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Author Topic: Tell me of Qin  (Read 718 times)

Claudius

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Tell me of Qin
« on: July 27, 2008, 01:36:36 PM »
Several years ago, I read somewhere at the Gold Rush Games site that they might do a Medieval China sourcebook for Sengoku. Obviously they didn't, unfortunately they couldn't even publish the 2nd edition of Sengoku (the one that was going to use the Action System), but the idea of a historical game about medieval China excited me a lot.

A few years ago I heard of Qin, a historical ancient China RPG disguised as a wuxia RPG (or is it the other way around?). I'm always interested in a good historical RPG.

Last year I started studying French (I didn't touch a book in the summer, when the classes start again I'm going to suffer), and you know, is there a better way to learn a language than reading RPGs? Yes, there is a better way, getting a French girlfriend, but I'm afraid my wife wouldn't tolerate it, so I'll have to take the RPGs. So, what can you tell me of Qin? What's the system like? What makes it good? Something bad to say?

One more thing. I intended to try the French (original) version, but curiously, it would be cheaper to buy the English version and have it shipped from America than from France, even if my home country has a common frontier with it. Funny, isn't it? Well, my question is, how good (or bad) is the translation from French to English?

Thank you
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no one important

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Tell me of Qin
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2008, 08:23:42 PM »
I haven't been able to get my group to play this yet, so I haven't seen it in action yet.

The book is beautiful.  About half the book is a fairly detailed overview of the Warring States, including details of the various kingdoms, introductions to how society functioned then and there, important NPCs, and so on.  The GM-only section has monsters, the Powers Behind the Thrones, a short but useful section on how to run the game, and an introductory adventure.

The system itself is quite straightforward.  Roll two d10, one dark (Yin) and one light (Yang).  Find the difference (it only matters if Yin or Yang is higher in combat) and add it to your attribute and skill to beat a target number.

Character creation is point-buy, with each character getting one Gift (which usually allows a reroll or a bonus to a roll once a game session) and one Weakness (where the GM can force a reroll).  Characters get Taos, which allow them to do stuff like balancing on the point of a spear, or using four senses to replace the fifth, and can take magic (Internal and External Alchemy, Exorcism and Divination).

The main book only has the first four levels of the various Taos; the top two are included in the GM Screen, which isn't translated yet.

That's one reason to maybe go for the French edition over the English.  There seems to be at least a few supplements out for the French version, but for the English there's nothing beyond the main book yet.  My French is hideous (typical English Canadian), so I haven't seen the French edition or compared the two.

Overall, my read-through-but-not-played impression is that it's a great game for historic/fantastic China - detailed in setting, atmospheric and evocative in characters, and not too heavy a rules system.

I'd highly recommend the game.  My complaint is that there isn't anything past the main book in English yet, so if the French version isn't too much more expensive that might be the one to go for.
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RPGPundit

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Tell me of Qin
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2008, 02:57:18 AM »
I've been running a Qin campaign for the past year and a half or so. It's excellent.  The setting is during the Warring States period, but it can readily be adapted (if you have the historical knowhow) to other eras; my own campaign is set during the Three Kingdoms period.

The game is not disguised as either a wuxia game or an historical game; rather its a historical game that supposes that wuxia powers really work.  The level of the wuxia power in the main book is about equal to that of, say, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Which is to say, Taos and magic can do some pretty cool stuff, but not planet-shattering stuff. Apparently the sourcebooks (none of which have been released in English yet, but Cubicle 7 plans to do so) have higher-level taos in them, which should be pretty planet-shattering.

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Tell me of Qin
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2008, 02:57:30 AM »
I've been running a Qin campaign for the past year and a half or so. It's excellent.  The setting is during the Warring States period, but it can readily be adapted (if you have the historical knowhow) to other eras; my own campaign is set during the Three Kingdoms period.

The game is not disguised as either a wuxia game or an historical game; rather its a historical game that supposes that wuxia powers really work.  The level of the wuxia power in the main book is about equal to that of, say, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Which is to say, Taos and magic can do some pretty cool stuff, but not planet-shattering stuff. Apparently the sourcebooks (none of which have been released in English yet, but Cubicle 7 plans to do so) have higher-level taos in them, which should be pretty planet-shattering.

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Silverlion

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Tell me of Qin
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2008, 04:06:53 AM »
I've yet to run Qin, I think its an excellent book, but none of my current players are interested (at this juncture.) That doesn't mean I won't play it. Just need to get a chance.
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Tell me of Qin
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2008, 02:58:45 PM »
I have yet to get critical mass to start a game, but everyone has been spot on.

It was translated from French? Well, the translator (to English) did a great job. He has better English skills than most native speakers.
« Last Edit: July 28, 2008, 03:01:47 PM by MoonHunter »
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MarionPoliquin

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Tell me of Qin
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2008, 03:14:57 PM »
My experience with RPGs has been that you're almost always better off with the original than the translation. You could always try buying Qin from Québec : http://www.levalet.com/FRACAT/7CERCLE.HTM

I know that postage fees from Canada are notoriously high, but maybe they're cheaper than France's.
 

Malladin

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Tell me of Qin
« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2008, 06:23:46 PM »
Qin is a really good game. Its creation of a mythological history framework is outstanding. Likewise, the fact it covers Wuxia from old school to martial arthouse is quite an achievement. Most significantly for me is that it plays really well. Oh and the book is truely beautiful.
 

Spike

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Tell me of Qin
« Reply #8 on: July 28, 2008, 07:51:45 PM »
I would say the translation is light years better than the translation of Cadwallon, another frech game...

... er... okay, I know five year olds that write better english than the Translator of Cadwallon... so I'll get more on topic.

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