[19:04] <+Mariscka> Hello!! My name is Marissa Kelly and I am co-founder of Magpie Games and author of Epyllion. I grew up playing tabletop RPGs and am lucky enough to have made it into one of my jobs. π
[19:04] <+Mariscka> Epyllion is a tabletop roleplaying game where you get to play dragons! In this dragon-centric world, you are the sons and daughters of the Dragonlords, mighty rulers who need your help to investigate rumors, solve problems, and discover the truth of a growing evil in the land.
[19:05] <+Mariscka> Along with your fellow dragons, you and your clutchmates will protect Dragonia from the Darkness and discover the true value of friendship.
[19:05] <+Mariscka> The system uses the Powered by the Apocalypse engine; while you play, you and your clutch will explore what dragons do and how they do it, by building on what each of you adds to the story. Each player will discover the meaning of friendship as you adventure across Dragonia!
[19:05] <+Mariscka> (done)
[19:05] <~Dan> Thanks, Mariscka!
[19:06] <+Mariscka> OH! and here is the kickstarter link: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1921129910/epyllion-a-dragon-epic-rpg)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1921129910/epyllion-a-dragon-epic-rpg
[19:06] <~Dan> The floor is open to questions!
[19:06] *** Guest22 has joined #rpgnet
[19:06] *** ChanServ sets mode +v Guest22
[19:06] <~Dan> So let’s see… First, why Apocalypse World?
[19:06] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Guest22! Please set your name with the /nick command; e.g., /nick Dan π )
[19:07] <+Mariscka> Well, firstly it changed how I played ran and designed RPGs.
[19:07] <+Mariscka> So I am a huge fan.
[19:08] * ~Dan nods
[19:08] <@Silverlion> How do you make use of Apocalypse World in this game?
[19:08] <+Mariscka> Secondly, I wanted something that was intuitive for players. And although I have had a big challenge making it GM friendly it was well worth it for me.
[19:09] <+Mariscka> P.S. Anyone following along can see a draft of the move sheets and playbooks if you back the KS and go to the first update.
[19:10] * @Silverlion is sadly to poor to back at this time.
[19:10] <+Mariscka> Silverlion: I have the same basic structure with player moves, peripheral moves, DM (dragonmaster) moves, and playbooks.
[19:10] <+Mariscka> And the 2d6 probabilities of coarse. π
[19:11] <+Mariscka> @silverlion, I hear ya’
[19:11] <@Silverlion> What kind of playbooks for dragons do you have?
[19:12] <+Mariscka> Well because my pet pitch for the game is “My Little Dragon: Friendship is Magic” mixed with Lord of the Rings…
[19:13] <+Mariscka> I have the Academic, the Crafter, the Daredevil, the Nature Adept, the Seer, and the Warrior.
[19:13] <+Mariscka> We have unlocked quite a few more on the KS, but those are the core.
[19:13] <+maxmahem> why 2d6 for *World?
[19:13] <~Dan> Playbooks = classes?
[19:14] <+Mariscka> To me, 2d6 is core to how AW works so flawlessly, so I didn’t see a productive way to deviate from it.
[19:15] <+Mariscka> Dan, yeah! Because there are no dragon “species” in the game all you have is your “type” of dragon.
[19:15] <~Dan> Hmm. So what is a basic dragon like in your setting?
[19:16] <+SolutionCat> Is this a collective story game?
[19:17] <+Mariscka> Whatever the players want! I have some established setting for Dragonia like dragon Houses and the War of Shadow, but ultimately, a lot of “how dragons *do* stuff” and “what their society is like” is left up to you group.
[19:17] <+xyphoid> so how did you change the AW principles here
[19:18] <@Silverlion> Are there tools for building those things in the game?
[19:18] <~Dan> (Question pause, please.)
[19:18] <+Mariscka> I’ll answer silverlion’s first before moving on to xyphoid’s awesome one.
[19:19] * @Silverlion sniffles at non-awesome question he had
[19:19] <+Mariscka> Psh! You get to go first!
[19:19] <+Mariscka> π
[19:19] * ~Dan chuckles
[19:20] <@Silverlion> Yay me. π
[19:20] <+Mariscka> Each playbook has lists that help, like your “look” and there are some set up questions called your “fellowship” that help, but my favorite tool for helping flesh out Dragonia is the map.
[19:21] *** CTCP PING reply from Guest22: 1.363 seconds
[19:22] <+Mariscka> I have defined a little bit about what Dragonia looks like (a giant continent with some islands) and a holding environment (kraken that will eat Elder Dragons whole), and then each character adds something to the map when prompted by the DM.
[19:22] <+Mariscka> And that’s all at character creation.
[19:23] <+Mariscka> now, xyphoid asked how the principles differ.
[19:24] <+Mariscka> As I hinted at earlier, one of my design goals was to make DMing *World games easier.
[19:25] <+Mariscka> So I took that on by creating Dragonia specific principles that immerse the DM in the fiction.
[19:25] <+Mariscka> Agendas that also push the idea that you are all playing DRAGONS
[19:26] <+Mariscka> And I divided up the DM Moves into 3 different categories based on where the PCs (Clutch) are in the world: Wilderness Moves, Culture Moves, and Darkness Moves.
[19:27] *** Gabe has joined #rpgnet
[19:27] *** ChanServ sets mode +v Gabe
[19:27] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Gabe!)
[19:28] <+Mariscka> And the fun thing that the KS made possible, is the NPC Dragon Deck full of NPCs with motivation and houses, occupations, and their magic moons. So the DM doesn’t have to think of everything ever.
[19:28] <+Mariscka> 9done0
[19:28] <+Mariscka> (done)*
[19:29] <~Dan> To clarify your response to my earlier question, did you mean that the dragons can look like whatever the players want them to look like?
[19:29] *** Gabe has quit IRC: Disintegrated: (Link: http://www.mibbit.com)http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client
[19:29] <+Mariscka> Yep. π
[19:29] <~Dan> As in, do they have four legs and two wings, two legs and two wings, etc.?
[19:29] <+Mariscka> Only if all of your table happens to think that’s what they look like. π
[19:30] <+Mariscka> generally everyone will come up with a different kind of look that expands what dragons in the fiction can look like to basically anything.
[19:30] <~Dan> What about breath weapons? Any givens there?
[19:31] <+Mariscka> Nope! The dragons rely on Moon Magic, so they can have what ever breath weapon they want.
[19:32] * @Silverlion likes because this is his dragon. (Link: http://silverlion.deviantart.com/art/Leodracos-14165831)http://silverlion.deviantart.com/art/Leodracos-14165831
[19:32] <~Dan> Is the breath weapon essentially a spell, then?
[19:32] <+xyphoid> so AW/Monstehearts are games about relationships within the group, and DW is a game more externally-focused on adventuring – do you have a focus either way there?
[19:32] <+Mariscka> Niiice!
[19:33] <+xyphoid> like, would you expect intra-group conflict to be a standard thing
[19:33] <@Silverlion> Thank you π
[19:33] <+Mariscka> I actually have mechanized friendship to help focus that.
[19:34] <~Dan> Friendly robots?
[19:34] <+xyphoid> did you desperately want to say ‘weaponized’ there because i definitely wanted to read it that way
[19:34] <+Mariscka> HA! Dan, that has to be my next game.
[19:34] <~Dan> (Sorry. I am sometimes silly…)
[19:34] <~Dan> (Oh, and questions can resume, sorry!)
[19:34] <+Mariscka> One, you are all in a clutch, this has cultural significance and even if you don’t like how someone is acting you can’t leave it.
[19:35] *** MonkofLords has joined #rpgnet
[19:35] *** ChanServ sets mode +v MonkofLords
[19:35] <~Dan> (Howdy, MonkofLords!)
[19:35] <@Silverlion> Weaponized Friendship!
[19:35] <@Silverlion> Totally a thing now..
[19:35] <+Songtress> So when the KS is overy is the stuff going to be sold invidiually or a a’pack/game’
[19:35] <+Janus> Does your core system support arial (3D) combat, or would the DM have to come up with that set of options?
[19:35] <+Mariscka> Two Every character in Epyllion has a virtue–an attribute they admire and hope to see in their clutchmates–like Honor, Daring, Curiosity, or Ambition.Β Whenever you see another player’s character exemplify your virtue, you’ll hand them a friendship gem.
[19:36] <+Mariscka> Characters then spend those gems to either help or hinder or to use Moon Magic.
[19:37] <+Mariscka> Songtress, do you mean the gems, dice, and NPC deck?
[19:39] <~Dan> Still there, Songtress?
[19:40] <+Janus> (( 1 second ping ))
[19:40] <+Mariscka> I would love to make the core of what we sell in the future the main book and Encyclopedia Draconica (if the KS goes well enough to make it available in print)
[19:41] <+Mariscka> All of the goodies have a lot to do with KS success, but we will totally sell packs at conventions while supplies last.
[19:41] <+Songtress> I am talking about he Game, and the KSΒ additions
[19:42] * @Silverlion sighs
[19:42] <@Silverlion> I guess I’ll have to find some way to add money to the KS, maybe if I sell a kidney…
[19:43] <~Dan> How powerful is Moon Magic? What sorts of things can it accomplish?
[19:43] <+Mariscka> Songtress, yeah Magpie Games will continue to sell the game and the Encyclopedia Draconica after the KS. π
[19:45] <+Mariscka> Dan, It is very powerful because its fictional capabilities are only limited to which moons you have access to (you lose your connection with them as you age, but get better at the one you have left) and your imagination.
[19:45] <+Mariscka> I’ll spell out the move to help make it a bit more clear:
[19:46] <~Dan> Pardon the pun?
[19:46] <+Mariscka> When you call upon the magic of the Moons, roll +Gems returned. On a 10+,pick2.On a 7-9,pick1.
[19:46] <+Mariscka> It’s all good. I love, puns.
[19:46] <~Dan> Ooooh, you have so come to the right place…
[19:47] <+Mariscka> – The magic is exceptionally powerful. – The magic remains within your control. – The magic impresses or frightens others.
[19:47] <+Mariscka> On a miss, the Moons act as they will, without your guidance.
[19:47] <+Monochrome_Tide> Is there a place for humanoids in Dragonia? (Assuming your dragons aren’t said humanoids, that is.) Are they vassals? Adopted kin? Wards?
[19:48] *** okumarts has joined #rpgnet
[19:48] *** ChanServ sets mode +v okumarts
[19:48] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, okumarts!)
[19:49] <~Dan> (That you, David? π )
[19:49] <+Mariscka> There are no humans, but the Darkness (the impending threat that your group has to stop) wants to end the age of dragons. Now, in my mind that means bringing about the age of humans where Dragons become selfish and much like the lore we know and love.
[19:49] <+okumarts> Hello! I am David.Β π
[19:49] <@Silverlion> Cool.
[19:49] <+Mariscka> HI David!
[19:49] <+Monochrome_Tide> Ah. Interesting
[19:49] <+okumarts> Waves
[19:50] <~Dan> Mariscka: okumarts is one of your fellow game authors. He’s stopping by to see how a Q&A looks in realtime, much like you did with the one on Tuesday. π
[19:50] <@Silverlion> David: We’re talking to Mariscka about her game Epyllion which is being KSed now as well. Its her Q&A so you can see how they work live.
[19:50] <+okumarts> I am glad to be here!
[19:50] <~Dan> okumarts: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1921129910/epyllion-a-dragon-epic-rpg)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1921129910/epyllion-a-dragon-epic-rpg
[19:50] <+okumarts> Hello Mariscka. I’m going to try to get up to speed.
[19:51] <@Silverlion> Can I scrape together 50 bucks? I’ve got an Xbox360 I’m not using…
[19:51] <+okumarts> OH, I saw this! it looks really cool!
[19:51] <+Mariscka> To inform the end of dragons thing: the wildlife in Dragonia is like Avatar the last Airbender (a mixture of different animals) and “monsters” look like what we know of as wildlife.
[19:51] <+BlasterKyubey210> Hey Silverlion
[19:51] <+BlasterKyubey210> 50 bucks huh
[19:51] *** TwentySix has joined #rpgnet
[19:51] *** ChanServ sets mode +v TwentySix
[19:51] <~Dan> (Howdy, TwentySix!)
[19:51] <@Silverlion> Anyway, so is there anything in the game that is unique to your design?
[19:51] <+Mariscka> Hello okumarts!
[19:52] <@Silverlion> That adds to the body of Powered by *world games?
[19:52] <+Mariscka> Silverlion, I don’t think I understand the question.
[19:52] <+Mariscka> Do you mean mechanically?
[19:53] <+Mariscka> Or generally?
[19:53] <+okumarts> We all seem to be doing Kickstarters these days.
[19:53] *** Guest02 has joined #rpgnet
[19:53] *** ChanServ sets mode +v Guest02
[19:54] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Guest02! Please set your name with the /nick command; e.g., /nick Dan π )
[19:54] *** Guest02 is now known as Kat
[19:54] <~Dan> (Thanks, Kat! Here for the Q&A? π )
[19:54] <+okumarts> My question would be how you are planning on printing the book?Β I went for RPGNow Print on Demand, but it seems a bit inelegant.
[19:55] <@Silverlion> I meant mechanically, but generally is good too.
[19:55] * +Vorthon just wishes rpgnow/drivethrurpg would consolidate its sites already.
[19:55] <+Mariscka> Well, Magpie Games will be publishing it and we generally use Lightningsource.
[19:55] <+Janus> Does your core system support arial (3D) combat, or would the DM have to come up with that set of options?
[19:55] <+okumarts> I’ve heard good things about Lightningsource.
[19:56] <+Mariscka> Totally supports areal combat.
[19:56] <+Mariscka> For example: If you describe it and it’s not dangerous it happens. If it is you act despite danger.
[19:56] *** egyptian has joined #rpgnet
[19:56] *** ChanServ sets mode +o egyptian
[19:57] <~Dan> (Howdy, egyptian!)
[19:57] <+Kat> I really like the art, think it really sells Dragonia. Would you be willing/able to sell some of the art as prints?
[19:57] <+Mariscka> Okumarts, yeah I like them a lot. We have used them for all of our products.
[19:58] <+Mariscka> Jason Poole is an amazing paleo artist that I met on one of my digs. π
[19:58] <+Mariscka> I could see making some of them into prints! Hit me up after the KS, Kat and we can chat more.
[19:59] <~Dan> Paelo artist? That’s a thing? π
[19:59] <~Dan> Paleo, even
[19:59] *** JamesGillen has joined #rpgnet
[19:59] *** ChanServ sets mode +v JamesGillen
[19:59] <~Dan> (Howdy, JamesGillen!)
[19:59] <+Mariscka> Yeah, as in paleontologist π
[19:59] <+JamesGillen> HowDEE
[19:59] <+GenoFoxx> what’s the tech level of Dragonia?
[19:59] <+okumarts> The art is looking nice!
[19:59] <~Dan> Yeah, I figured. That’s cool. π
[19:59] <+Mariscka> Which he also is.
[20:00] <~Dan> I’ll bet all other art paleos by comparison.
[20:00] <+Mariscka> Tech level is totally up to the players. The crafter is the only playbook with materials listed and everything you would need is on there.
[20:00] <+Mariscka> Oh, Dan. π
[20:00] <~Dan> π
[20:01] <+GenoFoxx> so the galaxy is potentially the limit?
[20:01] <~Dan> JamesGillen: Here for the Q&A, or just hanging out? π
[20:01] <+Mariscka> If that wasn’t so true I would shame you for that pun.
[20:01] <+okumarts> Likes Dan’s joke.
[20:01] <~Dan> You’ll do well here, okumarts. I can tell already. π
[20:01] <~Dan> (Oh, and you can do actions with the /me command. π )
[20:01] * ~Dan likes his own joke, to illustrate!
[20:02] <+Mariscka> GenoFoxx, I do set up a holding environment that implies you need to stay on the continent.
[20:02] <~Dan> Heh. Color inside the lines? π
[20:02] * +Mariscka didn’t know that!
[20:02] * ~Dan chuckles
[20:02] <@Silverlion> I am so going to do Galactic Dragons. Just cause.
[20:03] <+Mariscka> No, GenoFoxx, I just mentioned it earlier in the chat, sorry, that’s why I didn’t elaborate.
[20:03] *** Ettin has joined #rpgnet
[20:03] *** ChanServ sets mode +v Ettin
[20:03] <~Dan> Mariscka: I didn’t really follow what you were saying about the wildlife and monsters in the setting. Can you expound on that a bit?
[20:04] <+Mariscka> GenoFoxx, in short you are on a continent surrounded by kraken that eat dragons and there are only legends of Dragons who made it across the oceans.
[20:04] <+Mariscka> Dan, yeah!
[20:05] <+Mariscka> The wildlife in Dragonia is diverse and exciting. The beasts have aspects of many different animals.
[20:05] <+Mariscka> For example someting like a Monbaba, woudl be a combination of a monkey, bat, and badger
[20:06] <@Silverlion> As she mentioned very “Avatar: TLB” like…
[20:06] <+okumarts> So what is the technology level in Dragonia?
[20:06] <~Dan> Silverlion: I have never seen an episode of that, so… π
[20:07] <+Mariscka> Okumarts anything you want (see above)
[20:07] <+Mariscka> Dan, But there is more danger than an angry Weredapuss to concern oneβs self with when traveling the wilderness. Creatures so foul they present as only one aspect of a beast!
[20:07] <+Vorthon> Dan: Watch it. Pretty sure it’s on netflix. S’goooood. Also, worldbuilding out the wazoo. And believe me, you’ll get the statement in like… the first episode. :u
[20:07] <+Mariscka> For example a giant spider!
[20:07] <@Silverlion> Dan: A shame, for a cartoon written for nine year olds, it turned out to be VERY well done in the end. Even if it started a little silly.
[20:07] <+okumarts> Sorry, late to the party! π
[20:08] * @Silverlion owns it on DVD
[20:08] * +Vorthon should really get netflix and binge on it.
[20:08] <+Vorthon> And then on the sequel series.
[20:08] <+Mariscka> seconded!
[20:08] <~Dan> Mariscka: So the monsters are what we would consider giant versions of “normal” animals?
[20:08] <@Silverlion> (I didn’t actually like Korra the series, spent too much time on the sporting thing..blargh.)
[20:09] * +Vorthon still isn’t sure if airbending ever got a variant like the other bending types.
[20:09] <+Mariscka> Dan, yep! but they don’t really *have* to be giant versions.
[20:09] <~Dan> So a normal koala would be a “monster” in this setting? π
[20:10] * +Vorthon ‘s pretty sure they count as them IRL, given what he’s heard. π
[20:11] <+Mariscka> I did that to help illustrate that even though most dragons don’t like to deal with the wilderness it is clear that it is tied to their world. And to hint that the ending of the age of dragons would mean that human world and the dragons of that lore may come into play.
[20:11] *** FaerieGodfather has joined #rpgnet
[20:11] *** ChanServ sets mode +v FaerieGodfather
[20:11] <~Dan> Ah… so “monstrous” = “mundane” in this context?
[20:11] <~Dan> (Howdy, FaerieGodfather!)
[20:12] <+Mariscka> And yes, Dan. The Daredevil has a beast companion and if you make it look like a monster that’s okay, but other dragons will react poorly to it. π
[20:12] <~Dan> Heh. π
[20:12] <+Mariscka> Dan, in a sense, yeah.
[20:13] <~Dan> Are dragons the only true creatures of myth in the setting?
[20:13] <+Mariscka> I think over all Epyllion drive home that it is our history and culture that make us who we are. And if the dragons lose that they become selfish shallow versions of themselves (as reflected by the Shadowself mechanic)
[20:14] <+Mariscka> I tie regular wildlife into that category, but Dragons are the only sentient life.
[20:15] <+GenoFoxx> do the dragons lose their bright, vibrant colors as a consequence?
[20:15] <+Mariscka> The Nature Adept is the only one who can talk to animals.
[20:16] <+Mariscka> GenoFoxx, I love that they totally could! I had a game where someone went into their shadowself and described it that way… it was awesome. π
[20:16] <~Dan> Mariscka: So no chimeras, pegasi, giant blobs, etc.?
[20:17] <+Mariscka> Sure if you want that! It’s not part of the setting I have outlines, but seems well within it.
[20:17] <+Mariscka> outlined*
[20:18] <~Dan> So who and what are the big bad guys?
[20:18] <+Mariscka> The Darkness… (ominous music plays)
[20:19] <+Mariscka> Thousands of years ago, Dragonia battled the Darkness, an ethereal force of corruption in The War of Shadows. The drakes of Dragonia fought back the Darkness, ultimately destroying its forces, but the great seer Flyreign prophesied that the Darkness would rise again.
[20:19] <+Mariscka> And it does!
[20:19] <~Dan> What form does this Darkness take?
[20:20] <+Mariscka> Agents of shadow search to corrupt the very heart of Dragonia, but not by force alone; power, wealth, and personal security are temptations that the Darkness promises to those who would aid it.
[20:20] <+Mariscka> The Darkness corrupts dragons (giving them Shadow)
[20:20] <~Dan> So dragons take a dim view of Darkness?
[20:20] <+okumarts> Mariscka, I know you are using the Apocalypse World engine, but did you try out any other systems on the way there?
[20:21] <+Mariscka> Dan, -_- those puns, man.
[20:21] <~Dan> <.<
[20:21] <+Motulev> (thats Dan for you, all puns)
[20:21] <+GenoFoxx> Mariscka…they’re not Dragon you under are they?
[20:21] * ~Dan golfclaps for GenoFoxx π
[20:21] <+JamesGillen> heh
[20:21] <+Mariscka> Okumarts, sure! But like I said earlier I am a big fan and playing AW really allowed me to think up some of the innovative things I am doing with it.
[20:22] <+Mariscka> Ha!
[20:22] <+okumarts> I haven’t had a chance to play AW, but I’ve heard good things.
[20:22] <+Mariscka> Well now it’s just a pun party!
[20:22] <+okumarts> Put a quarter in the pun jar.
[20:23] <~Dan> Dragon puns are exhausting. Perhaps we should take a drake.
[20:23] <+CSFerguson> Smoke ’em if you got ’em
[20:23] <+Mariscka> Yeah, okumarts it’s amazing. Changed how I play, run, and design games. If you have trouble reading it (most do) try reading Monster Hearts along with it.
[20:24] <+okumarts> That’s a good tip Mariscka.
[20:24] *** silaninil has joined #rpgnet
[20:24] *** ChanServ sets mode +v silaninil
[20:24] <+Mariscka> And I am striving to make Epyllion very easy to read, so hopefully I can add that to the list too. π
[20:24] <~Dan> (Howdy, silaninil!)
[20:25] <~Dan> Mariscka: Is this your first go at publishing an RPG?
[20:26] *** Kat has quit IRC: Disintegrated: (Link: http://www.mibbit.com)http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client
[20:27] <+Mariscka> No, Magpie Games has published quite a few before this one. I have been designing for a while, but it is my first time with my name on the cover as designer/writer.
[20:28] <+Mariscka> So it’s “my first game” but not my first publishing experience.
[20:29] <~Dan> Ah, gotcha.
[20:29] <~Dan> What is your personal gaming history like?
[20:30] <+Mariscka> I grew up gaming in New Mexico. My dad would run Traveler hacked as Star Wars for me as a solo game.
[20:31] <~Dan> Cool. A second-generation gamer. π
[20:31] <+Mariscka> Yep! we also played some hacked version of D&D, so I grew up fiddling with systems to get just what I wanted out of them.
[20:31] * ~Dan nodnods
[20:31] <+okumarts> I used to run Traveller hacked as Star Wars as well, mind you it was 1984…
[20:31] <+okumarts> Fiddling with systems is good.
[20:32] <+Mariscka> Yeah, it wasn’t until late High School (when I was living on my own) that I finally had my own gaming groups with other folks!
[20:32] <+Mariscka> It was eye opening and I felt like I hit the d20 phase late. π
[20:32] * ~Dan chuckles
[20:33] <+Mariscka> Then like many people I lost a bet and joined the CAM.
[20:33] <~Dan> The CAM?
[20:33] <+Mariscka> The Camarilla
[20:34] <~Dan> Ah. Vampire lingo. π
[20:34] <+Mariscka> Whitewolf’s LARP.
[20:34] <+okumarts> Ah..
[20:34] <+okumarts> I made a giant robot ruleset for the Storyteller system.
[20:34] <+okumarts> When i was running it.
[20:34] <+Mariscka> Yep. And around the time my Wearwolf campaign wrapped up I founded Magpie Games with my partner Mark Diaz Truman.
[20:35] <+Mariscka> Werewolf*
[20:35] <+xyphoid> are there any upfront linkages between the PCs (eg Hx or Bonds) or does the in-play gem linkage replace that
[20:35] <+xyphoid> (it sounds like ‘you are all dragons from the same hatching’ kind of covers that)
[20:36] <+Mariscka> The gems replace what strings would be considered and The Fellowship replaces what DW bonds would be like.
[20:37] <~Dan> Is what xyphoid said accurate? Are the PCs all siblings?
[20:38] <+Mariscka> Well hatching is cool because dragons don’t have sex or gender in Epyllion. So you form a clutch of 2 (or more) dragons and have some eggs. Those eggs are raised by guardians so the Dragons don’t have to neglect their business and when they hatch they are placed into one of the Houses.
[20:39] <+Mariscka> The clutch isn’t blood related its a formal social and cultural bond.
[20:39] <+Mariscka> If a couple of PCs wanted to be related that is totally cool, though. π
[20:39] <+silaninil> and they reproduce a-sexually? or….non-sexually?
[20:40] <~Dan> So long as the PCs can come through in a clutch.
[20:40] <+Mariscka> Eh, if that’s important to your players it’s whatever they want.
[20:41] <+silaninil> fair enough
[20:41] <+Motulev> I’ve seen quite a few “it is what the people playing the game want it to be” does the book say that clearly?
[20:41] *** BPIJonathan has joined #rpgnet
[20:41] *** ChanServ sets mode +v BPIJonathan
[20:42] <~Dan> (Howdy, BPIJonathan!)
[20:42] <+BPIJonathan> (Im sorry, didnt realize there was a chat going on.
[20:42] <+BPIJonathan> )
[20:42] <+okumarts> One thing (and I hate when people do this to me so I apologize in advance although it is meant as a positive statement) that I noticed is that the art and concept made me think of the old fantasy comic Xanadu. I think that’s pretty cool actually.
[20:42] <+Mariscka> Yep! The DM has lots of advice because I wanted to try and make the *World system easier to DM.
[20:42] <+Mariscka> Leading questions is my favorite. π
[20:43] <~Dan> (No worries, BPIJonathan!)
[20:43] *** BPIJonathan has quit IRC: Disintegrated: (Link: http://www.mibbit.com)http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client
[20:43] *** kingcarnival has joined #rpgnet
[20:43] *** ChanServ sets mode +v kingcarnival
[20:43] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, kingcarnival!)
[20:44] <@Silverlion> (Gotta run an errand. Much love peoples.) Good luck Mariscka! You’ve done a awesome job. Rock on with the rest of it.
[20:44] *** Silverlion has quit IRC: Disintegrated: Silverlion
[20:44] *** BlasterKyubey210 has quit IRC: Disintegrated: (Link: http://www.mibbit.com)http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client
[20:44] <+Mariscka> okumarts, I haven’t heard of it, but I’ll definitely look it up. π
[20:44] *** Acenoid has quit IRC: Disintegrated: ChatZilla 0.9.91.1 [Firefox 37.0.1/20150402191859]
[20:44] <+Mariscka> Thanks Silverlion!
[20:44] <+okumarts> I think it’s right up your alley!
[20:45] <~Dan> Mariscka: Do you see this game as particularly kid-friendly?
[20:45] <+Mariscka> Dan, yeah I think it’s great for a young adult audience and easy for children to play.
[20:46] <~Dan> Mariscka: okumarts can appreciate that. He’s written a superhero game with kids in mind.
[20:46] <+Mariscka> Because the *World system allows for the players to “do whatever they want” so long as the DM has a grasp on the rules and the kids can read a bit it will work great.
[20:46] <+Mariscka> Awesome!
[20:47] <+Mariscka> I actually didn’t set out with designing for kids in mind.
[20:47] * ~Dan nods
[20:47] <+okumarts> I just had a group of kids that wanted to play a game π
[20:48] <~Dan> π
[20:48] <+Mariscka> It took me a long time (and an amazing chat with Avery Mcdaldno) for me to embrace it as a YA game.
[20:48] <~Dan> How do you see the game line developing?
[20:49] *** Lin_Chong has joined #rpgnet
[20:49] *** ChanServ sets mode +v Lin_Chong
[20:49] <~Dan> (Howdy, Lin_Chong!)
[20:49] <+Lin_Chong> Morning.
[20:50] <+Mariscka> Well, I am really excited about the Encyclopedia Draconica for that reason. It is filled with entries from a ton of different authors on fun ways to expand the cannon of Epyllion. I will be designing a custom move for each entry, so whatever your group wants to add to the cannon actually can have a mechanical effect.
[20:51] *** JamesGillen has quit IRC: Disintegrated: (Link: http://www.mibbit.com)http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client
[20:51] * ~Dan nods
[20:52] <~Dan> Cool. π
[20:52] <~Dan> In what remains of regular time, is there anything that you’d like to mention that we haven’t covered? (And please know that you’re more than welcome to hang out with us and answer questions as long as you like. π )
[20:53] <+Mariscka> One fun thing is advancement!
[20:53] *** Vorthon has quit IRC: Disintegrated: Leaving
[20:54] <+Mariscka> Dragonian society is a hierarchy based on age and young drakes must prove themselves and find their way in a world built for elders.
[20:54] <+Mariscka> As you gain experience in the game you actually age!
[20:54] <+okumarts> Now your KS site mentions that advancement is about aging… That’s kind of built in adventures right there.
[20:54] <+Mariscka> It actually refers to your XP track. π
[20:55] <~Dan> Indeed!
[20:55] <+okumarts> That has a Traveler feel to me for some reason… like character creation. in a good way.
[20:55] <~Dan> Hopefully you can’t die during hatching…
[20:55] <+etaoinshrdlu> hrmpf
[20:55] <+etaoinshrdlu> 4am
[20:56] <+okumarts> You become an omeletteΒ ?Β Β Mongoose Traveler doesn’t do that.. hehe
[20:56] <+Mariscka> HA! I left that bit out of my Traveler experiences.;)
[20:56] <~Dan> π
[20:57] <+Mariscka> I also built the age based hierarchy into a couple of the basic moves, so it actually becomes a theme throughout the game.
[20:57] <+Mariscka> (done)
[20:58] <~Dan> And I believe I read that character development has a fixed endpoint?
[20:58] *** kingcarnival has quit IRC: Disintegrated: (Link: http://www.mibbit.com)http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client
[20:58] *** KJ has joined #rpgnet
[20:58] *** ChanServ sets mode +v KJ
[20:58] <~Dan> (Howdy, KJ!)
[20:58] <+Mariscka> Yep! That is a big divergence from AW. When you save Dragonia from the Darkness it triggers the end of the game.
[20:59] <+Mariscka> Also you can age out of the game if you don’t save Dragonia.
[20:59] * ~Dan nods
[20:59] <~Dan> An interesting approach.
[21:00] <+Mariscka> But you retire as a Mystic or an Ancient, so if you create a new character you can totally run into your old character. π
[21:00] <~Dan> Nice. π
[21:01] <~Dan> Thnaks so much for spending time with us today, Mariscka!
[21:01] <+Mariscka> But the intention is that you save Dragonia and have an ending to your epic story. π
[21:01] <+Mariscka> Thank you so much for having me, Dan!