From: Mr. Tines (tines@windsong.demon.co.uk)
Date: Sat 08 Nov 1997 - 12:23:48 EET
###
Babsi
==
(Rules)
A "mea culpa" on the parry rules issue (a result of never
having fully transitioned from RQ2 to 3, and indeed having
later dropped some RQ3 in favour of RQ2). A perception of
"what's wrong with high level RQ combat" came from the
analysis by Bill Keyes in A&E61, matching two Runelords
with 120% attack and parry, 20% defense, d4 damage add,
and bladesharp 4; minimally armoured (1pt) plus a large
iron shield gave an expected time to first blood of
over 20 rounds (i.e. you needed to extend or renew the
Bladesharp). The proposal to fix was the rule which in
RQ3 was adopted for the dodge skill only (as I find by
digging the RQ3 books out of the loft).
Against that sort of opponent, Great Parry is still of
only minimal marginal utility (most of the time, the
first blood will be due to a 96+ on the parry, rather
than the doubled damage getting through the 24 points
of shield). Things that get through that much shield will
be decidedly unhealthy in the same circumstances.
(Customs)
It may just be my mind, but the idea of Babeester Gor
One custom developed in our campaign has been the
cultists "jerking penises" strikes me as, uh, linguistically
infelicitous. And while I am sure there is a sound
anthropological justification for such a custom in
cthonic practise, I'm afraid the first association
I make is to the notorious Arduinian brigand, Shardra
the Castrator (Arduin Grimoire vol 3, picture page 1,
stats page 84). She was a mad axe murderess with
similar dietary habits; and I'm not sure I want to
bring Arduinian memes into consciousness while dealing
with Glorantha.
"Face of Death" - when on a specific mission of
vengeance, drawing - ideally in ochre, but in any
mud that will stick - the death rune from hairline
to chin, and across the eyes. This is something
that not having a beard makes easier.
Urban Sartar
==
Two important points from the digests I've skimmed
It would be possible - but rather stretching the
Even then, I would consider the more likely
There is likely to be a significant change between
It's worth noting for a RW example that Charlemagne's
The depiction of Boldhome in the _Rough Guide_
1) the citadel vs city distinction
2) the Romanisation of some German tribes.
envelope of what is urban (and the economic
potential of only about 120 years) - to scatter a
few score Mycenean-style citadels (as appropriated
for Balazar) with a hundred odd folk providing
logistic support to the palace to make up the
14,000 urban population.
style of citadel for the Orlanthi to be more
like Iron Age hill forts (e.g. Maiden Castle).
Sartar in 1600 ST and (abortive rebellion in the
middle aside) in 1625 due to Lunarization - and
it might be possible to pump up the urban fraction
by planting a number of Lunar colonia, though
we have no real evidence of such. How far the
occupation has made the transition of Boldhome from
palace, other public/religious structures, and
minimal logistic support (servants, associated
cultivation), to a centre of specialised manufacture
and service sectors of the economy in a generation
of occupation, it's hard to tell. Faster than
the example of Athens between 700BC and a couple
of hundred years later at its zenith (though I
likened Jonstown to Athens more on the Academy <==>
Lankhor Mhy temple analogy).
capital at Aix had about 2-3000 citizens - under 1%
the population of Byzantium at the same time. The
former feels more like Sartar, the latter like any
of the long established civilisations : the latter
feels much more highly urbanised than the former.
didn't manage to suspend my disbelief (and let's
not get started on that early, and canon-by-tradition
anomaly, Apple Lane....)
The Red Menace
==
Nick Brooke adduced a number of singalongs at
conventions as evidence of the Lunars as Communists
theory. Perhaps I should wait until late one evening
at Convulsion next year, and start up a rousing chorus
of "Roll out Red Barrel" to prove that they also drink
filthy keg "beer". [Note for those not around and noticing
such things in c1970 Britain - Watney's Red Barrel was
one of the first national brand beers, homogenised
by design, pasteurised by construction, stored under
gas pressure, and intended to require minimal cellaring
skills. It was quickly demonised by folk who cared
what they drank.]
Actually, I don't really have any clear idea of what
the Lunar Empire is from the material I have read (which
excludes the Entekosiad and similar recent material).
It appears to have elements of the pagan Roman Empire,
in terms of nomenclature, in terms of the attitude of
religious incorporation (with the notable exceptions
of Druidism and Christianity, the motives for suppresion
of which were as much political as religious). It has
elements of Oriental absolute monarchy (especially
in the more decadent elements it is depicted as having).
It is also like the Roman empire in the context -
including the overrun of (the Western Empire) by
barbarian migrations.
In addition it seems to have accreted a number of
personal hate figures (the gin drinking habit reads
to me as a jibe at the chinless wonders of the upper
classes; but also things like tax demons), and a few
outright bad puns (the Red Tapeworm, for crying out
loud).
If it were a Soviet Communist analogue, then there
would be suppression of everything but the state
religion (dialectic materialism in the RW case);
collectivisation of agriculture; mass relocation of
population; systematic destruction of the original
aristocracy; socialist-realist art; titles that
have not accreted the connotation of heredity.
The story Duke Raus of Rone's exile reads more
like the loss of one aristocrat in political
infighting with another, not a (centuries past)
exile of the family. In the Lunars as Commies
take, he would either be a Yelm-worshipper,
staunchly anti-Lunar, and be several generations
down the line from exile from Dara Happa - or
he would be Commissar Comrade Raus, a highly
advanced Party (i.e. Red Goddess cult) member
who had lost out in a purge.
Oh yes, the use of "egregious" from amongst competing
synonyms was due to its extra punning quality in the
circumstances.
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