fire-lit halls and raucous song, of sweet mead-horns and the bitterness of a conquered land. It is a tale of a time-dimmed people and the savage heroes who dared to rise above a dark age.
It is Wolves of God, a low-fantasy game of 710 AD England, of the mighty heroes of the Anglo-Saxon tribes and their barbaric dominion over the ruins of once-great Roman Britain. The scribes race at their pages and the illuminators labor over their craft as I prepare for you the Kickstarter for this new game, to commence in early October. Attend now to learn what finely-forged tools await you in its pages.
An old-school style game system fully compatible with Stars Without Number and useful with other OSR games.
A low-fantasy historical setting based on the realities of the age and its people, useful for any group that wants to set adventures in the historical wilds of a conquered England.
Classic Sine Nomine system-neutral GM tools built to help the aspiring game master build appropriate adventures and conflicts in a sandbox England bursting with opportunities for heroism.
Specific Sine Nomine tools for building minsters, constructing ruined Roman cities, fashioning the sinister halls of hidden Roman Arxes, and handling the perils of wilderness adventuring.
Special focus on elements of Anglo-Saxon society that might need extra help for a GM to understand, including the role of holy minsters, the relations between a lord and his beloved companions, and the hard pragmatism of Anglo-Saxon law and rulership.
Tools for PC rulership, warfare, and intrigue among the myriad ealdormen and lords of the land.
A gazetteer and map of England of use to any GM who cares to set a historical game there.
Attend carefully to these missives, generous reader, for I will announce the Kickstarter's commencement here sometime in early October, with eventual POD and PDF copies fulfilled by the cunning wrights of DriveThruRPG. Patrons will have full access to the rough draft of the game from the moment they pledge, in the customary Sine Nomine Kickstarter style, and you'll be able to hit the ground running your barbaric adventures within hours of its start.
And now back to the scriptorium, to continue the refinement and preparation of the work. May it meet with your approval, benevolent patron.
Kevin Crawford"
Looking forward to seeing how it pans out.
Well that is exciting.
Sounds awesome; albeit more 600 AD than 710 AD.
I don't really play RPGs anymore, but I might get it for old times sake and a good read.
Very much looking forward to this. Even if I don't wind up playing Wolves of God directly Kevin Crawford's material is quality, and I can easily imagine using this to help flesh out another campaign set in a similar time frame. Supposedly Deadlands Dark Ages is supposed to come out in 2020 covering a similar time frame. I love Savage Worlds and Deadlands, but sometimes they seem a little light on setting details.
I do hope it contains plentiful GM support material - one of Kevin's main strengths.
I see my wallet will be even lighter soon. I don't run OSR but Kevin works wonders with those GM tools.
Count me among those who plan to never set foot on the British isles in 710, but still plan on buying this. I am sure the GM tools and alternate approaches to character generation will be easy to port over to something else.
Sounds interesting! Thanks.
I am keeping a eye on this one for sure.
Quote from: Heavy Josh;1103032Count me among those who plan to never set foot on the British isles in 710, but still plan on buying this. I am sure the GM tools and alternate approaches to character generation will be easy to port over to something else.
I was just reading the sister thread to this over at TBP. Kevin made a comment about being able to use it to represent any occupied barbarian setting. Another comment latched onto that and mentioned using it to generate adventures for use with Glorantha. That's an idea I could get behind.
I don't know if I'd play Wolves of God as is, but hot damn you know that GM tools are going to rock.
Quote from: Spinachcat;1103075I don't know if I'd play Wolves of God as is, but hot damn you know that GM tools are going to rock.
It would work well with the post-Fall of the Bright Empire milieu (Southland?) in Rob Conley's Points of Light - basically a 5th/6th century Western Roman Empire after the Visigoths have broken it.
I'm not the biggest fan of the OSR, but some of the more bespoke games out there have caught my eye, and reading the first part of the 0.9 draft and Kevin's reply to a somewhat irritating question on TBP (https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/coming-soon-from-sine-nomine-press-wolves-of-god-kickstarter-coming-in-october.852195/post-22814974) have pretty much sold me on this one. :)
Quote from: Armchair Gamer;1103268I'm not the biggest fan of the OSR, but some of the more bespoke games out there have caught my eye, and reading the first part of the 0.9 draft and Kevin's reply to a somewhat irritating question on TBP (https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/coming-soon-from-sine-nomine-press-wolves-of-god-kickstarter-coming-in-october.852195/post-22814974) have pretty much sold me on this one. :)
I wonder if this might be the point that SJWs turn on him. The setting for Wolves is way off from Seattle Renn Faire. It will be interesting to see if they are content to live and let live, or if it will trigger a struggle session. There was already an attempt a few years back on TBP to accuse Crawford of racism (or insensitivity) towards Polynesian cultures for Red Tide. Thankfully it was shot down quickly. But that was before the "D&D is Colonialist" nonsense.
Quote from: Aglondir;1103293I wonder if this might be the point that SJWs turn on him. The setting for Wolves is way off from Seattle Renn Faire. It will be interesting to see if they are content to live and let live, or if it will trigger a struggle session. There was already an attempt a few years back on TBP to accuse Crawford of racism (or insensitivity) towards Polynesian cultures for Red Tide. Thankfully it was shot down quickly. But that was before the "D&D is Colonialist" nonsense.
I doubt it. Kevin is a sane progressive. They like to eat their own over there but Kevin is very private, writes well, and makes decent arguments.
"You people probably need more help understanding the Christian perspective than the opposite." Both holds his ground and supports their egos.
Quote from: Rhedyn;1103299I doubt it. Kevin is a sane progressive. They like to eat their own over there but Kevin is very private, writes well, and makes decent arguments.
"You people probably need more help understanding the Christian perspective than the opposite." Both holds his ground and supports their egos.
That a very elegant aikido throw of a riposte, for sure.
Latest news on TBP is that a few posters are not going to back the WOG Kickstarter because... they are boycotting Kickstarter!
Something abot KS not wanting unions, and firing two people.
https://slate.com/technology/2019/09/kickstarter-union-organizing.html
Quote from: Aglondir;1103743Latest news on TBP is that a few posters are not going to back the WOG Kickstarter because... they are boycotting Kickstarter!
Something abot KS not wanting unions, and firing two people.
https://slate.com/technology/2019/09/kickstarter-union-organizing.html
He'll still surpass his funding goals, and for a small loss in backing he won't have to worry about those few demanding some random SJW demands out of left field. This is fine.
Quote from: wmarshal;1103780He'll still surpass his funding goals, and for a small loss in backing he won't have to worry about those few demanding some random SJW demands out of left field. This is fine.
I imagine that very few of these "boycott-ers" would have actually spent money anyways.
Quote from: Rhedyn;1103787I imagine that very few of these "boycott-ers" would have actually spent money anyways.
Eh, I own most things Kevin's written and was thinking of going in for the nice binding of Wolves - just mentioning the book prompted a fun argument with one of my sons last week about Kevin's assertion that England was fully Christianized (T. was thinking about the Danelaw, but Kevin's writing pre-Viking in 710, right?), 4 of the 81 projects I've backed on Kickstarter were Sine Nomine projects, now that we're back in England the history is more relevant even if I personally am more curious about bronze age Mesopotamia/Cyprus and renaissance Italy - but yeah, with the Kickstarter antiunion activities I was having second thoughts.
Quote from: Rhedyn;1103787I imagine that very few of these "boycott-ers" would have actually spent money anyways.
I imagine very few of those "Boycotte-ers" HAVE any money! :D
Quote from: Aglondir;1103743Latest news on TBP is that a few posters are not going to back the WOG Kickstarter because... they are boycotting Kickstarter!
Something abot KS not wanting unions, and firing two people.
https://slate.com/technology/2019/09/kickstarter-union-organizing.html
Does DTRPG has a union?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1637945166/wolves-of-god-adventures-in-dark-ages-england
It's live!
Backed. I probably won't run it, but I love reading the material.
Well, I might run it eventually, heh.
Backed, without hesitation.
Quote from: danskmacabre;1104308I imagine very few of those "Boycotte-ers" HAVE any money! :D
I'll be waiting for it to come out on DTRPG.
At the rate this KS is going, it'll be funded within 24 hours.
Quote from: Heavy Josh;1108434I'll be waiting for it to come out on DTRPG.
I backed the level where you get the PDF and can order the book on DTRPG at cost.
That's the $35 USD level.
Perfect for me, as I'm backing from Australia and I can read the PDF as it progresses anyway.
Backed at $35, will probably do the $60 level before it's over.
So, after browsing the beta PDF, like why would I EVER give another penny to fucking WotC, Paizo, Green Ronin, whatever? This is a real roleplaying game, it's not some exercise in revisionist history.
Quote from: Brad;1108655Backed at $35, will probably do the $60 level before it's over.
So, after browsing the beta PDF, like why would I EVER give another penny to fucking WotC, Paizo, Green Ronin, whatever? This is a real roleplaying game, it's not some exercise in revisionist history.
Yeah you can replace a whole lot of rpg companies that went woke with the OSR alone. Hell as those companies eventually crash and burn the OSR may actually be the future.
Quote from: Brad;1108655So, after browsing the beta PDF, like why would I EVER give another penny to fucking WotC, Paizo, Green Ronin, whatever? This is a real roleplaying game, it's not some exercise in revisionist history.
What's funny is that Kevin appears to be pretty "woke", but he hates social media, and is a talented writer. I think that most of us wouldn't hate "woke" material if it was written well.
His RPG catalog hits a lot of genres. Stars Without Number, Godbound, Other Dust, Silent Legions, Spears of the Dawn, Red Tides (not an RPG), and now Wolves of God. None of those are all that similar to each other while still being widely compatible if you want to genre mash. It's all good stuff and his work is an example of how RPGs can't get taken over. He's a one man-show with mass audience appeal that pumps out RPGs that get recommended by everyone. OSR in general is pretty great, but I feel like KC branched out with some games (like Godbound) and draws in more than just OSR fans (like with Stars Without Number).
I'll read Wolves of God when it finishes or when I run out on my current RPG-reading list.
Lol, it's already funded.
Took 18 hours! haha!
I never knew I wanted to run a game about barely civilized Christian adventurers in Dark Ages England until I read "Wolves of God".
How useful would it be for a game set in Britain in the 400s?
Quote from: RandyB;1108758How useful would it be for a game set in Britain in the 400s?
It's very much set in the 8th century; in the 5th century I think you're a lot less Christian Anglo-Saxons / pre-Vikings and a lot more post-Roman Briton / invading Angles & Saxons & Jutes, very mixed-religion with probable majority pagan (mixed Roman and Germanic?).
What I can say is read the 0.9 alpha; the style is *very* marked. One of my sons is running a game in 10th century Northumbria and bounced hard off the 8th century viewpoint.
Wait a second... The Kickstarter is saying December 2020 for estimated delivery. This seems a bit much. 14 months to completion?
Because it's his first venture into offset printing, I think he's being especially careful about delivery dates.
Assuming a completed PDF in March 2020, that means POD shipping is April 2020, but offset is listed as a 10 week turnaround from print file delivery to get the books to the fulfillment center. It won't be 10 weeks because it's never 10 weeks, and a basic guideline is to double the listed time to assume a five-month turnaround from March, making it August when the books get to the fulfillment house. That leaves four months of flex time in case of a slow final- and because a slow final is the critical failure point in that linkage, you don't move up the PDF delivery deadline before the offset ship deadline. All that does is expose you to overrun risk. Instead, you peg everything at the same time and give yourself the chance to happily surprise your customers with early PDF/POD delivery.
Quote from: Brad;1108655Backed at $35, will probably do the $60 level before it's over.
So, after browsing the beta PDF, like why would I EVER give another penny to fucking WotC, Paizo, Green Ronin, whatever? This is a real roleplaying game, it's not some exercise in revisionist history.
You could have learned that already with Lion & Dragon.
Quote from: Trinculoisdead;1109110Wait a second... The Kickstarter is saying December 2020 for estimated delivery. This seems a bit much. 14 months to completion?
Kevin unlike many other kickstarter users is a very careful man. He doesn't like to disappoint people and be late with his projects. I mean compare Godbound to Exalted 3rd Edition for the contrast of performance if you want to. Kevin is just removing any chance of failure that he could ever have is all. Don't worry as Kevin is well known for getting his product done early.
Quote from: RPGPundit;1109163You could have learned that already with Lion & Dragon.
I own two copies of Lion & Dragon. Am I supposed to buy three?
Kevin Crawford is the Montgomery Scott (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9SVhg6ZENw) of Kickstarter!
Here's how Kickstarter works:
Creator: Hey guys! You kewl new toy arrives in June!
Backers: Yeah!!!
Creator: Oh crap, sorry but it's gonna be July.
Backers: How dare you? You stole my dreams and my childhood!
VS.
Creator: Hey guys! You kewl new toy arrives in August!
Backers: Yeah!!!
Creator: Oh, it's shipping in July!
Backers: We shall worship your graven image forevermore.
Quote from: Brad;1109235I own two copies of Lion & Dragon. Am I supposed to buy three?
Yes, plus Dark Albion and Cults of Chaos!
Pundy's pipe weed ain't gonna buy itself!
Quote from: Spinachcat;1109245Yes, plus Dark Albion and Cults of Chaos!
Pundy's pipe weed ain't gonna buy itself!
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Cults of Chaos is awesome.
Quote from: Spinachcat;1109245Yes, plus Dark Albion and Cults of Chaos!
Pundy's pipe weed ain't gonna buy itself!
Why do you assume I don't already own those..?
Quote from: Brad;1109235I own two copies of Lion & Dragon. Am I supposed to buy three?
Glad to hear it! But while I wouldn't discourage you buying a third copy of L&D, you might want to save your pennies for the soon-to-be-released Medieval Authentic Companion.
Quote from: Antiquation!;1109310I've said it before and I'll say it again, Cults of Chaos is awesome.
Thanks!
Quote from: Brad;1109323Why do you assume I don't already own those..?
Because you failed to post an entire list of every game product you own!
This is on you Brad! :)
Quote from: RPGPundit;1109753Glad to hear it! But while I wouldn't discourage you buying a third copy of L&D, you might want to save your pennies for the soon-to-be-released Medieval Authentic Companion.
Well yeah, I'll buy it when it's released. And I am going to buy a third copy, anyway, because a guy I game with on-and-off expressed interest in a more historical medieval game and I didn't want to scare him away with full-blown C&S yet. I figure L&D is a good gateway drug.
Quote from: Spinachcat;1109782Because you failed to post an entire list of every game product you own!
This is on you Brad! :)
Oddly enough, about two months ago I boxed everything up in my game room because I got new carpeting, decided to throw out the old cheapass Walmart bookshelves I got in grad school that I've been hauling around for 10+ years. Well, my wife did...she said we could get built-ins, but after dropping $12k on carpet this year and $15k on flooring last year and another $5k on a fireplace, I told her it could wait until January as the quote I got was something like $5k. Everyone wants $5k to do anything.
ANYWAY, my point being, when I unbox all my gaming stuff again, my plan was to actually catalog everything once and for all. I was looking through a box in the garage last night, trying to find some Battletech stuff and randomly pulled out a beatup Ghostbusters International boxed set. Of course this reminded me I did not have the original Ghostbusters RPG, so now I have to rectify that. That's pretty much why 95% of my collection exists.