barbarianprincess

Ask JEDraft about his work and what ever. I'll begin

Do you use any game(play) rules when working script for The Challenges of Zona or other works?

How about all the battles and other situations in the comic, are any based on actual scenario/adventure that was once played?

Matti wrote:Ask JEDraft about his work and what ever. I'll begin

Do you use any game(play) rules when working script for The Challenges of Zona or other works?

How about all the battles and other situations in the comic, are any based on actual scenario/adventure that was once played?

Absolutely not.

Funnily enough, even though Zona herself was originally a product of the gaming experience, and I created a system to run her "find-yer-path" adventures in the first two books and the solitary gaming supplement, the web comic is completely stand-alone. The rules for magick in the previous system were pretty tame and not terribly exotic. It was the usual list of spells, none of them terribly powerful by the standard of what we're presenting right now, with a very simplistic percentile base for success versus modifiers. All that got thrown out the window for her current incarnation. In fact, if I ever get around to any D20-based supplements, it would be a clean slate, as the stuff that I had before really wouldn't fit with what I've established in the last 281 pages that Mentl, Tula, Gorshash or any of the users of Magick you'll meet in this world are capable of.

Part of it is that it is truly restricting, storytelling-wise. How, for instance, would I simulate the "intent" behind Mentl's enchantment? If, at some time, I do, it will necessarily remove some of the uncertainty about what he's capable of, how he can grow and what his limits are. The last thing I want to have is an argument where a reader takes me to task for violating the RPG rules that are based on the comic in the comic itself. As for the fights, the same holds true. Zona's original stats, while impressive, show her as only at the very edge of the normal human bell curve: A 95, while the strongest man would be a 100. I tossed that, because I want her to be literally superhuman, break iron manacles and toss tree trunks up with one hand. She has said that she has "all" of Zonn's legendary strength, and that still remains to be seen because the two have never met in Zona's adulthood. But if I actually assign a number to that, it limits me to only acts that are in that range, and makes feats of strength a foregone conclusion rather than having a bit more of a "gee whiz" moment when we see her do something that we weren't sure she could - or finally reach a limit that I am not prepared to show - yet.

So, there you have it!

JEDraft wrote:Part of it is that it is truly restricting, storytelling-wise.

I've read some novels, short fiction and fan fiction that are derived from game systems and some may be even based on actual gameplay. I gotta tell you it can be fun read something based on a game and realize that there are rules for that.

"It's a drive wheel," Corporal Reuben came back, his voice piped in from the rear section. "Left flank number three. We're slipping, but not too badly."

Sounds like tank has suffered motive system damage, slowing it down a bit.

She was hunched over her boards, the right side of her neck and the shoulder of her uniform shredded by shrapnel from an exploding monitor.

Commander Hit! Bad day for this tank crew

Not that I know much about RPG systems, but something like that would be good to see. Of course stories don't need stick by the exact word of rules... and hey, sometimes it's been taken around: what's written in novels and source materials have made it to rulebooks. In 1980's RVN-1X Raven with experimental ECM/Electronic Warfare was introduced to BattleTech game, but rules for that piece of equipment didn't come out until last year!

Matti wrote:

JEDraft wrote:Part of it is that it is truly restricting, storytelling-wise.

I've read some novels, short fiction and fan fiction that are derived from game systems and some may be even based on actual gameplay. I gotta tell you it can be fun read something based on a game and realize that there are rules for that.

"It's a drive wheel," Corporal Reuben came back, his voice piped in from the rear section. "Left flank number three. We're slipping, but not too badly."

Sounds like tank has suffered motive system damage, slowing it down a bit.

She was hunched over her boards, the right side of her neck and the shoulder of her uniform shredded by shrapnel from an exploding monitor.

Commander Hit! Bad day for this tank crew

Not that I know much about RPG systems, but something like that would be good to see. Of course stories don't need stick by the exact word of rules... and hey, sometimes it's been taken around: what's written in novels and source materials have made it to rulebooks. In 1980's RVN-1X Raven with experimental ECM/Electronic Warfare was introduced to BattleTech game, but rules for that piece of equipment didn't come out until last year!

I don't deny that fun can be had in this way, and any fiction has to be internally consistent to be enjoyable, no matter where the rules come from. But, as I said, this incarnation of Zona is completely new, and owes nothing in the plot, combat situations or rules of magick to RPGs. I haven't even personally played DnD in over a year, and even then we were more interested in the roleplaying aspect than the game mechanics and simulation. It kind of figures as we're a table of older players, not one of us isn't a big fan of Terry Pratchett. We're far more interested in a witty pun or a bit of clever byplay than we are in racking up points and tactical advantage. Our style of play might actually be pretty frustrating to hardcore gamers, but we just freewheel all over the map and try to act heroically. And if we fail, we try to fail in as spectacular and comedic a fashion as possible. Having your character die isn't a problem - having him die in a boring way is.

We've seen Zona and Tula tell Mentl about their world, tribes, customs, history and else. Just recently we've seen Mentl tell Zona about Oz. What else do they talk about around campfire? Does Mentl hear about adventures and battles Zona & Tula &their ancestors have been? Does Mentl tell stories about 300 Spartans, Conan the Kimmerian, Lord of the Rings and the likes? Does he still sing/play love songs? What else?

Mentl is a bit shy about singing just now, though he does play, and occasionally he can be cajoled into trying something harmless - or at least what he thinks is harmless. And they do talk about the worlds and each has stories to tell, though both are larded with phrases and slang that the other needs to have explained. Mentl doesn't necessarily tell a lot of stories about fictional heroes - he hasn't gotten that far, yet. He's telling about his family and friends back home - yes, he does have them. And he is trying to describe Earth and its people. That alone takes up a lot of time. They'll definitely be more informed about each other by the time they ride into the Valley Of The Moon.

The priesthood is not celibate, as Tula’s said. As Boric said, they cannot wear a chain or be exclusive because of one of their important duties. In Erogenian society sex and human physical contact is considered as important as food and water for keeping a body healthy. They consider that a fundamental right, and so if a member of the tribe is physically unable, as a result of circumstance - age, illness or injury, then one of the charities that the priest or priestess will perform is to take care of that person’s needs in a loving way. Naturally, not just anyone can go to Joe Moon Priest and make an appointment, and it’s always on a case-by-case basis. ( If you can’t get laid because you’re a jerk or don’t bathe, don’t come crying to me - have a clue and mend your ways. ) But as a result of this part of their vows, they cannot wear a chain for anyone.

This leads to question: are erogenian priestesses allowed to have children? Can they be hired to produce heirs to royalties and nobility like women of Bene Gesserit of other universe? (Dune)

Nothing to do with sex is ever bought or paid for. It's a horrible insult to suggest to an Erogenian woman that she give sex for money, or treat her body or a child as a commodity rather than a sacred gift. No, Priestesses traditionally do not have children, nor would they surrogate for someone else. And though they are usually very adept at preventing anything unwanted from occurring, occasionally mistakes or surprises happen. A child of such a union would be raised by the village, with the mother never having to shirk her duties as a priestess. Usually the father would be involved as well - it's just not a great stigma the way it is in our culture, even today.

Also, heirs to nobility are not as big a deal, either. A crown doesn't come with your genes. And Ipola knew very well that her throne was very much by acclamation rather than birth. Once she opened the Silver Tower, it was virtually unanimous that she be crowned queen.

About page 322. What I have learned from earlier pages about Erogenian culture, 1-on-1 situations like that between Yatta-ta and Zona are usually solved between them with little or no influence from others including her mother, sister and Mentl. Tula made exception by barging between Mentl and ASShole, likely to prevent Mentl from hurting the other guy too badly.

But this time Zona says: "Oh, help." Does that mean Mentl could kick Yatta-ta below his belt and tell him to stay away from his girl?

No, she's basically just appealing to the gods in the same way you or I would say "God give me strength," or something like that. Also, given the delusional nature of Yatta-ta's fixation, Zona is not obligated to fight him. Her "challenge" is obviously all in his head.

The picture of little Mentl just whacking him in the goolies is too funny, though. I chuckle, I laugh.

World used to have highly developed technology until some god (Moongod?) got pissed off by other god called Shuach and human technology got largely wrecked as collateral damage. Are there any leftovers of old technology, maybe still in working shape? Is there any technological resurrection as wheels are reinvented?

Now this is, or seems to be, fantasy world. But there are other fantasy worlds with (steam) tanks, primitive aircrafts, even mechas (often called golems) and electronic equipment. Such are in Slayers, Scrapped Princess, Warhammer Fantasy Battles (+ related video games), Warcraft and Star Wars.

Matti,

The era of the Erogenian Empire was one of advanced civilization and advanced magickal powers which they used as we would use high technology. There were highly advanced spells and magickal artifacts and alchemical compounds even for the most trivial daily use, but they did not solve their problems with electricity, steam power or internal combustion as we do. They powered themselves from Shuach Himself, and leached energies from the land, sea and air by magickal means. There are surviving artifacts from that time, and Gorshash has discovered or replicated some of them. They also developed highly sophisticated techniques for manipulating living things to create new species for their use. They also ported some creatures from the Otherwhen or the Deeps as slaves, guardians or beasts of war. Some of them were able to survive and breed even after the Erogenians fell. This is why, as Zona said, that in the deep places underground there's "... always something waiting to kill you."

JEDraft wrote:They also developed highly sophisticated techniques for manipulating living things to create new species for their use.

Chimeras?

They also ported some creatures from the Otherwhen or the Deeps as slaves, guardians or beasts of war.

Lesser demons?

Some of them were able to survive and breed even after the Erogenians fell. This is why, as Zona said, that in the deep places underground there's "... always something waiting to kill you."

Are the 'critters' (what Mentl burned with GREAT BALLS OF FIRE) those? How about the urrtts?

[edit]
It looks like all the people we've seen in the comic are or look like aryans. Maybe except Yatta-ta. So... what are the human races there and how are they spread?

I will reserve details on the types and specific origins of the created /spawned denizens of the Deeps and the Otherwhen. I would also like to just say categorically that I generally try to make my own monsters with their own names, attributes and taxonomy rather than simply use the Monster Guide. Erogenia is not DnD Universe or related to it.

But, the critters that Mentl toasted are originally from the Deeps.

You've seen a very small sampling of all the intelligent folks on the planet, and I don't think of Tethik or Maldik or Morcai as very Aryan. You've never seen a Sandak or any of the folks further south or north than the edge of the map, which is relatively small given the Earth-size of the planet. There are seas and islands and other continents and other races. Zona and company, though, have not yet been there. When they do, I will fill in the blanks, but until then we have only what we have.

Tula seems to be pretty good with throwing game pieces. Can she throw knives as well? How about melee weapons and unarmed combat?

What about other magick capable people? Are they trained, or can they be trained with use of conventional weapons? What about use of armor?

Can anyone learn use of magick? Who can and who can't learn it and why?