This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

Author Topic: Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?  (Read 92399 times)

Lorrraine

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • L
  • Posts: 69
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #45 on: September 25, 2010, 03:34:10 AM »
Hi RPGPundit,

How does the Eidolon of a character with Advanced Metamorphosis differ from the character's original body?

What would Wonder Woman's character sheet look like if you wrote her up as a Lords of Olympus character?

What Stats and Abilities would the Gnomes from Gnomemurdered have as monsters in Lords of Olympus?

How long could a character with First Class in Fortitude fight continuously before they started to feel the effects of exhaustion?

What sorts of questions do you ask in the Lords of Olympus character questionnaire?

Thanks,
Lorrraine

RPGPundit

  • Administrator - The Final Boss of Internet Shitlords
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48855
    • http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #46 on: October 01, 2010, 03:45:35 PM »
Lords of Olympus Q&A Lucky #XIII

So we're back with the 13th entry of my ongoing Lords of Olympus Q&A.  First, as always I will mention to everyone that if YOU have a question for me about this upcoming RPG, and want me to answer it here, please write your question in this thread on theRPGsite.  Your questions will get answered, usually every Friday.

Now, on to the questions:

Q: How does the Eidolon of a character with Advanced Metamorphosis differ from the character's original body?

A: Well, an Eidolon will have an identical appearance to the Player Character, at least at first (he could be metamorphosed to look different, of course).  But one important difference is that he might vary in size. the character must use his own physical material, usually blood or flesh (hair and fingernails do not work, nor does waste material).  An Eidolon will be limited in size by the amount of material the character uses, though he need not collect it all at once, if he stores it carefully.
The other big difference is that Eidolons have very limited life-spans, anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks, depending on the creator's Ego Class.


Q: What would Wonder Woman's character sheet look like if you wrote her up as a Lords of Olympus character?

A: Wow, a difficult question. I think it depends on what kind of power level you assume Wonder Woman to be. I think she would probably have Heroic Class Ego, Olympian Class Might, Olympian Class Fortitude, and Olympian Class Prowess.  Some people might argue that she should have Low-Numbered Class Might and Fortitude. She would have no powers of her own, though she would have some items; 1- or 2- point cuffs on her hands, and an important and powerful Olympian Lasso, which would have the power of implanting a Geis on anyone she catches in it, obliging them to tell her the truth if their Ego Class was lower than the artefact's creator (I forget who it was who gave that lasso to the Amazons, was it Athena? If so it would be a whopping 1st+4(tied) Ego Class!).


Q: What Stats and Abilities would the Gnomes from Gnomemurdered have as monsters in Lords of Olympus?

A: A good question. If you've read Gnomemurdered, you'd know that there are actually Gnomes of four different power levels in the game: Gritty, Heroic, Super-Heroic, and Godlike. These would roughly correspond to Mortal, Heroic, Olympian and Numbered Class; so Gnomes of each power level would probably have those Classes in their various Abilities, with Gnomish leaders of each type probably having one Class higher than their underlings. Of course, there'd be some interesting powers and abilities among the more special gnomes, like the Heavy Weapons Gnomes or the Cuddly Death Gnomes; some of those would be hard to convert to Lords of Olympus stats.


Q: How long could a character with First Class in Fortitude fight continuously before they started to feel the effects of exhaustion?

A: A Character with Olympian Class Fortitude can continue to fight for 12 hours without stopping, of course by then he'd be exhausted.  A 1st Class Fortitude PC would be able to fight for days on end, but he'd probably start to feel the effects of exhaustion after about 12 hours of constant fighting. Note however, that this assumes fighting WITHOUT taking injury. If the character receives injuries, it will accelerate the process of exhaustion as his body has to struggle with the injuries.


Q: What sorts of questions do you ask in the Lords of Olympus character questionnaire?

A: Here is a random selection of only a few of the questions listed (though GMs are also encouraged to make their own particular questions):
-Is your character a night owl? What does he spend his nights doing?
-If your character has the choice between making a big entrance and immediately drawing attention to himself, or slipping in utterly unnoticed, which would he prefer (if all other factors were equal)?
-What does your character often dream about?
-Would other people around your character be able to easily notice if he is angry or upset? Why or why not?
-Would your character think it better to be right, or to win?

That's it for today; keep those questions coming!

RPGPundit
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you've played 'medieval fantasy' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

Lorrraine

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • L
  • Posts: 69
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #47 on: October 07, 2010, 11:46:59 AM »
Hi RPGPundit,

How quickly could a character with First Class in Prowess run a mile?

How much weight could a character with First Class in Might lift?

What geographical features does a place require in order for it to connect to the Hadean road?

What can Nereus do with Metamorphosis that a character with merely Advanced Metamorphosis cannot?

Aside from the source, how does Olympian Magic differ from Primordial Magic?

Thanks,
Lorrraine

RPGPundit

  • Administrator - The Final Boss of Internet Shitlords
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48855
    • http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #48 on: October 08, 2010, 04:26:23 PM »
Lords Of Olympus Q&A XIV

Here we are again, for the 14th session of the Lords of Olympus Q&A. You must know the drill by now: post your questions to this thread on theRPGsite, and I will respond to them here every Friday.

Ok, let's get to it:


Q: How quickly could a character with First Class in Prowess run a mile?

A: Prowess affects dexterity, skill at arms, reactions, co-ordination, and strategic thinking.  Someone with 1st Class Prowess would certainly be able to run a mile faster than the faster mortal human athlete, by a good length. I would say that someone with Olympian Class Prowess might be able to run a 2 minute mile, and someone with 1st Class Prowess might be able to run a 1 minute mile. Note that running longer distances would depend at least as much on Fortitude as on Prowess.


Q: How much weight could a character with First Class in Might lift?

A: A character with 1st Class Might would be strong enough to lift a regular-sized car without too much trouble and throw it several feet. He could uproot a largish tree by its roots. That should give you a general idea.


Q: What geographical features does a place require in order for it to connect to the Hadean road?

A: To connect to the Hadean Road, a world must have some kind of underground spaces, natural or man-made.  So caverns or tunnels.


Q: What can Nereus do with Metamorphosis that a character with merely Advanced Metamorphosis cannot?

A: I do not go into details about this, leaving it to the GM to decide which specifics they want to give Nereus, depending on how powerful they want to make him.  What I do specify is that Nereus should be able to perform "tricks" with metamorphosis that go beyond the limitations of the normal description of that (Advanced) power, as he is a great master of Metamorphosis.  


Q: Aside from the source, how does Olympian Magic differ from Primordial Magic?

A: Olympian magic is the power of Order, it is the magic that is the birthright of those who are the current masters of the multiverse (the Olympians).  It is the power to shape reality, to affect probability, to give boons and curses, and to hold back the powers of entropy.  In its greatest manifestations, it allows one to create worlds, or in a backwards kind of way, to destroy them.
Primordial Magic, on the other hand, is the magic of the Primordial entity Khaos, it is the birthright not only of the Olympians but of all the deities (Primordials, Titans, and Olympians).  It is the power of entropy, and can be used in combat, for summonings, to fill beings or objects with entropic power, to manipulate the laws of reality, or in its most powerful form to summon Khaos itself to destroy a world.

Well, that's it for today.  Keep up with the great questions!

RPGPundit

Currently Smoking: Raleigh Freehand + Planta's Image Latakia
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you've played 'medieval fantasy' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

Croaker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • C
  • Posts: 616
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #49 on: October 11, 2010, 01:12:31 AM »
How much might would a giant monster like the Hydra have?

Is there any way for a character to have truly superhuman strength, on par with, say, your average spiderman?

Does the setting have technological universes? If so, how does it handle cross-tech or magic?

What stat do you use for Hand to Hand?
 

Lorrraine

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • L
  • Posts: 69
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #50 on: October 12, 2010, 06:51:26 AM »
Hi RPGPundit,

How do Olympian Magic and Advanced Olympian Magic differ from ADRPGs Pattern and Advanced Pattern?

How do Primordial Magic and Advanced Primordial Magic differ from ADRPGs Logrus and Advanced Logrus?

If someone with First Class in Might successfully punches someone with First Class in Fortitude how bad of an injury would the one punched get?

Does Lords of Olympus include writeups of any characters suitable as starting PCs?

How quickly could a character with First Class in Fortitude regenerate their sight if they had their eyes burned out like what happened to Corwin?

Thanks,
Lorrraine

RPGPundit

  • Administrator - The Final Boss of Internet Shitlords
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48855
    • http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #51 on: October 15, 2010, 01:58:21 PM »
Lords Of Olympus Q&A XV

The fifteenth Q&A entry already.  Jesus, I can't imagine what this will be like when the game is actually in print! Anyways, here we go again: if you have a question for me about Lords of Olympus, post it on this thread in theRPGsite, and I will answer!

This week's questions:

Q: How much might would a giant monster like the Hydra have?

A: Hydras’ Ability Classes vary in range from Heroic to Olympian, typically, but some very powerful ones, like the Lernaean Hydra slain by Heracles, have higher scores in Might and Fortitude.


Q: Is there any way for a character to have truly superhuman strength, on par with, say, your average spiderman?

A: I would think that the ability to toss around a car would be "truly superhuman" strength.  Anyways, I can think of a few ways.  First of all, a character might "cheat" his way to it by going to a world where the laws of reality worked differently enough that he would be much stronger than the average inhabitants; of course, anyone else from outside that world would be too. He could likewise change the laws of reality in an existing world to attempt the same thing.  Finally, he could theoretically keep buying advancements "above first class" until he got to levels of Might Class to rival Heracles or Atlas.  It might even be possible that some really remarkable artifacts could grant him super-superhuman levels of Might.


Q: Does the setting have technological universes? If so, how does it handle cross-tech or magic?

A: The setting does indeed have technological universes.  Our own world, if you consider that a "technological" universe, features relatively prominently in the setting material.  Likewise, its stated that just about any universe imaginable can theoretically exist somewhere along the three divine roads. So yes, there are all kinds of levels of high-tech worlds out there.
In the game, worlds are classified in terms of different qualities, for things like physical laws and characteristics of that world.  Just like one of these qualities is the "Magic level" of the world, another would be the "Technological level" of the world. Characters who are skilled in Olympian or Primordial magic can affect these levels.  Some worlds might have both high-magic and high-tech, some might have only one of the two. Because physical laws are different from world to world, its quite normal for certain kinds of technology having trouble working on a different world than its origin (unless that world has sufficiently similar technological qualities); and the same can theoretically apply to magic.


Q: What stat do you use for Hand to Hand?

A: When the character is grappling, wrestling or boxing with an opponent, he is brawling with Might.
It is possible for a character to try to rely on Prowess when unarmed if he is attempting to use his agility rather than brute strength to strike. Likewise, a character with a weapon in his hand can be striking with pure Might, using his weapon only as a brute extension of his strength.  However, even in those cases, the strength of a person’s blow is measured by Might, while the ability to evade being struck is measured by Prowess.


Q: How do Olympian Magic and Advanced Olympian Magic, and Primordial Magic and Advanced Primordial Magic, differ from certain powers in other games?

A: Olympian and Primordial magic, and their advanced versions, might have certain vague similarities to powers you could theoretically find in other games, but they are entirely their own thing.  In particular, the way that they function (which is quite clearly outlined) is unique to the Lords of Olympus game.
Neither Olympian magic nor Primordial magic allow a character to travel from one universe to another; you need world-walking for that.
As a general statement, Olympian magic like many other powers in the game require time and attention to utilize, they tend not to be all that useful in the heat of battle or in a tight situation unless the player character has been very careful in planning things through ahead of time. Olympian magic requires at least five minutes to craft a spell of probability, for example.
Primordial magic can be a bit more useful in battle, since evoking the maelstrom (basically a kind of entropic hole in space and time) takes only a few seconds, and it can be useful to give yourself a kind of magical shield and some space between you and opponents.  Lines of force can also be useful in combat, being used for reaching out and making mental contact with opponents and (if the caster is really in a tight spot) can even be solidified with concentration to use as a kind of weapon. Olympian Magic, on the other hand, gives the user some protection against the entropic power of Khaos that the Primordial magic depends on.


Q: If someone with First Class in Might successfully punches someone with First Class in Fortitude how bad of an injury would the one punched get?

A: The answer would depend on a great number of factors.  First of all, the way the player described his PC's attack. How is he punching, where is he hitting on his opponent's body? Is the defending character using some kind of armour? Is the "defending" character taken unawares, or was he braced for impact? All of these things can ultimately affect the situation; so can environmental factors, as well as whether the character taking the hit was already injured, or exhausted, or if he's at top health.  Generally speaking, a single blow from a 1st Class Might character to a 1st Class Fortitude character where both are otherwise unaffected by other considerations, and where the guy taking the blow knows that its coming, and the location of the hit is neither particularly protected or particularly vulnerable, will take a serious enough hit (a Severe Injury) that will leave him dazed for a moment and might (if the hit is in an appropriate area) break a bone or two. But barring other factors, a single hit from a 1st Class Might blow would not be enough to leave a 1st Class Fortitude character out of the action (though if he can't figure out a way to stop himself from taking a few more of those blows, he'll be in serious trouble).


Q: Does Lords of Olympus include writeups of any characters suitable as starting PCs?

A: Along with the larger examples of how to handle the Bidding War, etc. there is a single full description of a character being created. Some of the less significant deities could also theoretically be usable as starting-level PCs.  But honestly, the game isn't meant to be run that way; you could do it, but that would miss out on a huge chunk of the fun: Character creation!


Q: How quickly could a character with First Class in Fortitude regenerate their sight if they had their eyes burned out?

A: Assuming the player character doesn't have the Metamorphosis power, a loss of a body part (like an eye) would take between several months to several years to heal.  The eye being a particularly complex body part, it would be at the higher end of that spectrum, possibly taking a decade or longer if no outside assistance is used.


Keep those questions coming!!

RPGPundit
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you've played 'medieval fantasy' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

Simon W

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 541
    • Beyond Belief Games
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #52 on: October 27, 2010, 02:21:46 PM »
I'd like to know where you are at with this?

RPGPundit

  • Administrator - The Final Boss of Internet Shitlords
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48855
    • http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #53 on: October 29, 2010, 02:46:36 PM »
Lords of Olympus Q&A Pt. XVI

So, here we are again with another question and answer entry regarding the upcoming Lords of Olympus RPG.  Remember, if YOU have a question for me to answer about this game, post the question to this thread.   I will answer any questions posted over the course of the week on the Friday of that week.

Today we have just one question, but that shows you the dedication I have to answering, we're not putting it off till next week.  Here we go:



Q: I'd like to know where you are at with this?

A:  Where we are at is as follows: the text of the book is done.  Complete.  Finished.  The book is currently at the editing stage, where it has been stuck for the last while due to the sheer number of projects Precis Intermedia is working on.  That's basically out of my hands now, and in a sense out of Precis' hands unless they chose to bump Lords of Olympus up the ladder of priority.   What's left now is basically for the text to be reviewed, to have artwork added, layout, and then publication.  All of which I hope will be relatively quick and easy once it starts to really get rolling.
I'm certainly not going to give a publication date or anything like that; it wouldn't be my place, first of all, since that should be the sort of thing that the company decides; and I'm pretty sure Precis has no idea how soon right now either (though they can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about that).  What I would say is that if it was published before the end of the year, that would be a really big surprise to me. Odds are it will come out sometime in 2011.

Keep the questions coming, folks!

RPGPundit
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you've played 'medieval fantasy' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

EBM

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • E
  • Posts: 115
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #54 on: November 18, 2010, 08:46:47 AM »
Pundit any idea which artists are going to be used or is that wholly a Precis decision?

Also my favourite power in Amber is Trump Mastery.  Is their an equivalent to Trump in Lords of Olympus and if so does it work in the same way?  Will it still be called Trump? as that word elicits a juvenile reaction here in England. :p

RPGPundit

  • Administrator - The Final Boss of Internet Shitlords
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48855
    • http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #55 on: November 19, 2010, 11:26:53 AM »
Lords of Olympus Q&A Pt. XVII

Here's number 17 of the Questions and Answers series for the upcoming Lords of Olympus RPG. Since its been a couple of weeks since the last one, I'll repeat the instructions for how this works. If YOU have a question about the Lords of Olympus game, just write it in this thread on theRPGsite.  Then, every Friday, I will answer any new question in this blog. Its that simple!


Quote
Q: Pundit any idea which artists are going to be used or is that wholly a Precis decision?

A: This is ultimately a Precis Intermedia decision. Precis will, as publisher of the book, choose what artists they use.  If past history of my collaboration with them on Gnomemurdered turns out to repeat itself, they will send me the art to inquire as to my opinion on it, to get my "OK" as it were, as a courtesy (they are not required to, but being a good company pay some attention to what the designer thinks would work).  Also, if history with Gnomemurdered turns out to repeat itself, whatever type of art Lords of Olympus ends up with, it should be pretty spectacular.
I do not yet know what kind of art Precis will be using, but Brett Bernstein commented to me that he plans to make the art a fairly big deal for this product.  It ought to be, I think, since there is going to be so much potential visual richness to this game.
What type of art do you think Lords of Olympus should have? Let us know!



Quote
Q: my favourite power in another RPG is Trump Mastery. Is their an equivalent to Trump in Lords of Olympus and if so does it work in the same way? Will it still be called Trump? as that word elicits a juvenile reaction here in England.


A: Lords of Olympus will not have any power that is directly imitative of any power in the Amber RPG.  All of the powers in Lords of Olympus are their own thing, based on the elements of the setting I have created, and are not in any way a direct copy of any element of any other RPG setting.   However, all RPGs have certain similarities. And if what you are asking me is "which power in Lords of Olympus will be most similar to the "Trump" power in ADRPG?", I would have to say that probably Scrying is most similar.
But its a good example of how Lords of Olympus is a totally unique game, not in any way a mere "Clone".
Scrying is the power to see distant places or people. You do this with some kind of a Scrying implement: A pool of water, a black crystal or stone, the liver of an animal, etc (you can optionally do it with more "Modern" methods like tarot cards, runes, etc., but the above are far more in tune with the style of Greek Myth). Characters can, by concentration, see other places or people with this power; their Ego Class determines how long it takes, and how clear the vision will be.  He must try to make a mental contact with the person he is scrying if it is a sentient being, with Ego Class determining whether success happens or not.  If so, he can try to do any of the typical mental tricks of communication or combat.  He can also use Scrying to get visions of the future, his Ego Class determining how clear they will be.

With Advanced Scrying, one can communicate with the spirits of the dead, cast magic through a scrying connection, create barriers to scrying, force connections, or even create a Portal.

I hope that this description is illustrative of the uniqueness of the Lords of Olympus game.

RPGPundit

Currently Smoking: Mastro de Paja bent apple + H&H´s Namaste
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you've played 'medieval fantasy' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

Croaker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • C
  • Posts: 616
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #56 on: November 20, 2010, 02:48:43 PM »
Quote from: RPGPundit;418330
He can also use Scrying to get visions of the future, his Ego Class determining how clear they will be.

How the hell do you make it work????
 

RPGPundit

  • Administrator - The Final Boss of Internet Shitlords
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48855
    • http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #57 on: November 26, 2010, 10:30:13 AM »
Lords of Olympus Q&A Pt. XVIII

So here we are again with another version of the Lords of Olympus interview thread.  As always, if you post a question to this thread on theRPGsite, I will try to answer it to the best of my ability (usually every Friday).

Only one question today:


Quote
Q.  How the hell do you make visions of the future work in Scrying?!


A: The main function of the Scrying power is to allow the character using it to gain a vision of a place or person in the PRESENT. But Scrying can also be used to attempt to obtain some kind of a divination of future events.  A Scryer can attempt to do a "general divination", which essentially leaves it to the GM to determine what future events he gets any indications of; or, he can attempt to perform divination on some kind of general subject. Visions of the future are always fairly vague, but the accuracy of these visions is dependent on the Scryer's Ego Class. Characters with Olympian Class Ego or higher (ie. the typical PC who bothers to have Scrying) will be able to get visions of specific incidents, in full detail, though context may still be missing.
But it is important to note that these visions will be subject to both interpretation and change; divination at this level is only really an extrapolation of probable future events, not a fixed vision of an unchangeable future.
In the Lords of Olympus game, there is a concept called "Fate"; visions gained by regular Scrying are not that, however, but mere prediction.  Fate is "true prophecy", a foretelling of events that once proclaimed is inescapable (or at least, inescapable without directly involving some massive force of will from Primordial-level power). Even the most powerful of the Olympians, even Zeus himself, cannot escape Fate. The best that can be hoped is to bend Fate in some way or another, not avoid it.
But again, Fate is the domain of proclamations, prophecies, boons or curses, from the most powerful Gods, Primordials, or sources of absolute prophecy like the Oracle at Delphi.  Scrying is different.
As the GM is in control of what divinations the Scryer PC receives, there's no reason for the GM to be afraid of the divinatory power of scrying.  The GM is free to provide weird or cryptic visions that are subject to interpretation, but is encouraged instead to give glimpses of scenes that will be very clear in their vision but unclear in their context.  Because divination with Scrying is not Fate, it can be avoided.  For example, the GM may wish to give a PC a vision with Scrying of Ares fighting a duel with them on Olympus.  The PC receiving the vision will not necessarily know when this is happening, or why; he'll just see what he sees.  The GM is then free to have Ares show up at any point in the campaign's future to challenge the PCs, and depending on what has happened since then, the "duel" could be anything from a game to a test to a deadly serious blood-match.  In turn, the PC could then try to escape this vision by carefully avoiding being on Olympus when Ares is.

RPGPundit
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you've played 'medieval fantasy' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

danbuter

  • setting junkie
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3882
    • http://home.comcast.net/~danbuter
Who wants to interview me about Lords of Olympus?
« Reply #58 on: May 17, 2011, 07:55:56 AM »
Would the game be suitable for running something like Hercules and Aeolus wandering around Greece fighting monsters and not getting into godly family squabbles? Or at least limit the family politics to the occasional one or two night adventure?
Sword and Board - My blog about BFRPG, S&W, Hi/Lo Heroes, and other games.
Sword & Board: BFRPG Supplement Free pdf. Cheap print version.
Bushi D6  Samurai and D6!
Bushi setting map

hyaxinth

  • Newbie
  • *
  • h
  • Posts: 5