From: Dogs Playing Poker (timbee@timbee.rnd.symix.com)
Date: Wed 27 Apr 1994 - 18:24:54 EEST
Disparity between published material and questions:
There seems to have been several threads in the last couple months regarding "it says according to group X {group X fact} but this is contradicted by other material that says group Y {group Y fact}. If you think about it this makes perfect sense. If a heroquest occurs in which a Stormbull defeats a Red Goddess initiate using a spell traded from a Humakti (Never saw the Sever Spirit Coming). You will likely hear the following descriptions:
Stormbull: Hrelga the Hulking struck down Jasmel Bribetaker dominating the worthless lunar in fighting prowess and magic Red Goddess: Jasmel Moonglow was overwhelmed by the combined might of two cults after a glorious and prolonged struggle Humakt: When the Stormbulls became serious about defeating their enemy they came to those who truly know how to fight, and showing this unusual wisdom Hrelga the Hulking defeated Jasmel Bribetaker Dormal: A struggle between lunars and locals occurred while Sandar of the Red Sails discovered 3 new and exciting islands with exotic goods to trade while avoiding the Black Squid of the Swift Tide and stranded John Barleycorn on the Island of the Unending Itch.
Winston Churchill once said something like "History will be kind to me for I intend to write it". The truth in Glorantha is different to each group even within the same locale. The only source of truth is the GM (and he/she isn't always telling).
Adding to Encounter Tables:
This is a subject I covered in the Chaosium Digest a while back but I thought it applies here too. When I GM I like to use encounter tables. I added to the encounter tables rumors. I use them to clue in players to what's going on but also to add color into the game. For example, Dermar Darkwater is out bar crawling in Pavis, when he enters the Kicking Llama bar . One of a group of a band of nomads sitting together says "I don't know why the Troll with the Aluminum shield has been buying plants from the Lunars but the matrix on his mace definitely is ..." and shuts up on seeing Dermar. This could be a complete fabrication but can Dermar afford to guess. Who would be interested in knowing this and what can they tell Dermar? Definitely a useful GM tool if handled properly. In my campaigns the best merchants traded in valuable information.
Tim Beecher (my opinions <> my firms opinions) "Robbing the Cradle is worse than Robbing the Tomb - Jim Croce, Car Wash Blues"
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.7 : Fri 10 Oct 2003 - 01:33:57 EEST