[19:04] <+RogerHuntman> Hello all I am Roger Huntman writer of the novel Vampire Hotel but I am her to introduce you to my game Ancient steel Horror
[19:05] <+RogerHuntman> (Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1499203330/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1496119959&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0KA3ZR2WHCX0VAAS3T9Q)http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1499203330/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1496119959&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0KA3ZR2WHCX0VAAS3T9Q
[19:05] <+RogerHuntman> but I have a new module on Kickstarter
[19:05] *** Jiro: ~Lioness@MagicStar-A33A00A1.cable.virginm.net
[19:05] *** Real Name: K.A.
[19:05] *** Channels: ~#Dice ~#GreatForks +#rpgnet &#wod
[19:05] *** Server: Gryphon.MagicStar.net Gryphon’s Lair!
[19:05] *** Idle time: 10 minutes, 38 seconds
[19:05] *** Sign on time: 3 hours ago at 3:36 PM
[19:05] *** Jiro End of /WHOIS list.
[19:06] <+RogerHuntman> (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/514865806/vampire-hunt-rpg-scenario)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/514865806/vampire-hunt-rpg-scenario
[19:06] <+RogerHuntman> First of all before you get anywhere I will warn you that at
[19:06] <+RogerHuntman> (Link: http://www.trooperx.com)www.trooperx.com we have a mission statement of sorts.
[19:06] <+RogerHuntman> statement of sorts.
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[19:07] <+RogerHuntman> “We are not the next great American authors and do not plan to be. The writers are just storytellers getting their tale out there to amuse you. With our Role playing products our mission out there is to get a product that is far more affordable for teens looking to get into playing RPGs as well as the gamer on a limited budget.”
[19:07] <+RogerHuntman> To this end we stress content over art. This is not to say we have no art. We have thus far lived on clip art of two fine artists Bree Orlock and Bradley K McDevitt. A huge thanks goes out to them!!
[19:07] <+RogerHuntman> The Ancient steel game was first published locally in 1993 locally. I profited by 60 dollars. I was happy but it was a LOT of work. Life came up I went to college and took martial arts had kids ect…Life stuff.
[19:07] <+RogerHuntman> Any way someone suggested that I dig out that game and sign it over so they could do a horror version of the game based on my novel I was just finishing. I signed both over and the editor sat on them for 3 years!!!
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[19:08] <+RogerHuntman> Onec I got them back I commenced wok on both and published them with the goal that they would be more affordable than the 59.99 game books I was seeing
[19:08] <+RogerHuntman> While those games were pretty I was disappointed in the stress on mechanics and the lite on actual role play. It seemed to me that many people had played MMOs and were great technical writers than none of them had actually acted on stage as I had nor written creative roles and encouraged others to play those roles and forget the stress of REAL LIFE
[19:08] <+RogerHuntman> done
[19:08] <~Dan> Thanks, Roger!
[19:08] <~Dan> The floor is open to questions.
[19:08] <~Dan> Let’s start with the basics: What is Ancient Steel Horror about?
[19:09] <+DrNate> What shows have you acted in?
[19:09] <+RogerHuntman> its a horror story set in the universe of the novel Vampire hotel much like COC is set in HP lovecraft’s books
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[19:10] <~Dan> (Howdy, KJ!)
[19:10] <+Yalborap> You said one of the reasons the game’s affordable is for teens looking to get into playing RPGs. Do you have any particular plans or efforts in place to get your product in front of them so they know to look for it, beyond the usual places?
[19:10] <~Dan> (Question pause.)
[19:10] <+RogerHuntman> I did some on stage stuff in high school and college and I did voice acting. The voice acting parts still up on the web are in “the adventurres of TD9993
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[19:11] <~Dan> Whoops.
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[19:12] <+DrNate> great Q&A
[19:12] <+RogerHuntman> got kicked or something
[19:12] <+DrNate> ah, theres more
[19:12] <~Dan> (I didn’t do it! I promise!)
[19:12] <+RogerHuntman> any way we are in 2 stores locally and premiering the Vampire Hunt at Spocon
[19:13] <+RogerHuntman> I would like to do Radcon and miscon
[19:13] <+RogerHuntman> but getting it out to teens may be more of the sci fi setting we are working on now
[19:14] <~Dan> Same system?
[19:14] <+RogerHuntman> same system so that stats , books weapons will all be interchangable
[19:15] <~Dan> How would you describe the setting of Ancient Steel Horror?
[19:15] <+RogerHuntman> modern with elements of Noir
[19:16] <+RogerHuntman> ninjas, vampires and psychics much like the novel
[19:16] <~Dan> So I take it that the PCs are ass-kickers of the supernatural?
[19:16] <+RogerHuntman> and dogs have to have a dog
[19:17] <+RogerHuntman> yep they are the butt kickers. some have luck points some have psychic powers and some may have holy powers
[19:17] <~Dan> What does that mean, re: dogs? 🙂
[19:17] <+RogerHuntman> it means that in the novel the main character’s sidekick is his dog Dirk
[19:18] <+RogerHuntman> Dirk lets him know when a vampire is near
[19:18] <~Dan> Oh! Okay. I read that as dogs having to have dogs in the game. O.o
[19:19] <+RogerHuntman> you can have dogs in the game there is certainly a mechanic for that
[19:19] <~Dan> I didn’t know if that were some old saying of which I wasn’t aware of or something. 😀
[19:19] <~Dan> Is the supernatural limited to vampires in the setting?
[19:20] <+RogerHuntman> no. The main book has an adventure with a sort of spectre
[19:20] <+RogerHuntman> and Zombiie convention is another module for the game
[19:21] <~Dan> Does the game have a bestiary and/or monster creation rules?
[19:21] <+RogerHuntman> There is thought of doing a werewolf adventure but that would be far down the line
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[19:22] <+RogerHuntman> The main book has some stats in it and each supplement will add to the bestiary of the overall system
[19:22] <+RogerHuntman> There will Never be a second edition of this game released
[19:22] <~Dan> What monsters are covered in the main book?
[19:23] <+RogerHuntman> vampires , were wolves,
[19:23] <+RogerHuntman> zombies
[19:23] <+RogerHuntman> snakes
[19:23] <+RogerHuntman> large dogs
[19:24] <+RogerHuntman> are in the main book
[19:24] <+RogerHuntman> each subsequent book is set to add more new stuff instead of rehashing stats and reselling old stuff to the players
[19:25] <~Dan> And how much do these books run?
[19:25] <+RogerHuntman> new rules, new items, powers and adventures
[19:25] <+DrNate> How many books do you have planned?
[19:25] <+RogerHuntman> The main book is uner 20.00
[19:25] <+RogerHuntman> each supplement I thry to keep under 15.00 probably closer to 13
[19:26] <~Dan> Can you give us an example of how extensive the supplements will be?
[19:26] <+RogerHuntman> But the GM section of the book We feel actually is helpful in fulfilling ROLE play
[19:26] <+Abstruse> (Oooh, Q&A!)
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[19:27] <+RogerHuntman> 1 adventure, several preview pages of the next novel, targeting body parts rules 2 new Ancient steel items, 1 power of divine nature, 1 psychic power
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[19:27] <+RogerHuntman> 4 new character templates to Role play
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[19:28] <+RogerHuntman> Vampire Hunt will have the basic town setting of Quigley South dakota
[19:28] <+RogerHuntman> Each supplement will be nearly as big as the main book
[19:29] <+RogerHuntman> and some new skills I forgot that
[19:29] <~Dan> And will the adventures contain new monsters?
[19:30] <+RogerHuntman> most will, or more extensive stats on the monsters. But if you are bored the main book has a random adventure generator in the GM section
[19:30] <~Dan> Cool.
[19:31] <+Abstruse> Are you using an existing rules system or doing something original? If the latter, can you give us an example of how the rules system works?
[19:31] <+RogerHuntman> So even when I run another game I will whip this book out to generate an adventure
[19:32] <+RogerHuntman> I use D12 system ( not changed sin origionally published in 1993)
[19:32] <+RogerHuntman> % based for skills and a health scale for damage
[19:32] <+Abstruse> (By the way, I’m Darryl Mott Jr. aka Abstruse and I write the tabletop gaming column for Ain’t It Cool News and own/produce the Gamer’s Tavern podcast network.)
[19:32] <+RogerHuntman> cool good to meet you!
[19:33] <~Dan> (Oh, sorry! For some reason, I thought you two had already met on here.)
[19:33] <+RogerHuntman> and I have a deteriorating armor system
[19:33] <+Abstruse> (We might have, but I’m horrible with names. And vodka was probably involved at some point.)
[19:33] <+RogerHuntman> The rules haven’t changed since 1993 but the skills list has since it was origionally a fantasy game system
[19:34] <~Dan> (Heh. 🙂 )
[19:34] <+RogerHuntman> or whiskey on my end
[19:34] <~Dan> What’s the core mechanic?
[19:34] <+RogerHuntman> D12 and %
[19:34] <+Abstruse> Roll-over or roll-under?
[19:34] <~Dan> (Roger is a P.I., so of course he drinks whiskey.)
[19:34] <+RogerHuntman> lol
[19:34] <~Dan> (Probably while muttering about dames.)
[19:35] <+Abstruse> (I’m a big noir fan, but it’s too hot in Texas for bourbon now)
[19:35] <+RogerHuntman> because that better than calling them broads
[19:35] <+RogerHuntman> mmmm bourbon
[19:35] <+RogerHuntman> or some cognac is okay too
[19:36] <+Abstruse> So anyway…mechanics…
[19:36] <+RogerHuntman> abilities are D12 and skills are % with modifiers
[19:36] <+Abstruse> When do you roll an ability and when do you roll a skill?
[19:36] <+RogerHuntman> sometime in the future I want to do free screen panels
[19:37] <+RogerHuntman> intellect fortitude musculature charm speed and courage are the attributes
[19:38] <+RogerHuntman> courage is used when you run into the supernatural
[19:38] <+RogerHuntman> a failure indicates a GM roll on the fear failure table
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[19:39] <+RogerHuntman> Its called a TEST of courage
[19:39] <~Dan> Can you give us an example of such a roll? I’m still not clear on the d12 mechanic.
[19:39] <+Abstruse> I mean it’s two different mechanics…how do I know when I’m going to roll percentage vs. a d12? Say I’m trying to access information in a computer or a library. That’s obviously Intellect, but it could also be trained skills…
[19:40] <+RogerHuntman> computer research skill or library research skill
[19:40] <+Abstruse> How do I know on the fly which one to use though?
[19:40] <+RogerHuntman> as aGM or as a player?
[19:41] <+Abstruse> Either. Or Both.
[19:41] <+RogerHuntman> as a player your skills are on your template
[19:41] <+RogerHuntman> as a GM you choose skills over attributes
[19:42] <+Abstruse> I mean they’re two completely separate mechanics, but from what I’m getting they could overlap in tasks. How do you know when to use which?
[19:42] <+RogerHuntman> look in the book at the skills list
[19:42] <+RogerHuntman> like you would in 3.5 or shadow run
[19:43] <~Dan> How do attributes relate to skills (assuming that they do)?
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[19:43] <~Dan> (Howdy, TwentySix!)
[19:44] <+RogerHuntman> if you are unskilled in a task you either cannot do it or you get your attribute skill as a default %
[19:44] <+Abstruse> Yeah, but there’s defaulting rules in those systems that use the same mechanic. If I’m trying to find the MacGuffin File in the computer and I’m not trained in Data Search in Shadowrun, I can default to Logic (or Intelligence if you’re old school). Same rules system, you just get a penalty for not being trained.
[19:44] <+RogerHuntman> If you cannot operate a computer… then you just cannot do it…
[19:44] <+Abstruse> So when do you use the d12 system and when do you use the d% system?
[19:44] <+RogerHuntman> skills first
[19:45] <+Abstruse> There’s a difference between not being able to use a computer and not being trained in searching for information on a computer system.
[19:45] * +Abstruse has a day job in Software QA…
[19:45] <+RogerHuntman> yep there is that’s why there is computer operate and computer research skills
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[19:47] <+RogerHuntman> There is a decent but not all inclusive list of skills
[19:47] <+Abstruse> I’m your average 2014s person and know how to do the googles and I’ve Facebooked before. I know computer. I sit down and try to find the file. I’m obviously not a computer expert in this situation, but I know what icons are and how to type in a seach bar.
[19:47] <+RogerHuntman> then you have some familiartity with computer operate
[19:48] <+RogerHuntman> you must have put some points in there for character creation
[19:48] <~Dan> When you do roll against an attribute using a d12, how is that done? Are you trying to roll under the attribute, or are you adding to the attribute to beat a target number?
[19:48] <+RogerHuntman> you are rolling under it
[19:49] <+RogerHuntman> if you need to push a car up the hill musculatuter
[19:49] <+RogerHuntman> jusmp over the hurdle Speeed
[19:49] <+RogerHuntman> you have the next whiskey fortitude
[19:50] <+RogerHuntman> notice the shadow inder the door intellect
[19:50] <+RogerHuntman> flash a introductory smle…charm
[19:51] <+RogerHuntman> stand and fight the ghost courage
[19:51] <+RogerHuntman> all d12
[19:51] <~Dan> So are attributes on a 1-12 scale, and if so, how do you handle superhuman attributes?
[19:52] <+RogerHuntman> attributes are 1-10 for humans 11 and 12 for superhumans. superhuman powers go under the divine and psychic powers
[19:53] <~Dan> Do you use a degree of success mechanic?
[19:53] <+RogerHuntman> only on social skills and hit location
[19:54] <+RogerHuntman> if you choose to dice a social mechanic you get 1 piece of info. If you choose to ROLE a social situation you can get up to 3 depending on whay yopu ask or do
[19:55] * ~Dan nods
[19:55] <~Dan> What’s the scope of divine and psychic powers?
[19:56] <+RogerHuntman> like wise at the end of the adventure the awards are based on a list of accomplishments including aspects of playing their role
[19:56] <+RogerHuntman> define scope?
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[19:56] <~Dan> What sorts of things can they accomplish?
[19:56] <+RogerHuntman> nothing flashy
[19:57] <+RogerHuntman> priests can turn the undead away with the power of their faith or exorcize spirits
[19:57] <+RogerHuntman> psychics can sense danger do psychometry poject or receive thoughts
[19:58] <+RogerHuntman> nothing that would look super out of place in a bogart film
[19:58] <+RogerHuntman> because I will also introduce skeptic later
[19:59] <~Dan> On the flipside, what are vampires like in your setting? What powers do they have?
[19:59] <+RogerHuntman> they are very traditional. They are affected by holy items
[19:59] <+RogerHuntman> they DO NOT glitter in sunlight
[20:00] <+RogerHuntman> they are not romantic and do burst into flame when exposed to sunligh
[20:00] <+RogerHuntman> they are evil and scary
[20:00] <+RogerHuntman> the older they are the smarter they are
[20:00] <~Dan> Can they turn into bats, wolves, and/or mist?
[20:00] <+RogerHuntman> In Vampire Hunt the main villain is Elizabeth Bathory
[20:01] <~Dan> Good choice.
[20:01] <+RogerHuntman> yes they have the power of transform
[20:01] <~Dan> Do they have other powers that would be considered magical?
[20:02] <+RogerHuntman> hey can cause fear
[20:03] <+RogerHuntman> immunity mesmerism
[20:03] <+RogerHuntman> strength of the unholy
[20:03] <+RogerHuntman> but each power costs point to use
[20:03] <+RogerHuntman> and each power costs
[20:03] <+RogerHuntman> brb
[20:07] <+RogerHuntman> back
[20:07] <~Dan> wb!
[20:08] <~Dan> How does combat work?
[20:11] <+RogerHuntman> turn of sequence. initiative, skill roll,modifiers defense roll. damage , armor the damage applied to health ale
[20:11] <+RogerHuntman> damage applied to health scale
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[20:12] <~Dan> (Howdy, Anduwaithe!)
[20:12] <+Anduwaithe> Roger Huntman? Hey, I’ve heard of that guy!
[20:12] <~Dan> How is damage determined?
[20:12] <+Anduwaithe> 🙂
[20:12] <~Dan> 🙂
[20:13] <+RogerHuntman> by weapon type and hit location
[20:13] <+RogerHuntman> hey Anduwaithe
[20:14] <+Anduwaithe> Howdy. 🙂
[20:14] <~Dan> Does strength affect melee damage?
[20:17] <+RogerHuntman> At higher levels it can add a point
[20:17] <+RogerHuntman> combat is already very deadly
[20:18] <~Dan> Oh, if this was mentioned, I didn’t catch it. How do attributes relate to skills? Do they form the percentage base?
[20:18] <+RogerHuntman> attribute for the most part dont
[20:19] <+RogerHuntman> looking at my answer
[20:19] <+RogerHuntman> they are used for separate tasks
[20:20] <~Dan> Would you describe the game as cinematic or gritty?
[20:21] <+RogerHuntman> for me those are one in the same
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[20:21] <~Dan> (Howdy, GoldenH!)
[20:21] <+RogerHuntman> but I watch a lot off horror movies
[20:22] <~Dan> Well, for me, cinematic is dropping through a skylight into the villain’s lair, both guns a-blazing.
[20:22] <+RogerHuntman> probably gritty
[20:22] <~Dan> Gritty is that plan getting you killed.
[20:22] <+RogerHuntman> so both are acceptable
[20:23] <+RogerHuntman> either could be used in this system. I think that is the GM’s choice
[20:23] <~Dan> Is there a built-in reason for the PCs to work together?
[20:23] <~Dan> An organization, for example?
[20:23] <+RogerHuntman> Oh yes
[20:25] <+RogerHuntman> well let me list some of the reasons you are awarded character progression points
[20:25] <+RogerHuntman> 1. Six points per session max
[20:25] <+RogerHuntman> -humor (within character)
[20:25] <+RogerHuntman> -doing something daring (like swinging down on a rope to rescue or save someone from a molten pit of lava)
[20:25] <+RogerHuntman> One point per hour of gaming (four points per session max)
[20:25] <+RogerHuntman> -solving a problem with brain instead of brawn.
[20:26] <+RogerHuntman> -ending a mission successfully
[20:26] <+RogerHuntman> – staying within character (talking with an accent using character’s key phrases)
[20:26] <+RogerHuntman> -dramatic or heroic dialogue
[20:26] <+RogerHuntman> -mapping, keeping a character journal, character sketch
[20:27] <+RogerHuntman> -Dressing in character or costume
[20:27] <+RogerHuntman> – working as a team
[20:28] <+RogerHuntman> but as an organization the characters can become members of the underground which hunts supernatural creatures and government facilities that use the supernatural to weaponize
[20:29] <~Dan> The government uses vampires and the like?
[20:30] <+RogerHuntman> If they could catch one
[20:30] <+RogerHuntman> but they interfere with hunters when they can
[20:30] <+RogerHuntman> They do not believe normal citizens should be out hunting the supernatural
[20:31] <~Dan> Does magic exist in the setting?
[20:32] <+RogerHuntman> no
[20:32] <+RogerHuntman> that’s goofy
[20:32] <+RogerHuntman> it takes away from the feel
[20:32] <+RogerHuntman> ancient steel as it’s fantasy setting did
[20:33] <~Dan> What is the meaning of “ancient steel”, speaking of which?
[20:34] <+RogerHuntman> the main premis of the universe is that of like the concept of the samurai sword
[20:35] <+RogerHuntman> the samurais sword has a bit of his sould which seeps into the blade and it has it’s own shirya
[20:35] <+RogerHuntman> like wise an old metal cross on a priest can have this effect and give certain items their own powers that can be used against the creatures
[20:36] <+RogerHuntman> …. so I guess there are a sort of magic weapons
[20:36] <~Dan> How common are such weapons?
[20:37] <+RogerHuntman> In the novel Lance Derringer/TrooperX actually has a samurai sword that has its former owner manifest in dreams
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[20:38] <+RogerHuntman> Ussually they are very rare. I put 1 or 2 in each adventure. I think every player should have one
[20:39] <+RogerHuntman> what is not cool about having an antique item ( with powers) in a noir word?
[20:39] <~Dan> Do they affect creatures that are invulernable to normal weapons?
[20:39] <+RogerHuntman> some do some dont
[20:39] <+RogerHuntman> depends on how old they are and who owned them. some people’s light shine more than others
[20:40] <+RogerHuntman> some may just give a bonus to face undad on the test of courage
[20:40] <+RogerHuntman> or a better to hit chance unskilled with the weapon
[20:42] <~Dan> Is there any unifying force behind the supernatural in the setting?
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[20:43] <+RogerHuntman> no. There is now world threatening mega super evil
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[20:44] <+RogerHuntman> just good and evil on the familiar landscape
[20:44] <~Dan> That being the case, how do the various supernatural creatures relate to each other?
[20:45] <+RogerHuntman> relate too each other?
[20:45] <~Dan> Yes. Are vampires and werewolves natural enemies, for example?
[20:45] <~Dan> (Or supernatural enemies, as the case may be.)
[20:46] <+RogerHuntman> I tend to avoid the old CHILL type settings where creaturs are intermixed… it always came off more B movie
[20:47] <+RogerHuntman> it takes the focus off the characters struggle
[20:47] <+RogerHuntman> pack of were wolves , zombies or vampire seems to be good for now
[20:48] <+RogerHuntman> but I’m always open if someone else wants to write a mosdule
[20:48] <+RogerHuntman> module
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[20:48] * ~Dan nods
[20:49] <~Dan> Looks like we have about 10 minutes left in regular time. Is there anything we haven’t discussed that you’d like to mention?
[20:50] <+RogerHuntman> actually you all were very thorough!
[20:50] <~Dan> 🙂
[20:50] <+RogerHuntman> I’m surprised at the questions and even more surprised I was able to fiel them with out saying “I dunno”
[20:50] <~Dan> You did well. 🙂
[20:50] <+RogerHuntman> or “I don’t have a mechanic for that”
[20:51] <+RogerHuntman> I do want to thanks you all for giving me the forum to present the game to you
[20:52] <~Dan> You’re more than welcome, Roger! And, as you know, you’re always welcome to hang out with us.
[20:52] <~Dan> Thanks for discussing Ancient Steel Horror with us! I’ll go ahead and get the log posted now and get you the link. 🙂
[20:52] <+RogerHuntman> I definitely will keep dropping in from time to time. I find the exchange of ideas in here fun
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