[Q&A] Simon Washbourne (Crimson Blades)

[14:01] <+SimonW> So, I’m Simon Washbourne of Beyond Belief Games, better known for Barbarians of Lemuria. I wrote Crimson Blades (A Dark Fantasy RPG) to be a homage to Elric/Corum

 

[14:01] <+SimonW> It is based on my Woodland Warriors RPG (anthropomorphic animals in the style of Redwall)

[14:02] <+SimonW> It uses the Swords & Wizardry ruleset, but the games is heavily modified – for example, it uses just D6 throughout

[14:03] <+SimonW> At higher levels, Fighters in particular roll more dice to attack (one or several opponents at a time)

[14:05] <+SimonW> Each die that hits the opponent’s Armour Class (normally ranging from 2 (unarmoured) to 6 (plate & shield)) is a “hit” and can cause damage – either multiple hits on one opponent or one “massive” hit, or several hits on several opponents

[14:05] <+SimonW> That’s the main change – class abilities are all rolled on a D6 too

[14:06] <+Guest24> What makes it as Dark Fantasy ?

[14:06] <+SimonW> Anyway, I wrote Crimson Blades because a few years ago several people said they’d love to see the ruleset used for something other than a Redwall-style rpg

[14:06] <~Dan> (Welcome, Guest24! Please hold questions until SimonW is done with his introduction. Thanks! 🙂

[14:06] <~Dan> )

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[14:07] <+SimonW> I didn’t bother at the time because I needed something to hinge it on rather than just writing another D&D clone…done

[14:07] <+Guest24> Sorry , first time

[14:07] <~Dan> No worries, Guest24! Also, you can set your name with the /nick command if you like. 🙂

[14:07] <~Dan> And thanks, SimonW! Now the floor is open to questions. 😀

[14:08] <+SimonW> Shall I answer the Dark Fantasy question first?

[14:08] <~Dan> Sure, if you like. 🙂

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[14:09] <~Dan> (Howdy, Ingvarr!)

[14:09] <+Ingvarr> evcenin

[14:10] <+SimonW> Ok..its inspired as I said by Elric/Corum..so when I created the classes, I made sure sorcerers and, in particular the Dendrelyssi (my “elves”) were similar to those characters – they can cast spells (per D&D) but can also summon demons, elementals and undead as a separate issue

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[14:11] <+SimonW> Characters aren’t necessarily good…there are 3 alignments, Law Neutral & Chaos

[14:11] <+Morashitar> I just wanted to put in the first compliment – Really good work and I enjoy your games. I hope you continue to keep writing more to the series. I will be purchasing Crimson Blade today and see if I can host it to some players in the future.

[14:12] <+SimonW> and there is a mini-setting (The Crimson Lands) that will be expanded upon in Crimson Lords..the upcoming massed battles supplement…done

[14:12] <~Dan> So the system is based on D&D/d20, but with d6s?

[14:13] <+SimonW> Cool, thank you Morashitar

[14:14] <+SimonW> Kind of Dan…each class has HD, which generate the HP for the character

[14:14] <+SimonW> but are also used for attack rolls too

[14:14] <+Guest24> Does it feel different playing it compared to BOL, and it so how ?

[14:14] <+TabulaRusa> Hey SimonW, long time fan of your work, especially Barbarians of Lemuria. What is next for you and Beyond Belief Games?

[14:15] <~Dan> (Question pause after TR’s question.)

[14:16] <+SimonW> So, at 2nd level, a Fighter has 2HD – so he rolls 2D6 to get his HP (if it exceeds his previous HP total) and in addition he has 2D6 to roll for attacks

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[14:17] <+SimonW> It is completely different to BoL…there are “standard-ish” classes and levels and no “careers”

[14:17] <~Dan> With you so far.

[14:17] <~Dan> (I’ve got a follow-up, but you can cover the other outstanding questions first if you like.)

[14:18] <+SimonW> So, if the fighter is attacking with his 2HD, he might be up against 2 goblins (AC 3), he could decide to attack both goblins, becvause he has 2HD

[14:19] <+SimonW> So he could roll 4 and 5 say hitting them both and then he rolls damage (typically D6 with modifiers)

[14:20] <~Dan> Simple enough.

[14:20] <+SimonW> Next for BBG is Crimson Lords and I’m in discussions about Barbarians of Lemuria: Mythic Edition (probably a Kickstarter)

[14:20] <~Dan> (Questions may resume!)

[14:21] <~Dan> Is there a skill system, and if not, how do you resolve non-combat actions?

[14:21] <+SimonW> Yes Dan, its simple (woodland warriors was aimed partially at kids…not so Crimson Blades!) but it works

[14:22] <+TabulaRusa> Not a question, but excellent to hear about more/new BoL! 🙂

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[14:23] <+SimonW> All stats give you a save (Wisdom = Will, for example) and/or a skill (Strength gives you Streangth Feat, for example) – this is all based on D6

[14:24] <+Guest24> Could you tell us more about what Crimson Lords covers ?

[14:24] <+SimonW> So someone with WIS 12 gets a will save 5+ and a “notice” roll 5+

[14:25] <+SimonW> they get bonuses to these rolls by class/level, so a sorcerer will get +1 to Will saves at level 1

[14:25] <+SimonW> Guest24…can you explain, please?

[14:26] <+SimonW> Incidentally, BoL: Mythic is currently written

[14:28] <+TabulaRusa> Whenever you get BoL: Mythic published, are you planning on bringing Dogs*Of*War into the Mythic fold as well?

[14:28] <~Dan> So there are no skills, per sé? Just increasing attribute rolls?

[14:28] <+TabulaRusa> (Also, sorry to be asking  about BoL instead of Crimson Blades, next questions will be focused on CB)

[14:28] <+SimonW> TabulaRusa – I haven’t thought that far ahead, but it would make sense

[14:30] <+SimonW> Dan..kind of…Thieves, Mountebanks & Barbarians have abilities, like sneak, contacts & track respectively, which they roll D6 for, based on level

[14:31] <+Guest24> It is a massed battle supplement with stronghold rules and further CL setting detail , is it aimed at DMs ?

[14:31] <+SimonW> And some of these anybody can have a go at (usually on a 6 with modifiers), provided their base chance isn’t better than the class whose specialism it is

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[14:33] <+SimonW> Yes, Crimson Lords his more aimed at GMs – there will be two new PC classes The Griot (a kind of skald), The Wayfarer (kind of a monk) and the NPC class the Fleshcrafter (unpleasant surgeon/torturer who summons Pain Demons)

[14:34] <+SimonW> Crimson Lords also includes stuff for PCs to do when they hit level 10 and start settling down…including sea battles and land battles

[14:34] <~Dan> Is non-summoning magic Vancian “fire and forget”?

[14:36] <+SimonW> Non summoning magic is pretty much D&D-style, but with some modified stuff from LoTFP

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[14:36] <~Dan> Can you give an example of the latter?

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[14:38] <+SimonW> I suppose its more to do with the spells left out – like no fireballs, for example

[14:38] <~Dan> Are there any offensive spells at all?

[14:41] <+SimonW> The sorcerer spell list combines both magic user and cleric spell lists and then drops some…many “offensive” spells no longer exist although sleep, stinking cloud and stuff like that are there – you’re far better summoning demons if you want real power and the DEndrelyssi are better at this

[14:42] <+SimonW> Incidentally, the Griot and Fleshcrafter are available for free on RPGNow

[14:42] <~Dan> Is this akin to summoning/binding in Elric!/Stormbringer, in which you bind a demon into an object in order to access its abilities?

[14:42] <+SimonW> both classes can summon demons

[14:42] <+SimonW> Dan..yes, I referenced those rules

[14:43] <~Dan> What’s the summoning mechanic?

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[14:45] <+SimonW> Its based on class/level…so a 1st level Denrelyssi can summon his choice of Demon, Elemental or Undead at 5+ (modifiers can apply). He has to fulfil certain criteria, based on the being he is summoning – demons require sacrifices, undead require you to be at the burial site and elementals require you to have the element to hand of the type you are summonin

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[14:47] <+SimonW> Then you have to succeed a Will save to bind…you can only bind non-corporeal undead and you need an item that means something to the undead while it was living – even if its the weapon that killed him, which will annoy him no end

[14:48] <~Dan> Is all magic aligned with Chaos, and if so, how does Law resist?

[14:50] <+SimonW> As the game is tied into the Crimson Lands, there is a particular land (Krand) that is particularly lawful and has its Redeemers (a NPC class) who are kind of Witch/Demon Hunters

[14:51] <+SimonW> you could run a campaign where PCs are Redeemers and their followers

[14:51] <~Dan> Do they have supernatural powers that can counter magic?

[14:52] <+SimonW> Redeemers can detect illusions and resist possession and force shapechangers into their normal forms amongst other abilities

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[14:53] <+GenoFoxx> home time laters

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[14:53] <~Dan> I assume that the Denrelyssi are an example of race-as-class?

[14:54] <+SimonW> Dan..yes they are..they can summon, cast spells and wear plate armour…everyone should be a Dendrelyssi

[14:55] <~Dan> I’m sensing a “but” here somewhere. 🙂

[14:55] <+SimonW> they aren’t exactly loved everywhere

[14:55] <~Dan> So they’re Melniboneans. 🙂

[14:56] <+SimonW> They are cruel, sadistic and arrogant…yes they are Melinboneans

[14:57] <+Guest24> the Dendrelyssi Health Service sounds a bit grim

[14:57] <+SimonW> or Vadragh

[14:57] <~Dan> Are there any other intelligent races in the setting?

[14:57] <+SimonW> Hah…you’ve cheched out Fleshcrafters then…?

[14:58] <+SimonW> Beastmen are kind of intelligent and Toadmen may pre-date Dendrelyssi,

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[14:59] <+SimonW> There are no dwarves or halflings though

[14:59] <+rawrr> are you not able to play lawful?

[14:59] <~Dan> How common are monsters by default?

[15:00] <+SimonW> Yes, Dendrelyssi are lawful

[15:01] <+SimonW> Although the Dendrelyssi summon demons (which are chaotic) Dendrelyssi, because of ancient tradition are completely lawful…they summon Demons to control Chaos, not to be ruled by it

[15:01] <~Dan> That’s an interesting twist.

[15:02] <~Dan> Reminds me a bit of Devils in Talislanta.

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[15:02] <~Dan> (They’re all about order, Demons are all about Chaos. Devils and their worshippers summon and bind Demons to use as tools in their war against chaos.)

[15:03] <+SimonW> There aren’t lots of monsters

[15:03] <+SimonW> but there are enough

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[15:04] <~Dan> Are the monsters variations on traditional fantasy fare, or are they more exotic?

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[15:06] <+SimonW> I used some appropriate D&D monsters but intend to include some more unusual ones in forthcoming supplements – there may be a couple in Crimson Lords

[15:07] <~Dan> What selling points do you see in Crimson Blades’s favor over Stormbringer?

[15:07] <+TabulaRusa> (I was just about to ask the same thing, Dan! :))

[15:08] <~Dan> ( 🙂 )

[15:08] <+SimonW> I suppose for people who like class/level games, Crimson Blades is that

[15:09] <+SimonW> It’s also not tied to a setting that some people won’t know and others will know too well

[15:10] <+SimonW> (The Crimson Lands setting is so loose as for any group to put their own stamp on it)

[15:10] * ~Dan nods

[15:10] <+SimonW> Its also a nice simple system…some people love their D6s

[15:10] <~Dan> How involved are deities in the setting?

[15:11] <+TabulaRusa> As the Crimson Lands sounds quite pulpy and inspired by some great pulp, do you think that with some homebrew work it could work as a setting for your other pulp-based game, BoL?

[15:11] <+SimonW> The Demon Lords are the only ones mentioned…there will be more on them in the Crimson Lords book

[15:11] <+SimonW> there are no “Gods of Law” mentioned at all…possibly because there aren’t any

[15:12] <+SimonW> The Crimson Lands could work with BoL quite easily…

[15:12] <~Dan> Looking at the Griot information, what do Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary refer to?

[15:13] <~Dan> ( (Link: http://beyondbeliefgames.webs.com/Griot.pdf)http://beyondbeliefgames.webs.com/Griot.pdf )

[15:14] <+SimonW> Griots choose two primary abilities, 2 secondary and two tertiary…they are better at their primaries than their secondaries and better at their secondaries than their tertiaries…just gives a bit more variety to the type of Griot you play

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[15:15] <~Dan> Is that just a Griot thing, or do all classes work that way?

[15:16] <+SimonW> So, one Griot might have Trained Memory and Performance as his primes, whereas another might have Followers and King’s Ear

[15:16] <+SimonW> Mountebanks, Thieves and Barbarians work this way

[15:16] <+SimonW> As do Fleshcrafters and Redeemers (NPC classes)

[15:17] <~Dan> Are Mountebanks akin to bards?

[15:17] <+SimonW> No, Griots are closer to bards

[15:17] <+SimonW> Mountebanks are more CHA-based rogues

[15:18] <~Dan> “Face Men”?

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[15:18] <~Dan> (wb, sasquatch!)

[15:18] <+sasquatch> thanks, dan

[15:19] <+SimonW> Yes Facemen

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[15:19] <+sasquatch> what have i missed so far?

[15:20] <+SimonW> (Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griot)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griot

[15:21] <+sasquatch> thank you for Crimson Blades, Simon. It’s really has my gaming group excited.

[15:21] <~Dan> Quite a bit, sasquatch. 🙂

[15:21] <~Dan> The floor is still open to questions, though! 🙂

[15:21] <+SimonW> (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQMFN-whbEU)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQMFN-whbEU

[15:22] <~Dan> Given that the setting is dark, would you say that heroics are misguided, or just more difficult?

[15:22] <+SimonW> Sasquatch…yes, I rather like Crimson Blades myself and I can’t wait to write more

[15:23] <+maxmahem> just to be safe… no Patents involved in this game system, right?

[15:23] <~Dan> -_-

[15:23] <+SimonW> Yes, the setting is darker than your average D&D game and the system is quite quick and a lot of damage can be suffered in a very short space of time…there’s also not a lot of healing

[15:24] <+SimonW> Max…nope

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[15:24] <+sasquatch> not one damage healing spell if i read the list right lol

[15:25] <~Dan> That’s good to know, re: heroic actions, although I was thinking more from… the setting’s moral perspective, I guess. Would it seem silly to have a paladin type in this world?

[15:25] <+SimonW> Correct, Sasquatch

[15:26] <+SimonW> Redeemers are, I suppose nearest to Paladins..

[15:27] <~Dan> I hope I’m asking the question in a way that makes sense. I’m thinking in terms of, say, someone trying to play a self-absorbed cynical type in Pendragon, for example. Some character outlooks don’t fit very well in certain settings.

[15:28] <+sasquatch> late to the party today, so, i’m not sure if this has been covered; can you tell us the basics of the upcoming mass combat system?

[15:30] <+SimonW> Oooh, I would sasquatch but then I’d have to kill you

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[15:31] <+sasquatch> i guess i’ll have to summon a demon of knowledge….

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[15:31] <~Dan> (Howdy, GenoFoxx, Crazy-Cabal!)

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[15:32] <~Dan> Obviously, the concept of the Multiverse plays a big part in Moorcock’s works. Is there any hint of that sort of thing in Crimson Blades?

[15:32] <~Dan> (Welcome, Guest49!)

[15:32] <+SimonW> Sasquatch…I’ll probably post parts of it on the Champions of Lemuria/Dragonsfoot/OD&D Discussion forums over the next few weeks, as I have been doing with the new classes and so forth

[15:32] <+SimonW> No Multiverse, Dan…yet

[15:33] <+TabulaRusa> You’ve piqued my interests with hints of multiverse speak, SimonW 🙂

[15:33] <+sasquatch> ok, i look forward to reading about it, but, it’s time to return to work. take care, all.

[15:33] <~Dan> Would you say that BoL and Crimson Blades both attract similar gamers with different system preferences?

[15:33] <+SimonW> Bye Sasquatch

[15:34] <~Dan> Bye, sasquatch!

[15:34] <+sasquatch> i’ll try to be back soon.

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[15:35] <+SimonW> Dan…I don’t know…

[15:35] <+TabulaRusa> So, SimonW, what games are you playing these days?

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[15:35] <+SimonW> I hadn’t really thought about it

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[15:36] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Guest29!)

[15:36] <+SimonW> Wre currently playing a mini campaign of L5R…but its not really my thing (although I understand why some people love it…I probably would have a few years ago)

[15:37] <+SimonW> Were also playing Crimson Blades (of course)

[15:37] <~Dan> You mentioned a Mythic edition of BoL?

[15:37] <+TabulaRusa> Well, of course re: Crimson Blades 🙂

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[15:38] <+SimonW> Yes Dan…I’ve written Bol: Mythic and I’m just talking with someone about putting the Kickstarter together

[15:38] <~Dan> What will that involve?

[15:38] <~Dan> (The edition, I mean. Not the KS. 🙂 )

[15:38] <@Moxiane> Blood, abhorrent rituals, and popcorn.

[15:40] <+SimonW> It has a few minor changes, but it is mainly more creatures, lots and lots of adventure seeds, an adventure generator, more about the world and the gods, more of everything really

[15:40] <+SimonW> and what Moxiane said

[15:41] <+TabulaRusa> Cannot wait for it, SimonW! When is the rough/proposed date for the Kickstarter?

[15:42] <+SimonW> Well, on the basis that I was originally in talks with another publisher in October last year…I’d rather not say for fear of that collapsing again…

[15:42] <+TabulaRusa> That’s fair! I wish you luck with these talks then.

[15:44] <+SimonW> I didn’t want to put it out if I can’t make it absolutely the best edition of BoL yet… I have a great artist lined up (hopefully) and that will be what the KS is mainly to pay for

[15:46] <~Dan> I’ll probably need to start winding down, as I’ll have to head out soon. That said, you’re welcome to stay and answer questions as long as you like, SimonW!

[15:46] <~Dan> But is there anything that we haven’t covered that you’d like to mention in the “official” time we have left?

[15:47] <+SimonW> Yeah, I’ve got to go in a few ticks too

[15:48] <+SimonW> Nothing I can think of Dan

[15:48] <~Dan> Would you like to go ahead and wrap up, then, and I’ll get you the link to the log?

[15:49] <+TabulaRusa> Thanks for the Q&A, SimonW

[15:50] <~Dan> Indeed! Thanks very much for taking time to talk to us about Crimson Blades!