From: chalz@earthlink.net Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 9:56 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Surfing....... **** surfer myself I've also 'surfed' my fathers 40' sailboat down North Atlantic surges and picked up large amounts of speed.........natives will be using those BIG surges as transport!!! ** Ahh, yes. An old idea. The Aleuts ('native americans'/'indians' of the Alaskan coast) have been doing this for centuries. If you read Neal Stephenson's "Snowcrash", he has a good example of this. The one-man kayaks, paddle your way so you're back is to a rushing wave, get some speed up, then once the wave hits start paddling like there's no tomorrow. God way to get from one island to the next, but not too good for long-range travel. --Charles -------------------------------------------------------------------- Mail2Web - Check your email from the web at http://www.mail2web.com/ . *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: chalz@earthlink.net Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 9:54 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: RE: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Future Blue Planet Expansions **** few wander. Of course with satellite surveillance, is any place really secret? ** However, as I recall, it's specifically stated in the Player's Guide (or somewhere like that...) that satellite coverage is FAR from perfect or complete. For instance, not all of the more remote areas will have CommCore, cellular or even GPS coverage. Find a satellite hole, set up camp. If you anticipate satellite coverage to eventually hit that area, then you have time to build an underwater, underground or otherwise camouflaged facility. -C -------------------------------------------------------------------- Mail2Web - Check your email from the web at http://www.mail2web.com/ . *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: David R. Crowell [gpfarm-dave@northnet.org] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 8:43 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) As long as BP doesn't develop a metaplot that total alters the shape of the campaign setting. Palladium seems to be doing this with Siege on Tolkeen for Rifts (I haven't read it so I'm going on hearsay from other gamers), and DreamPod 9 has done it in Tribe 8 (a major reason I stopped getting books for that game). Jim wrote: * The first in the line of "Storm Series" campaign sourcebooks which will begin a trilogy detailing the growing political tensions on Poseidon. I have no problem with such a series of sourcebooks, in fact they sound quite interesting, as long as they don't fundamentally change the background for all future sourcebooks. Part of my objection to metaplots is that if you miss even one installment your campaign is for ever after playing "catch-up" while it drifts farther and farther from the official version. Metaplots also tend to make me feel as though events in my campaign now depend on events in someone else's campaign, this hurts my creativity. I am not saying that the BP setting should remain fixed, static and unchanging; just that radical alterations of the background should be kept to a minimum. In other words a new marshal could replace Marshal Church, but the GEO should not suddenly decide to replace the marshal system. Not the best example perhaps, but the best I can come up with at the moment. Fading Suns is a good example of the kind of evolution in game world background I like. Enough to give the sense of a living world, not so much you end up feeling lost or behind on events. ----- Original Message ----- From: Dom Twist To: Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 3:27 PM Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) > Mexal > >I find I > > try to get my paws on more supplements just so that what I write fits in > > with the rest of what has been published. > > This is why I like games that publish future time lines and let you (the GM) > know which way the Game world is headed.....its a major pain getting what > you've spent weeks or months creating blown away by the next source book. > > (Its called getting 'Gregged' over on the various > Chaosium/Issaries/GreenKnight/Other Chaosium Mutation lists due to Greg > Staffords habit of suddenly apearing with new ideas and directions for > Source material. GregS has even been known to Greg himself on occasion) > > DomT who spent months writing a scenario for FASA only to have them kill off > the Central motivator in another product. > > *************************************************************************** > To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com > with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. > > *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: David R. Crowell [gpfarm-dave@northnet.org] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 1:33 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Future Blue Planet Expansions > >What > > about the supplements hinted at on the Biohazard Games > > site? (Airlock, World of Hurt, Storm Surge, Aborigine, > > Wormhole...) Do Biohazard Games plan doing "regional > > sourcebooks" like the 1st ed. Archipelago, on regions like > > the Endeavor Islands, Darwin's Archipelago, the Southern > > Hope Chain, or those French-named islands (the Arc of > > Fire?)... and by the way, what's up with Shangri-La...? > > How many people live in those regions? I always got the impression that the > Archipelago was the only really settled part of Poseidon, and there were no > cities or major inhabited areas elsewhere. > > > Thanks for your answers, > > Vince > > > Gar There is a reference to people on Little Fish, but I think for the most part those are backwater areas, with perhaps a small Native village, or an Incorporate research station or mining operation. I too have gotten the impression that the significant settlement is in the Pacifica Archepelago. Perhaps we could see a "Backwaters" sourcebook giving a glimpse of the rest of the planet. *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Megan C. Robertson [mcrobertson@phoenix.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 6:07 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Future Blue Planet Expansions Greetings dear hearts. Glad to be of service, Dom. Maybe I'd better start in on one of these outlying places... Hugs and kisses, Mexal. PS. Yes, CD-ROM/laptop would be ideal. I think a lot of gamers are beginning to look that way... now we need to get the game companies on board because for obvious legal reasons I cannot pass around the ones I've made for myself... but will happily create RPG CD-ROMs on behalf of any who ask :-) *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: necrobob [necrobob@mail.compfxnet.com] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 5:01 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: Quick Bit of OT: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "chalz@earthlink.net" Reply-To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 23:49:57 -0400 > Quick off-topic. Not-so-quick. > I haven't really followed Palladium much, but from what I'm >hearing, they're basically putting out "bigger and badder", but not >better. More MDC, a dozen more barrels on the rail gun, that sort of >thing. They've done their share of this at times, but their recent problems in products aren't so much due to power creep as a sheer lack of quality. The Palladium as the munchkin's dream system is largely a stereotype. > People complain about this. My opinion: if you don't like the new >material, don't play it. People wonder why I quit buying Rifts books...I think it was about the time the Australia book came out. I said "alright, they've got people riding giant mutant kangaroos on the cover. I ain't buying it.". Since then, the only Palladium books I've bought have been for Heroes Unlimited (and Systems Failure). -Necromancer Bob *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: necrobob [necrobob@mail.compfxnet.com] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 4:50 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "ChrisTheS" Reply-To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 20:47:45 -0700 >chance that they might be interested in playing it. The answer is >invariably 'no,' which is why I don't buy all that many RPGs anymore. Wuss. I don't even have a regular group (the closest I have is a couple of people I can pound on at Mage Knight occasionally) and I usually end up with a couple of books every few weeks. But then, I'm a tad obsessive. -Necromancer Bob *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dom Twist [thazar@globalnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 4:29 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Future Blue Planet Expansions > In terms of settlement, Many of the legends and stories grew up around such trips. > Thanks a zillion Mex' That was EXACTLY the type of thing I meant. It's a fair way out to the outer Isles we havent had detail yet.........but I suspect wander-lust if not population pressure will have natives out there...... DomT *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dom Twist [thazar@globalnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 4:27 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - World of Hurt > Rulebooks survive quite well here - a) they get read once and referred to > only occasionally thereafter and b) all are being transferred onto the > computer as time permits (it's far easier to refer to them when writing that > way!). My own rule books do pretty well.....I have a semi-eidetic memory (I have full recall except tables.......I envy you Mexal) but they tend to get damaged hauling them to clubs.........and players do like to see the actual books!!!! Cd-Rom and a laptop would be a better solution.... DomT *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Megan C. Robertson [mcrobertson@phoenix.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 3:19 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - World of Hurt Greetings dear hearts. Well, no SHADOWRUN tonight (the DM's wife is still poorly) so Stripe, my tiger shapeshifter phys-ad, will have to wait until next week.... Rulebooks survive quite well here - a) they get read once and referred to only occasionally thereafter and b) all are being transferred onto the computer as time permits (it's far easier to refer to them when writing that way!). If 'the powers that be' are listening and want a CD-ROM version of BLUE PLANET, they know where to come :-) Hugs and kisses, Mexal. *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Megan C. Robertson [mcrobertson@phoenix.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 3:27 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Future Blue Planet Expansions Greetings dear hearts. Funnily enough I do know a fair bit about Polynesia and Micronesia pre and post European visitation. Friend was out there on a survey ship and I did the background research for her as satellite-uplink internet at $1 a minute wasn't much fun :-( Was there anything in particular you wanted to know about it? In terms of settlement, you'll likely find many small scattered enclaves of just a few folk, who keep in touch by boat and who get together every so often for really wild beach parties. While a lot of fishing is done locally to where you live, taking a long trip - to other islands, say - is a frequent event... sort of, I fancy some of those nice lemony-tasting blue melon-like fruits that grow on that island over there, so hop in the canoe and go over there to get some, come back and eat them for dinner. No matter that it was a 2-hour boat trip each way to get them. Many of the legends and stories grew up around such trips. Hugs and kisses, Mexal. *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dom Twist [thazar@globalnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 3:25 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Surfing....... A previous comment of mine just triggered a thought.... 'Still its a great looking book and when I finish surfing I'll finish reading it.........' Ok.........I live in Cornwall UK, which although it isnt Hawaii, California etc is the surfing capital of the UK............the Surf on Posiden has just got to be MEGA!!!!!!!!! Those Noah storm surges coming up from the deep Ocean and hitting the shallow costal plain have got to produce MONSTER waves...............and someone is going to be on a board riding them!!!!!!!!!!!! Although I'm no surfer myself I've also 'surfed' my fathers 40' sailboat down North Atlantic surges and picked up large amounts of speed..........natives will be using those BIG surges as transport!!! DomT From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 2:45 PM To: 'blue_planet@lists.ient.com' Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Future Blue Planet Expansions > -----Original Message----- > From: vincent.lefavrais@freesbee.fr > Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Future Blue Planet Expansions > > Hello everyone! > Welcome. > Sorry if it's already been asked before, but I'm new to > this mailing list and I don't feel like sorting through > the whole archive to find an answer... > The last note I've seen was from Greg dated the end of February. So I'll reiterate below the upcoming schedule. And no, the list on our website is rather old and on my list of things to update. > What are the next BP expansions in the work? > Next up is the Cetacean sourcebook. As Gareth said, this week it's being called "Ancient Echoes" (although I still like "Fin", single world titles are out). * Ancient Echoes - Cetacean sourcebook. * Black Crusade - GEO Internal Security vs. Incorporate Espionage/Covert Ops campaign book. * Airlock - a book of deckplans and detailed descriptions of Prosperity Station, Rock Bottom, an interstellar torchship, a deep-sea research station and other vessels and facilities. * The first in the line of "Storm Series" campaign sourcebooks which will begin a trilogy detailing the growing political tensions on Poseidon. > Do Biohazard Games plan doing "regional > sourcebooks" like the 1st ed. Archipelago, on regions like > the Endeavor Islands, Darwin's Archipelago, the Southern > Hope Chain, or those French-named islands (the Arc of > Fire?)... and by the way, what's up with Shangri-La...? > The Pacifica Archipelago is "the most heavily populated" region on Poseidon. It's by no means the *only* populated location. However given the distances involved and the danger of long range oceanic travel ... As far as I know we don't have any other regional sourcebooks on the production schedule. Of course we've been influenced on that topic before (the Access Denied gamemaster screen for example). Certainly there are other colonized regions and what better way for an Incorporate with something to hide to lose itself than in the outback where few wander. Of course with satellite surveillance, is any place really secret? Jim Jim Heivilin, Webmaster Biohazard Games http://www.biohazardgames.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dom Twist [thazar@globalnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 2:34 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - NS in the UK, initial impressions Andrew > Ok, so I'm now the proud owner of a copy of Natural > Selection, just in time for the weekend :) Likewise........and I stalled my players on Wednesday so I can use it next session!!!! I mirror Andrews comments.....its a great book. My only minor disapointment is the lack of 'fine grain' detail. Its great knowing what makes the weather or forest tick but I'd like to know more about what the trees look like.....if you follow me. The Taconomy (sp?) is a good start on this one but I'd say the creature guide, although less 'Monster Manual' than any other such I can think off, did rather focus on threatening/odd things. I'd like to know more of the plain jane stuff is like. What does a leaf on a average tree look like? The odd little differences that make for colour and 'we arnt in Kansas anymore....' feel on not being on Mother Terra anymore. Still its a great looking book and when I finish surfing I'll finish reading it......... DomT *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dom Twist [thazar@globalnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 2:46 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Future Blue Planet Expansions >> on regions like > > the Endeavor Islands, Darwin's Archipelago, the Southern > > Hope Chain, or those French-named islands (the Arc of > > Fire?)... and by the way, what's up with Shangri-La...? > > How many people live in those regions? I always got the impression that the > Archipelago was the only really settled part of Poseidon, and there were no > cities or major inhabited areas elsewhere. Very good questions indeed!!! Anyone know anything about Polyenesian population dynamics pre-european contact? However I would imagine these areas are VERY sparsely populated with natives......however they may well be home to a few Incorperate/GEO holdings...nothing like a little isolation to keep unwanted eyes away!! Speaking of sparse populations anyone ever read 'Wind Haven' by George Martin and Lisa Tuttle? Published back in '80 its premise is a abandoned coloney on a mostly water world where the colonists scavange and adapt high tech items from the original ship etc to survive on their new home.....its set well after their culture has developed and evolved. It was originally three stories published in Analog mag in the 70's. I wonder if the WindHaven name is a co-incidence.......no dolphins on Windhaven mind! DomT *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 2:33 PM To: 'blue_planet@lists.ient.com' Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - NS in the UK, initial impressions > -----Original Message----- > From: Andrew Sturman [mailto:andrew_b_sturman@yahoo.co.uk] > Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - NS in the UK, initial impressions > Just skimmed it on the tube this morning, and my > congrat's to the author team and FFG. IMHO it's the > best BP supplement yet, and really differentiates the > line from other SF games - who may have equipment > guides, LE books(JC solarpol comes to mind), and > cityguides, but an ecology guide? > I'm gratified to hear everyone say good things about Natural Selection. I haven't had the time to dig into it yet but then I *already* know how Jeff writes. And keep in mind this is his forte (his thesis was on the Missouri Kite and he spent, IIRC some 18 months tracking and studying them in the bootheal of Missouri). > It also really emphasises the multitude of ways the > wilds of Poseidon can kill you if you're not careful > and/or lucky. > I knew that from the first playtesting session, oh those many years ago. I remember looking out over the water above the research facility we had been hired to provide topside security for (Orcas were handling downside security) thinking "There's Bad Things(tm) down there!". Jim Jim Heivilin, Webmaster Biohazard Games http://www.biohazardgames.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dom Twist [thazar@globalnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 2:27 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) Mexal >I find I > try to get my paws on more supplements just so that what I write fits in > with the rest of what has been published. This is why I like games that publish future time lines and let you (the GM) know which way the Game world is headed.....its a major pain getting what you've spent weeks or months creating blown away by the next source book. (Its called getting 'Gregged' over on the various Chaosium/Issaries/GreenKnight/Other Chaosium Mutation lists due to Greg Staffords habit of suddenly apearing with new ideas and directions for Source material. GregS has even been known to Greg himself on occasion) DomT who spent months writing a scenario for FASA only to have them kill off the Central motivator in another product. *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dom Twist [thazar@globalnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 2:21 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) Troy > I was so impressed with the synergy system though, I am sure it has > flaws, but I haven't found them yet. Ditto. Its rules lite system so the holes are in lack of coverage rather than glaring snafu's........character development is a bit weak if you ask me...but I've already posted on this one. You like GURPS? Deviant scum...burn him burn him!!! Heh....I can see its attractions I guess...but I hate it. Its like Marmite I guess......love it or hate it. DomT founder antiGURPS Federation *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dom Twist [thazar@globalnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 2:15 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) Luke:- > I agree that Blue Planet art is not great but it is consistent and I think > the shady water colours which are often use suit the feel of the game. I > like consisten use of the same artists (provided they are good ones) > Art that suits the subject matter is my bigge.......however cool interior art is great to use as player reference...'What does my new car look like?' etc, this esp true when running demo games. Use of consistant artists is a very good point.......ones that read the product are invaluable as long as they are moderatly talented (speaking as a man with NO artistic talent whatsoever!)......the most annoying art in CP2020/SR is stuff that is either totaly 'game' based but BAD or great art but totaly NOT in keeping with the game. I must say the odd peice of 'clip' art in BP with people in conventional Scuba gear grated a bit. DomT(still hasnt got over the habit of Brit Sci-Fi publishers of sticking generic art on book covers) *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dom Twist [thazar@globalnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 2:06 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - World of Hurt Mexal > Gus, I last played CYBERPUNK 2020 last night; Never played a game (its sits on myshelf 'cos a) I picked it up cheap and b)its a reference for other CP games and c)I refuse to GM ANOTHER game and my fellow GM's just havent got organised...... >and I hope to play SHADOWRUN tomorrow GM it every Sunday at the mo........games tend to live on wellllllll after outfits stop printing/advertising. Heck how many people are still playing 1st Ed AD&D? I only stoped playing 'Classic' Traveller because I was scared of hurting the books....Ditto Falkenstein (anyone got a copy of CF rules for sale......that ISNT falling to peices?) DomT *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dr Ian McDonald [ian.mcdonald@iname.com] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 1:36 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - World of Hurt If you want to garner people who haven't bought BP, then I'd suggest including the rules in "World of Hurt" and putting "All the rules you need to know" on the cover. Brian McNeilly wrote: > > > I guess if WoH had 'ALTERNATE CAMPAIGN SETTING' on it it > > might grab the non-BP players.....and BP players will at > > least read the blurb which lets you make the pitch for it > > being the 'Earth Book' for BP. > > Why does WoH have to be an "alternate setting"? In my mind Earth and > Poseidon together make up a complete setting, since there is interaction > between the two, and almost all of what goes on on Poseidon is influenced by > the people that have come from earth. If the product is advertised as an > alternate setting, some negative thoughts could cross the minds of potential > customers: > > (a) I like BP, so I don't need an "alternate setting". > (b) Have they stopped developing BP in favour of the "alternate setting"? > (c) They are spreading themselves too thin with all this "alternate" stuff, > so none of their settings are worth playing. > > I would be happy to see WoH as simply another expansion book which adds to > the current setting, rather than competes with it. > > Cheers, > Brian > > Brian McNeilly, Software Designer > Altus Solutions Incorporated > Suite 250, 4190 Still Creek Drive > Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5C 6C6 > mailto:brian.mcneilly@altus-solutions.com > *************************************************************************** > To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com > with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. -- Ian McDonald http://www.tardis.ed.ac.uk/~type40/alternative.html http://travel.to/startrekcolony - Star Trek: Colony site & .mov http://www.tardis.ed.ac.uk/~type40/who-rpg.html - Dr. Who RPGs *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Sir Charles [chalz@earthlink.net] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 1:33 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) > Stop stealing my brain! But it's so pink and juicy! > latest rules upgrades and essential new rules into supplements that > otherwise would have little or no interest to the general body of players. I > would prefer that rules upgrades be saved for a rules companion supplement, > not stuffed into what ever the next book off the presses is. At least BP This strikes me as bad practice in general, though. Because, if one person in the group has the latest rules addendum, and no one else does, what then? Or only the GM has them; the players can't very well check up on the new rules anytime they wish. I have to agree with Dave. > has, so far, not headed down that road. A Moderator could get along quite > well without most (any?) of the BP supplements. In my own case I would have > been less likely to buy FJ if my players had not decided to live on the > wrong side of the law. Thpbpbppbt ;) It was one of your suggestions ;) > I find GMing in game worlds that have been detailed by other people down to > the last shopkeeper to be very constraining. It is hard for to find room to > shoehorn in my own plots and characters. Of course with such a tightly > detailed background one of two player reactions generally occurs, either > they have memorized the background and go into fits every time you deviate > from it, or they completely ignore the background (the same minutely > detailed one that you worked so hard to weave your plots into). My opinion is that you should have a sort of amalgam. For instance, we have Marshall Church, and he's well detailed, but his lieutenants and underlings are not. His superiors are not either. Landmarks, big stores, popular shops, infamous fences and such should be, perhaps, detailed, but leave enough area such that these 5 blocks here are just labelled 'commercial' - you can put whatever you want in there. Not too constraining, but not too loose, either; otherwise the GM spends more time filling in the world than working on the plot. Dave did something I kind of liked. He asked us each to come up with contacts, friends, associates, cronies etc in various parts of the Archipelago which relate to our past. Ie, if you've never been to Dyfedd, how is it you know Jones the Dealer there? However, if you grew up in Kingston, chances are you know a good number of folks around there. -C *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dom Twist [thazar@globalnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 1:38 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - World of Hurt and Horror > In short, if you want to see BP in the top 10 games > played list, then run Blue Planet. Run it at cons. > Run it in stores. Run it for the local club. The more > it is played, the more likely other people will start > running it. This is indeed true. However you have to have both a game world and rules system to back it up (which of course BP DOES have). I'm a HUGE fan of Greg Staffords Glorantha setting......I payed cash up-front to help develop the new R.Laws written Hero-Wars system set in the same world as late lamented Rune Quest........and the system just doesnt have what it takes to pull in players, in my neck of the woods anyway. Since its launch I (and my local Gamestore/Games Venue owner) have been pushing it hard.......demo games at local tourneys, clubs etc. Nada. I've bought 2/3rds of all the HW stuff the store's ever sold. And to be honest I still run RQ in preference. I spent ONE afternoon pushing BP and I had players beating a path to my door (and had to start up a mid-week game) and the shop had several orders for PG's on the spot. (from people NOT playing in my mid-weeker) DomT *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Dom Twist [thazar@globalnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 1:25 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - World of Hurt and Horror Gar > > Hmmm I agree with most of this........however I dont want to see BP become > > one of the BIG RPG's if you're talking about D&D or Vampire+co.......to > put > > it bluntly to apeal to a mass market you have to pander to the munchkin's > > needs..... > > No, you don't. I'm sorry, but this is a stupid misconception. > I couldnt disagree more strongly. We obviously are coming at this from radicaly different standpoints and this is not the place to discuss the failures of WW or their descent into 'Twinkieness'.....however I feel I am correct and have plenty of evidence to back up my statement......we can take it off-line if you want.... My original point stands........BP as it stands does not have what it takes to 'Mass-Market' the way Vamp, D&D 3e etc has.....and I for one dont want to see it go that way. Big Books full of pictures of weapons, for example, belong in different game systems (where I'd happily buy them....).......although of course that does make it in-convieniant for those Law/Crime based campaign GM's who want distinctive ballistics..... DomT *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Angus McNicholl [darthgus@lineone.net] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 11:57 AM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) Gus: Again I'm in agreement... Rifts has a great concept but has been ruined by the rubish that Palladium has added to it... and a terrible system. So of late I've been working on my own game that follows a similar idea, much better... Gus... http://website.lineone.net/~darthgus/index.html > Ah, yes...there's the rub. I love the concept of Rifts (note here folks: > it's not in all capital letters, nor is it supposed to be), but I hate where > they've taken it (crap books). And that Der Fuhrer (aka Big Kev) wants to > focus on it instead of their other, more worthwhile games (like Heroes > Unlimited and Nightspawn). > > Heck, I've been spewing that sort of venom on the Palladium list for a year > or two now...might as well import it here. That list is full of Kevin S.'s > ass-sucking toadies who think everything he writes is the greatest thing > since crunchy over-sweetened cereal. I'll have to head back there sometime. > ____________________ > Necromancer Bob > > *************************************************************************** > To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com > with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. > > *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Angus McNicholl [darthgus@lineone.net] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 11:31 AM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) Gus: My, my its like reading my bio, I'm in complete agreement with everything yo've said here. Though as awriter myself I place (as a matter of personal pride) that the game mechanics should be slick, fast and easy to learn, there really is no excuse for a poor system (and I have resigned from projects for just that reason...) Gus... http://website.lineone.net/~darthgus/index.html ----- Original Message ----- From: David R. Crowell To: Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 1:23 AM Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) > Art, cover or otherwise very rarely prompts me to buy a game. Most of my > game aquisitions are based on how appealing I find the world system to play > in. (Tribe 8, Dying Earth, DeadLands, Fading Suns and Blue Planet all have > shelf space at my house for this reason). Gameline development is important > to me as well (why I stopped playing RIFTS, Stopped playing White Wolf, > Stopped playing D&D). Game writing can also be a factor (I find GURPS > universally unreadable, as well not caring for the mechanics). Game > mechanics are a factor but a minor one. I used to play ICE and FGU games! > Perhaps because of this I now favour minimalist rules such as Synergy that > use one or two common mechanics to resolve most every task, I was a big fan > of the Storyteller mechanics as well. > > > > > *************************************************************************** > To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com > with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. > > *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Gareth Hanrahan [hanrahag@iol.ie] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 11:50 AM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Future Blue Planet Expansions > What are the next BP expansions in the work? The next books are Black Crusade (incorporates) and the Dolphin sourcebook, which has gone through any number of title changes, but is called Ancient Echoes this week. :-) >What > about the supplements hinted at on the Biohazard Games > site? (Airlock, World of Hurt, Storm Surge, Aborigine, > Wormhole...) Do Biohazard Games plan doing "regional > sourcebooks" like the 1st ed. Archipelago, on regions like > the Endeavor Islands, Darwin's Archipelago, the Southern > Hope Chain, or those French-named islands (the Arc of > Fire?)... and by the way, what's up with Shangri-La...? How many people live in those regions? I always got the impression that the Archipelago was the only really settled part of Poseidon, and there were no cities or major inhabited areas elsewhere. > Thanks for your answers, > Vince Gar http://www.mytholder.f2s.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: vincent.lefavrais@freesbee.fr Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 9:06 AM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Future Blue Planet Expansions Hello everyone! Sorry if it's already been asked before, but I'm new to this mailing list and I don't feel like sorting through the whole archive to find an answer... What are the next BP expansions in the work? What about the supplements hinted at on the Biohazard Games site? (Airlock, World of Hurt, Storm Surge, Aborigine, Wormhole...) Do Biohazard Games plan doing "regional sourcebooks" like the 1st ed. Archipelago, on regions like the Endeavor Islands, Darwin's Archipelago, the Southern Hope Chain, or those French-named islands (the Arc of Fire?)... and by the way, what's up with Shangri-La...? Thanks for your answers, Vince *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 8:50 AM To: Blue Planet List (list, blue planet) Subject: [FWD] [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) > -----Original Message----- > From: "Elizabeth Rees" > To: > Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) > Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 22:13:40 +0100 > > I bought Blue Planet because the setting was interesting and > appealing - a > water world, dolphins, the incorporates, and the mystery of > the Creators. I > bought v1, and when I described it to one of my friends he > bought it too > (but only v1). If I had seen World of Hurt I would have been > less likely to > buy it (but if it was made to sound interesting...). I would > be more likely > to buy WoH now as a supplement, but if it is published as a > supplement it > should be a big one - as big as possible. There is an awful > lot to cover in > the Sol system, and I was rather disappointed by the slimness of First > Colony. I am more likely to buy a big book, even though it > costs more - a > big book looks more impressive, it shows that the creators > have put a lot of > work in. > > On a different note, I am very tired of Shadowrun. Shadowrun > is popular > where I live, which I don't think it deserves. Maybe it's > just the way I've > seen it played, but combat is long-winded and tedious; it's > like 'D&D in the > future' - you've got magic, monsters and elves and dwarves. Instead of > raiding dungeons, killing monsters and finding treasure, you invade > corporate facilities, kill the guards, and steal data or items. > > Elizabeth R. > *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 8:49 AM To: Blue Planet List (list, blue planet) Subject: [FWD] Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Reasons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) > -----Original Message----- > From: "John Robertson" > To: > Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Reasons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) > Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 00:13:52 +0100 > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Well, I buy them because I see them in the store. I read > the > blurb and before I know it its in the bag and on the way > home. I used to read reviews in Dragon (and others) > but its now a company mag and D&D only. > The first purchase was Traveller after I'd played May-Day > and read the review in White Dwarf. > I bought Blue Planet because it looked good and I tend > to buy most like that. Incidentally, the water world stuff > doesn't particularly inspire me but the quality of the > books > are nice. I await the Earth book with anticipation. > Check out 'Metabarons'. Nice, flash, lovely production > but I have *no* idea where it came from. I buy anything > from GURPS that looks vaguely interesting and stuff that > looks cool, like BESM and Hero Wars. The new D&D > 3rd Ed is awesomely good. I bought just about everything > for Shadowrun (great ideas, crap system). Aria looks > good but tends to be pretentious waffle. I also but > anything that comes out for Mage. > > I have to agree on your point regarding Palladium stuff. > > Any other recommendations would be appreciated. > > - ----- Original Message ----- > From: "necrobob" > To: > Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2001 8:53 PM > Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World > of Hurt) > > > > ---------- Original Message > > ---------------------------------- From: Troy Gustavel > > > > Reply-To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com > > Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 12:22:10 -0700 (PDT) > > > > >Myselft I buy games based mainly on word of mouth. > > > > Happens with me, too. First I got Fading Suns, 'cause > > one of HDI's booth monkeys at a con pointed it out to me > > (yeah, I didn't actually buy it until two years later and > > I got utterly disgusted with the heaps of fecal matter > > Palladium has been producing). Then, upon joining the > > F-Suns mailing list (plug!plug!plug!), I heard about some > > other games...Blue Planet and 7th Sea are the two big > > ones, but I've probably bought a couple more games > > because someone on various lists (mostly that one) > > plugged for them. And I've been doing my best to plug > > all of those on the Palladium list (as a helpful > > alternative to the refuse that unfortunate company is > > spewing). > > > > I've also tried to start hunting down newer or > > semi-obscure games, just to build up business for > > lesser-known companies that have a good product and need > > the business...found a couple of interesting ones, like > > Junk. That's a neat game. > > > > Then again, I'm gullible and vulnerable to post-hypnotic > > suggestions. > > > > -Necromancer Bob > > ********************************************************** > > ***************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail > > to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe > > blue_planet' as the body of the message. > > > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: PGPfreeware 7.0.3 for non-commercial use > > Comment: So I may be paranoid but am I paranoid enough? > > iQA/AwUBOvsgpFs/Q8kFa+f4EQISCQCg6Rtyo2/xwu/3QwAjFR88S2BC42YA > niBg > 0c/zq4wf9P6reWAMTgbbdcjv > =RcuL > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: David R. Crowell [gpfarm-dave@northnet.org] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 6:16 AM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) Stop stealing my brain! I long for the good old days when RPG supplements were just that, supplements. Certain compainies have made a near art form out of putting the latest rules upgrades and essential new rules into supplements that otherwise would have little or no interest to the general body of players. I would prefer that rules upgrades be saved for a rules companion supplement, not stuffed into what ever the next book off the presses is. At least BP has, so far, not headed down that road. A Moderator could get along quite well without most (any?) of the BP supplements. In my own case I would have been less likely to buy FJ if my players had not decided to live on the wrong side of the law. I find GMing in game worlds that have been detailed by other people down to the last shopkeeper to be very constraining. It is hard for to find room to shoehorn in my own plots and characters. Of course with such a tightly detailed background one of two player reactions generally occurs, either they have memorized the background and go into fits every time you deviate from it, or they completely ignore the background (the same minutely detailed one that you worked so hard to weave your plots into). ----- Original Message ----- From: Megan C. Robertson To: Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 4:08 AM Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) > Greetings dear hearts. > > I think when deciding what game to buy (apart from "Have I any money?"), the > main thought is, "Do I want to go there?" > > If the concept appeals, then I'll get it. If I look at it and start having > ideas, well, that's what interests me. > > Game publishers must hate me, I do not often go further than the 'core > rules,' but that's mostly because I like writing... funnily enough, now that > I am doing more writing for a wider audience than the local group, I find I > try to get my paws on more supplements just so that what I write fits in > with the rest of what has been published. > > In some ways, LACK of line development is an advantage, more elbow room for > me to write :-) > > Hugs and kisses, > > Mexal. > > *************************************************************************** > To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com > with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. > > *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: David R. Crowell [gpfarm-dave@northnet.org] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 6:09 AM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: Quick Bit of OT: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs ----- Original Message ----- From: > **** My opinion: if you don't like the new material, don't play it. play the old material, and be happy. *shrugs* Restrict your players. Say "Okay, only characters, EQ and skills from this book, and books A-E. Nothing else." . > Okay, I'm done :) Note I've never GM'd yet, and am still 'inexperienced' in RPGing ;) This is just how it all seems to me. > > -C You may be new but you just made a point well worth repeating. *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Andrew Sturman [andrew_b_sturman@yahoo.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 4:14 AM To: bplist Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - NS in the UK, initial impressions Hi All Ok, so I'm now the proud owner of a copy of Natural Selection, just in time for the weekend :) Just skimmed it on the tube this morning, and my congrat's to the author team and FFG. IMHO it's the best BP supplement yet, and really differentiates the line from other SF games - who may have equipment guides, LE books(JC solarpol comes to mind), and cityguides, but an ecology guide? It also really emphasises the multitude of ways the wilds of Poseidon can kill you if you're not careful and/or lucky. Andrew ____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Megan C. Robertson [mcrobertson@phoenix.co.uk] Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 3:08 AM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Resons to buy RPGs (was World of Hurt) Greetings dear hearts. I think when deciding what game to buy (apart from "Have I any money?"), the main thought is, "Do I want to go there?" If the concept appeals, then I'll get it. If I look at it and start having ideas, well, that's what interests me. Game publishers must hate me, I do not often go further than the 'core rules,' but that's mostly because I like writing... funnily enough, now that I am doing more writing for a wider audience than the local group, I find I try to get my paws on more supplements just so that what I write fits in with the rest of what has been published. In some ways, LACK of line development is an advantage, more elbow room for me to write :-) Hugs and kisses, Mexal. *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message.