From: Greg Benage [gbenage@ix.netcom.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 2:58 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Metaplots (Was: Re: [BLUE PLANET] -Packages) -----Original Message----- From: Tun Kai Poh To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Date: Sunday, November 14, 1999 6:14 PM Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] -Packages >I _would_ like some idea of what kind of metaplot is coming up. I dunno how >many folks here read the RPG.NET forums, but my friend Kevin Mowery started >a 80-message thread on metaplots and their flaws...and I'd love to see what >Biohazard has to say about the thread. You're just trying to trick me into agreeing with John Wick. Very devious. ;-) Seriously, I think the problem isn't confined to "metaplots," but that's become the punching bag of the day. The real problem, insofar as there is one, is game settings that aren't 100% self-contained in a single volume. Problems of consistency and conformity of individual campaigns to "canon" can emerge whenever new, official information on the setting is developed once those campaigns are already underway. For example, anyone can look at the release schedule and see that we're planning to release a sourcebook on Haven. If someone is currently running a campaign based in Haven, and has done a lot of work on their own to develop the city beyond what is available in the main book, there's a good chance it will contradict some part of that upcoming sourcebook. Likewise, there's a good chance that ongoing campaigns will undergo a sort of technological revolution when Fluid Mechanics comes out. Why? Not because we've changed anything, but we've had a hundred-plus pages to detail available technology that we didn't have in the main book. I can see it now: "Mr. GM? Remember that time we were in the shit in the Sierra Nueva and you told us there was no way to fit a hover drone with a magnetometer sensitive enough to isolate and track human heartbeats? Well, according to FluMech, you were wrong. If we coulda done that, there's no way the damn natives could have ambushed poor ol' Jimmy..." New information added to a setting by the development of a metaplot can create some of the same pitfalls, but again, I don't think the pitfalls are unique to metaplots. In Blue Planet at least, I also think it's fairly clear where the "undiscovered country" of the metaplot lies, so it's fairly easy for the GM to steer clear of the pitfalls. That said, we'll do our best to develop the metaplot in a way that doesn't totally disrupt your campaign. Short of releasing the entire Blue Planet Opus as a 12-volume set, I'm not sure what else we can do. An overview of where things are going is a possibility in a future release, but don't consider that a promise. As a final note, I also think some of the criticism of metaplots (some, not all) is from a vocal minority that simply dislikes supplements. They'd rather see the complete game in one book and do any additional development themselves. For those, I hope BP and Archipelago gives them enough detailed information about the setting to get them off to a pretty good start. Hope this helps, Greg Benage Biohazard Games *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Tun Kai Poh [t_poh@hotmail.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 12:45 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] -Packages Rich said: >Ah yes. Of course the islands have not always been above water. I *had* >been >thinking that Poseidon does not seem to have that many land animals to make >land excavations worthwhile. > >Existing PC teams could be hired either as guides, transport or security >(or >all 3) for the dig. Here are some possible scenarios for a paleontological campaign...they need some work, but this is what I could think of on the fly: THE WHOLE TOOTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH A colonist living in the southern plains of Prime Meridian discovers a giant fossilized tooth of a previously unknown (and probably extinct) _leviathan_ species which may have been larger than the infamous _leviathan dominatus_. Soon, HIST, Biogene and Gendiver are funding rival expeditions to the region, in the hope of being the first to uncover more evidence of this "Greatest White"... GENEDIVING Incorporate miners discover a new deep-ocean colony microbe which creates resinous flows of a natural bioplastic-like substance as a side product of its own unique metabolism. During some rare periodic growth explosions of this microbe, entire acres of the seabed are covered by a thick layer of this resin. The Incorp's science department become interested when it is discovered that the resin has, in the distant past, trapped all sorts of extinct Poseidon species in its flows. Perhaps there are some organic remnants which can be brought back to life through genetic engineering? Naturally, rumors of the discovery soon reach the GEO, and a multidisciplinary team is assembled to quietly investigate the Incorp's activities. ...THAT CAN ETERNAL LIE (SPOILER for Archipelago's Kraken Access Denied, as well as the UC 5/6 adventure) An expedition is sent to a large icy land mass in the polar regions of Poseidon, to look at a glacial formation which may contain clues pointing to the cause of the last major extinction of surface life on Poseidon. After much digging, the researchers discover many ominous clues which suggest that virtually all lifeforms of that era larger than stick monkeys seem to have been killed off by some kind of "superpredator". Finally the party finds several perfectly preserved aborigine combat drones which were entrapped in glacial ice and went into hibernation. These precursors of today's combat drones were created by the aborigines in order to weed out virtually all land animals of their era as part of some mysterious directive of the Creators. They soon thaw out and continue with their last known programming... Kai Poh Malaysian Lagomorph ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Michael Czaplinski [MCzaplinski@NPR.ORG] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 6:59 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: RE: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Introduction and Insurgency > From: Jason Hockley [mailto:jh39@ukc.ac.uk] > > On Fri, 12 Nov 1999 09:57:01 -0500 Michael Czaplinski > wrote: > > > > >Like I just said....they'd all still be speaking German.... > > > > > > I bet we'd speak Russian instead. > > > > I vote we all speak Esperanto! > > > > KLAATU BARADA NIKTO!! > > Isn't it "Klaatu Herata Niktu" ? I'm sure I saw it > written down somewhere a while ago. I've only ever seen it spelled KLAATU BARADA NIKTO, and AFAIR, that is the official Esperanto spelling for "Klaatu says don't blow up the planet". MikeC *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:34 AM To: 'blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com' Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Stereotypes (was: Introduction & Insurgency) > -----Original Message----- > From: EndersWAR1@aol.com [mailto:EndersWAR1@aol.com] > Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Stereotypes (was: Introduction & > Insurgency) > > idea...and I think its silly that our government made that > abortion argument, since a large portion of the US is Pro > choice.... > It's not a question of representing the masses, it's a question of where the money is! Whose got the lobbyists with the best perks. > not to mention the SHEER idiocy of attaching one > thing to the other... > Since the politicians are unwilling to take responsibility for their actions, attaching something they (or the lobbyists who pay them) want to another bill allow them to point at someone else when asked why they voted for something their constituents don't want. > which makes us come out sounding like this "If you > people dont stop killing infants, we'll nuke them > till they glow......" > Many years ago when I was in high school (the 70s folks) my friends and I had a farcical saying, "We're going to make the world a better place to live in if we have to kill every man, woman and child to do it!" Of course the next saying was "Elect me Democratic Dictator." Don't you love our political system? It is, however, in some respects a reflection of our society. We as a people don't want to take responsibility for our actions (everyone is a victim). > defend us today...however, I am not blind and I dont agree > with alot of the things my government does... however, that > is the basis for our government > As long as you take action (voting) then you are doing what you can (unless you are crazy enough - or masochistic enough - to run for office). I forget who said it but if there isn't anything you want to vote for, surely there's something you want to vote against! Jim Jim Heivilin, Project Manager Systems & Applications Group, IAT Services University of Missouri at Columbia mailto:banzai@missouri.edu, 884-3898 *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:41 AM To: 'blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com' Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Stereotypes (was: Introduction & Insurgency) > -----Original Message----- > From: Chris Sakal [mailto:c_sakal@yahoo.com] > Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Stereotypes (was: Introduction & > Insurgency) > > That's just not true (the bit about business and why > the Japanese are better than we are, which also isn't true). > I *didn't* say the Japanese are better. I *said* that many Japanese businesses plan long range (years if not decades) whereas many American businesses don't. However, let me say that compared to other situations I've been in (the Army, Academia, etc.), I haven't been in the "business" world very much so my perceptions are limited. While I suspect there is ample evidence to support my position in any weekly business publication, I don't have a lot of facts to support this, just a gut feeling. > As for congress, yes - they do tend to be short-sighted, > but that's a problem with the system as well, they have > to get re-elected every 4 or 6 years (depending on what > house) so they have to have lots of concrete things to show their > constituents in that time. > Are you defending our politicians? *raised eyebrows* Though to be fair it is also *our* fault since we elect them either by voting for them or failing to vote at all. Jim *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:43 AM To: 'blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com' Subject: RE: RE: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Landsrechts (was "Flame the newbie!") > -----Original Message----- > From: Chris Sakal [mailto:c_sakal@yahoo.com] > Subject: RE: RE: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Landsrechts (was "Flame the > newbie!") > > >Take a good look at Sammo Hung. > > > >Then watch one of his movies or his tv show. > But if you do watch the TV show, do yourself a favor > and turn the volume off ^_^. > When I started watching it last season it was hilarious. Then the season ended and I watched the reruns. Before Arsenio Hall came. Not funny. Now this season they've ruined it again. Ah, well, at least Kelly Hu is eye candy. But it *is* an example of a large man who moves very fast. Jim *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Christopher Gribbon [c.gribbon@dundee.ac.uk] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:43 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Introduction and Insurgency >>Russian: Not an easy language to learn. > >I didn't find that a difficulty at all; a few phenomes happen further >down the throat, but the verbs are WAY easier than French (for a native >English speaker, anyway). Unless you're a Scot. Apparently a lot of the difficulty is that whole 'rolling-your-Rs' thing. Try Saying "It's a braw, bricht, moolicht nicht the nicht" without rolling your Rs. No wait - don't try, you'll just sound wierd... Christopher Gribbon Vision Research Laboratories Medical Sciences Institute University of Dundee Dundee DD1 5EH UK (01382) 344 229 ____________________________________________________________________ "A scientist is meant to be disinterested, pure; his ambition merely to descry the cement of the universe. He isn't meant to use it to start laying his own patio!" - WILL SELF, The Quantity Theory of Insanity *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:48 AM To: 'blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com' Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Introduction and Insurgency > -----Original Message----- > From: Nelson Lamoureux [mailto:haver@sympatico.ca] > Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Introduction and Insurgency > > Jim wrote: > > Not an easy language to learn. Primarily because (only my > > opinion) they don't use the Roman alphabet. The Cyrillic > > alphabet has something like 28 or 32 letters. All those > > extras seem to get in the way (at least when I was > > trying to learn it). It is an interesting language though. > > Doesn't have the same sense of time Latin based languages do. > Many good points Nelson. Perhaps what I *should* have said was that trying to learn Russian was harder FOR ME than the other languages I've tried to learn (Spanish in high school, French in college, and German while in the Army). I suspect if I tried to learn Arabic it would be more difficult for me. Jim *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Leif Magnar Kjønnøy [leifmk@pvv.ntnu.no] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:52 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Kentucky (was: Stereotypes) On Fri, 12 Nov 1999, Brian S Holt wrote: > Those of us who live in Kentucky could take offense at that statement. :) > Unfortunately, that stereotype has some basis the further east in Kentucky > that you go. If you ever see Kentucky on television (other than the > Kentucky Derby), you are most likely seeing Eastern Kentucky. Hey, I lived in central Kentucky for a year. Foreign exchange student in high school, 1989-90. Town called Berea, on what would be considered the outskirts of hillbilly country. Beautiful countryside, lots of purty young ladies. Too darn far from the ocean for my tastes though (descended as I am from a long line of fishermen etc. and grown up as I have in and around boats, which probably goes some way to explain why I'm so enamoured of Blue Planet). > Brian "Gotta go watch the moonshine still" Holt Y'all come back now, y'hear? Besides, I thought cannabis plantations were more important these days; the terrain seems tailor made for those as well as for stills.... Leif Kj{\o}nn{\o}y || www.pvv.org/~leifmk || Math geek and gamer ---------------------------------------------------------------- "Such is life upon the isle of torment and woe. One day good, one day bad. And some days even hope." (MDB) *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:54 AM To: 'blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com' Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Sammo (was: Landsrechts) > -----Original Message----- > From: Jason Hockley [mailto:jh39@ukc.ac.uk] > Subject: Re: RE: RE: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Landsrechts (was "Flame the > newbie!") > > On Fri, 12 Nov 1999 18:49:07 -0500 Chris Sakal > wrote: > > >Take a good look at Sammo Hung. > > > > > >Then watch one of his movies or his tv show. > > But if you do watch the TV show, do yourself a > > favor and turn the volume off ^_^. > > Actually I watched one episode of "Martial Law" (If > I've remembered the title correctly.) and I would have to > agree with that. Most of the films I've seen him in are > pretty good though. Your point is taken. > If you look at his work (say on imdb.com) you'll see he's done a *lot* of directing and (maybe) some producing as well as starring in these films. A very talented man. Jim *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:55 AM To: 'blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com' Subject: RE: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Introduction and Insurgency > -----Original Message----- > From: Jason Hockley [mailto:jh39@ukc.ac.uk] > Subject: Re: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Introduction and Insurgency > > Depending on when this was they may have been > having problems with terrorists too. When I pass through > Circa 1987 or so. Jim *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Christopher Gribbon [c.gribbon@dundee.ac.uk] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:53 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Kentucky (was: Stereotypes) >Edinborough (sp?) Edinburgh. >imagine a Scot from the poorer >bits of Edinborough (sp?) who makes Scot jokes Like Irvine Welsh? (oh - wait: those aren't jokes...) Or Billy Connelly, except he's from Glasgow. Christopher Gribbon Vision Research Laboratories Medical Sciences Institute University of Dundee Dundee DD1 5EH UK (01382) 344 229 ____________________________________________________________________ "A scientist is meant to be disinterested, pure; his ambition merely to descry the cement of the universe. He isn't meant to use it to start laying his own patio!" - WILL SELF, The Quantity Theory of Insanity *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: paulw@betanet.co.uk Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:56 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Stereotypes (was: Introduction & Insurgency) > > > That's just not true (the bit about business and why > > the Japanese are better than we are, which also isn't true). > > > I *didn't* say the Japanese are better. I *said* that many Japanese > businesses plan long range (years if not decades) whereas many American > businesses don't. > > However, let me say that compared to other situations I've been in (the > Army, Academia, etc.), I haven't been in the "business" world very much so > my perceptions are limited. While I suspect there is ample evidence to > support my position in any weekly business publication, I don't have a lot > of facts to support this, just a gut feeling. I read somewhere years back that after WWII, when Japan was rebuilding, firms like Sony and Hitachi set up working to a 50-year business plan. Long-term development is more common in Japan than the Western "think of what we can do next year" mentality. Cheers! Wiggy In the computer network business *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Brian Betty [bbetty@glad.org] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 10:00 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Changing Subjects On a new subject: Can we PLEASE try to be consistent with headers? If you tangent on a topic, note it. For example: Nuclear Test Ban (was: Insurgency) etc. Otherwise, what's the point of the otherwise useful SUBJECT line? Keep threads organised so's we can use 'em properly, right? I open a thread about Insurgency and 15 of them are a political discussion on the UN test ban, others on stereotypes of poor whites ("hicks"), and the rest are assorted offtopic musings. Makes it hard to use lah. It works real well on other lists I'm on IMHO ... Common courtesy, 'sall. Just my 2 cents worth. - Monkeygod (8-0) My big secret is gonna hover over your life -Fionna Apple *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:58 AM To: 'blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com' Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Kentucky (was: Stereotypes) > -----Original Message----- > From: Jason Hockley [mailto:jh39@ukc.ac.uk] > Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Kentucky (was: Stereotypes) > > On Sat, 13 Nov 1999 12:30:03 EST EndersWAR1@aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 11/13/99 10:08:06 AM Central Standard > Time, jh39@ukc.ac.uk > > writes: > > << Who is Jeff Foxworthy? >> > > Jeff Foxworthy is a comedian who does the "You might be a > > redneck if...." jokes > > Ah. I can't say I've heard many of these jokes but > as you say, they seem to be mostly relevant to people > around those areas. Is this all he does though? It seems a > little bit limited for a comedian if it is. > I saw him on Letterman or Leno or something a few years ago. One of the things he said was that he had gotten very tired of the redneck material. He had developed a lot of other stuff. But every time he did a live performance the audience would browbeat him into doing it (the redneck stuff) again. So it doesn't seem to be *his* fault if we see him as "limited", it's those damn pesky Americans again. Jim *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Brian Betty [bbetty@glad.org] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 10:04 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - *Off* New England Aquarium J Barber wrote: "I used to volunteer at the New England Aquarium when I was in high school." Check out their website at http://www.neaq.org , it's pretty sweet nowadays although still small. It also has a Legal Seafoods across the street, which was a lifesaver after watching the penguins get handfed for an hour. I never realised how much advertising can affect your brain - after watching penguins gulp down little silver-blue fish, I was *desperate* for a bucket of little blue fish. And I'm not a big seafood fan, either. I have therefore begun shielding my eyes during *all* television commercials. If watching a buncha furry dinosaurs from the south pole eat whole silver-blue fish can make me lust after a food I dislike, just imagine what real marketing does to your brain! - Monkeygod (8-0) My big secret is gonna hover over your life -Fionna Apple *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Christopher Sakal [c_sakal@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 11:30 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Stereotypes (was: Introduction & Insurgency) > Are you defending our politicians? *raised > eyebrows* Though to be fair it > is also *our* fault since we elect them either by > voting for them or failing > to vote at all. I wouldn't say that I'm defending politicians per se, but my point is that the system is pretty much set up to reward short-sightedness in the political arena, so it's no big surprise that's what we get. Politicians are human beuings (unless they also happen to be lawyers ^_^) and they react in much the same way that other people do, which is to say that the system probably has more of an influence than the individual politicans being stupid ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Auberon [jskln1@uas.alaska.edu] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 3:28 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Introduction and Insurgency Christopher Gribbon wrote: > > >>Russian: Not an easy language to learn. > > > >I didn't find that a difficulty at all; a few phenomes happen further > >down the throat, but the verbs are WAY easier than French (for a native > >English speaker, anyway). > > Unless you're a Scot. Apparently a lot of the difficulty is that whole 'rolling-your-Rs' thing. Some of it, but my main problem is that they love to change the *&@%^ roots when they change tense. > Try Saying "It's a braw, bricht, moolicht nicht the nicht" without rolling your Rs. > No wait - don't try, you'll just sound wierd... Errr, what's that, in American? *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: David Chart [hist@dchart.demon.co.uk] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 3:51 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Re: Metaplots I like metaplots. I think they're a good thing. That said, I think they're really hard to do well. It's hard enough to get player characters to do what you want for one session, never mind a whole campaign. And in a game in which the GEO Magistrate is a possible PC, you can't have 'politics they couldn't influence'. I'm not really bothered about official supplements contradicting what I've done. (On the other hand, I'd rather they either did all the work -- that is, ready-to-run -- or confined themselves to laying foundations (stuff player characters can know as well). Retrofitting the things in between irritates me.) The problem is that if the supplements move with the plotline, I find that after a while most of the supplements are no use to me, because they all assume that Dyfed sank in the big storm of 2200, while in my campaign the PCs managed to save it. I don't have a good solution to this. My inclination is to do all background books at campaign start date, and have 'plot books' that move it along, probably sorted by date, or with bits of the campaign in. Maybe that's just me. David Chart *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: John M. Kahane [jkahane@comnet.ca] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:53 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Meta-Plots Hullo, Kai, > On Mon, 15 Nov 1999 02:11:49 GMT, Tun Kai Poh wrote: >I _would_ like some idea of what kind of metaplot is coming up. I dunno how >many folks here read the RPG.NET forums, but my friend Kevin Mowery started >a 80-message thread on metaplots and their flaws...and I'd love to see what >Biohazard has to say about the thread. Frankly, the meta-plot seems to be something that very few roleplaying games do. And those that do them don't do them all that well. TRIBE 8 is an rpg that does this meta-plot very well, as does BLUE PLANET, but we're still largely in the dark about both meta-plots. Some GMs like this kind of thing, others don't. The real key here is not to let the meta-plot stifle one's thinking in the game, especially when you're a GM trying to run the game. Players, on the other hand, don't seem to worry about meta-plots as much as GMs do (which makes sense, when it comes right down to it), although my two gaming groups are exceptions to this rule...both like to try and figure out what's going on *long-term*; drives them crazy, of course, but that's the fun of it. ... If you're not part of the solution, your part of the precipitate. JohnK jkahane@comnet.ca http://www.comnet.ca/~jkahane *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: John M. Kahane [jkahane@comnet.ca] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:48 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Blue Planet Voodoo? Hullo, Jeff, >On Fri, 12 Nov 1999 01:09:26 EST, BIOHZD@aol.com wrote: >>When can we expect a new release of some kind for BP >We hope that Fluid Mechanics will be available in the early Spring, but >as should seem obvious, release dates in this industry are often only so much >voodoo? Ah, but Jeff, there is no voodoo in terms of the world of BP (although I suspect that it is probably practiced somewhere on Poseidon, since all the other crazies are on the planet as well....). Besides, the real magic would be to see copies of ACCESS DENIED up here in Canada. I know I would like a couple of these for myself, and the sf bookstore that I run is in need of some to sell to the public as well. :) ... Eternity is two people and a ham. (Dorothy Parker) JohnK jkahane@comnet.ca http://www.comnet.ca/~jkahane *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: John M. Kahane [jkahane@comnet.ca] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 10:04 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Meta-Plots and Self-Containment Hullo, Greg, >On Mon, 15 Nov 1999 00:58:18 -0800, Greg Benage wrote: >>I _would_ like some idea of what kind of metaplot is coming up. I >dunno how many folks here read the RPG.NET forums, but my friend >Kevin Mowery started a 80-message thread on metaplots and their flaws... >and I'd love to see what Biohazard has to say about the thread. >Seriously, I think the problem isn't confined to "metaplots," but >that's become the punching bag of the day. The real problem, insofar >as there is one, is game settings that aren't 100% self-contained in a >single volume. Problems of consistency and conformity of individual >campaigns to "canon" can emerge whenever new, official information on >the setting is developed once those campaigns are already underway. I think that the problem with games being self-contained, whether we're talking about rpgs, collectible card games, or board games these days, is something that isn't all that new. While the older rpgs were ready to play out of the box or plastic envelope, I think the games of today all suffer from this lack of self-containment in one volume. It's the old "for more information on see the Sourcebook" or whatever. That doesn't necessarily mean that the meta-plots aren't there or that they are there, merely that the self-contained games don't have the consistency over the course of the meta-plot (if such exists in a particular game). Other than BLUE PLANET, the only other rpg that is handling the meta-plot consistently is TRIBE 8. That has more to do with quality control of the product than anything else. One of the things I realised very early in my GMing life is that the only material that is "canon" in an rpg is that which the GM decides is canon. Of course, consistency within the campaign helps. I've had to do some retroactive continuity/consistency in a couple of campaigns I've run because of changes or clarifications about material from later supplements. >New information added to a setting by the development of a metaplot >can create some of the same pitfalls, but again, I don't think the >pitfalls are unique to metaplots. In Blue Planet at least, I also >think it's fairly clear where the "undiscovered country" of the >metaplot lies, so it's fairly easy for the GM to steer clear of the >pitfalls. That said, we'll do our best to develop the metaplot in a >way that doesn't totally disrupt your campaign. Short of releasing the >entire Blue Planet Opus as a 12-volume set, I'm not sure what else we >can do. An overview of where things are going is a possibility in a >future release, but don't consider that a promise. That would be a neat thing to see in a future supplement, although I don't consider it a necessity or something that is even desireable when it comes right down to it. Sure, some of the "undiscovered country" in BP is obvious, but that said, there are folks out there I'm sure who have no clue as to where things might be leading. But an adroit enough driver can steer around these pitfalls, as long as he or she sees them coming in advance... That's the real key to GMing, of course: thinking ahead. :) ... If you can't say something nice, say something surreal. JohnK jkahane@comnet.ca http://www.comnet.ca/~jkahane *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: John M. Kahane [jkahane@comnet.ca] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:46 AM To: Blue Planet Mailing List Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Return to the Fold Hullo ,folks, Well, after an absence of a year and four months or so, I've returned ot the BLUE PLANET fold. I trust the water is still warm, and the inhabitants are still temperate? ... Cuteness is okay, as long as something terrible happens to them. (JMS) JohnK jkahane@comnet.ca http://www.comnet.ca/~jkahane *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Andy Wills [andywills@home.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 6:17 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Distribution Problems "John M. Kahane" wrote: > Besides, the real magic would be to see copies of ACCESS DENIED up > here in Canada. I know I would like a couple of these for myself, > and the sf bookstore that I run is in need of some to sell to the > public as well. :) You're probably aware of this, but Blue Planet has distribution problems, at least in my area. The local game/comic store can't find Blue Planet stuff on their list to special order--I know, I tried. And they're fairly clued in, with games like Furry Pirates and Feng Shui. I'd prefer to support my local game shop, but they can't get it. Still, once my friend gets the four or five GEO shirts for our campaign, and I dress up in camos and a red beret, it will be worth it... -Andy *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Christopher Gribbon [c.gribbon@dundee.ac.uk] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 6:34 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Introduction and Insurgency >> Try Saying "It's a braw, bricht, moonlicht nicht the nicht" without rolling your Rs. >> No wait - don't try, you'll just sound wierd... > >Errr, what's that, in American? Well - it translates as: "It's a beautiful, bright, moonlit night tonight" Christopher Gribbon Vision Research Laboratories Medical Sciences Institute University of Dundee Dundee DD1 5EH UK (01382) 344 229 ____________________________________________________________________ "A scientist is meant to be disinterested, pure; his ambition merely to descry the cement of the universe. He isn't meant to use it to start laying his own patio!" - WILL SELF, The Quantity Theory of Insanity *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Christopher Gribbon [c.gribbon@dundee.ac.uk] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 6:32 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Meta-Plots and Self-Containment >Other than BLUE PLANET, the only other rpg that is >handling the meta-plot consistently is TRIBE 8. That has more to do >with quality control of the product than anything else. I know it's an unpopular choice of manufacturer, but I have to say that theWhite Wolf TRINITY metaplot is being handled quite well (maybe despite themselves...) > One of the things I realised very early in my GMing life is >that the only material that is "canon" in an rpg is that which the GM >decides is canon. But of course. Christopher Gribbon Vision Research Laboratories Medical Sciences Institute University of Dundee Dundee DD1 5EH UK (01382) 344 229 ____________________________________________________________________ "A scientist is meant to be disinterested, pure; his ambition merely to descry the cement of the universe. He isn't meant to use it to start laying his own patio!" - WILL SELF, The Quantity Theory of Insanity *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Brian McNeilly [brian.mcneilly@altus-solutions.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 6:58 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Distribution Problems I think many of the smaller game companies are suffering immensely because of distribution costs. Both ICE and Columbia Games no longer use distribution channels, preferring to sell directly to the customer. Recent advances in web commerce have opened up the direct sales market for many small companies, so that they don't have to rely on distributors to get their products out there. Most likely, your local game store will have to contact Biohazard directly to obtain their products. I actually prefer to buy direct since I know my money is going straight to the game producer, without being diluted by a distribution chain (in fact, I just mailed my order for Archipelago and Access Denied earlier this afternoon). Yes, I know that this is not great for my local game store, but if the stores want to sell the products of the smaller companies, they will have to order direct as well. If they choose to do this I will be happy to buy stuff off the shelves rather than directly from the producer. Brian McNeilly, Software Designer Altus Solutions Incorporated Suite 250, 4190 Still Creek Drive Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5C 6C6 mailto:brian.mcneilly@altus-solutions.com > You're probably aware of this, but Blue Planet has distribution > problems, at least in my area. The local game/comic store can't find > Blue Planet stuff on their list to special order--I know, I tried. And > they're fairly clued in, with games like Furry Pirates and Feng Shui. > > I'd prefer to support my local game shop, but they can't get it. > > Still, once my friend gets the four or five GEO shirts for > our campaign, > and I dress up in camos and a red beret, it will be worth it... > > -Andy *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Chris Sakal [c_sakal@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 6:53 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Trinity Actually, Trinity in general is quite a good game, much better than I would expect from Whitewolf - the developer is a cut above the world-of-darkness fare. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Nelson Lamoureux [haver@sympatico.ca] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 6:55 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - On languages (was Introduction and Insurgency) Jim wrote: > Many good points Nelson. Perhaps what I *should* have said was that trying > to learn Russian was harder FOR ME than the other languages I've tried to > learn (Spanish in high school, French in college, and German while in the > Army). > > I suspect if I tried to learn Arabic it would be more difficult for me. Thanx for the compliment. As for the arabic language, it would be difficult for all of us, english, french, german and spanish speakers. You see, arabic is part of the chamito-semitic group of languages, among which we also find hebrew and berber. On the other hand, french, english, spanish, german and even russian are all part of the indo-european group of languages. So, not only is arabic not even in the same family as english, it's not even in the same group. Linguists postulate the existence of about 5 to 10 groups of languages (indo-european, chamito-semitic, etc). The linguists also postulate that one proto-language was at the root of these groups when human first started to communicate with languages. In other words, there once was a language that we would call indo-european from which all the indo-european languages derive. I could probably go on and on about this, but it's neither the place nor the time. It leads me to a comment about how rpg integrate linguistic within the rules though. I've yet to see a convincing way to simulate how language acquisition work. Most of the time, it's only superficially looked upon and this seems strange for games that put so much emphasis on communication. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Nelson Lamoureux haver@sympatico.ca ArM Code 1.2 4+ R+ H+ SG++ G++ Y10 C-- FZ-- P+ HoH(B F+ Q) CD ------------------ «Si les choses étaient telles qu'elles apparaissent, la science serait inutile.» Marx *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Chris Stilson [crazycat@orcalink.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 8:26 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - On languages (was Introduction and Insurgency) Try Gaelic. Incredibly easy grammar structure, incredibly difficult pronunciation... Cad é mar atá sibh? Tá me go maith, ach tá mo Gaelige ní maith... (I THINK that's right... it's been a couple months since I had any practice with that language.) By the way, Gaelic is what some linguists are currently thinking is the direct descendent of the original indo-european language (not that it's saying very much... they used to think that German and Nordic were the originators, too). -- Chris the S. *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Tun Kai Poh [t_poh@hotmail.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 10:28 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: Metaplots (Was: Re: [BLUE PLANET] -Packages) That Greg Guy From Texas said: >New information added to a setting by the development of a metaplot >can create some of the same pitfalls, but again, I don't think the >pitfalls are unique to metaplots. In Blue Planet at least, I also >think it's fairly clear where the "undiscovered country" of the >metaplot lies, so it's fairly easy for the GM to steer clear of the >pitfalls. That said, we'll do our best to develop the metaplot in a >way that doesn't totally disrupt your campaign. And that's really all I ask, just don't invalidate a lot of campaigns by dropping an unexpected and major change into the game world with a supplement... >As a final note, I also think some of the criticism of metaplots >(some, not all) is from a vocal minority that simply dislikes >supplements. They'd rather see the complete game in one book and do >any additional development themselves. For those, I hope BP and >Archipelago gives them enough detailed information about the setting >to get them off to a pretty good start. I know Kevin loves a good supplement, it's probably just the unnecessary withholding of simple plot information to GMs of _certain_ games which he dislikes. Frankly, I'm glad you guys gave the GM plenty of detail about the aborigines rather than leave them as a complete mystery. That said, what I'm mostly concerned about is the possibility that BP 2nd Edition will advance the plotline by a number of _years_ and force campaigns set in 2199 to follow a rigid timeline to avoid disrupting the metaplot for, say, the official 2201 setting. Kai Poh Malaysian Lagomorph ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: BIOHZD@aol.com Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 10:40 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Native Language Drift Hey David, You ask a good question, making a realistic point about linguistic changes in Native culture. It would have been cool/interesting, but difficult to address this issue in the BP rules. Creating realistic linguistic elements would have been outside Biohazard's various abilities, and if done right (IMO) would have required a disproportionate number of pages in the book. It would also be impractical to expect moderators/players to actually learn linguistic rules and use them in play. In my take on BP, there are many new words/phrases that have been added to the various original Athena Project languages, but I suspect that these words would be shared among the various tongues. I would also think that regional accents, word usages, colloquialisms (sp?) would develop for all of the native languages and that old timers and scholars could tell where someone was from in the Archipelago by the way they spoke. FYI - We do offer a few BP slang terms on our website. Hope this helps, Jeff Barber Biohazard Games *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: BIOHZD@aol.com Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 10:41 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Metaplots/Big Secrets in BP [Long] Hey Kai, You ask about what Biohazard might have to say about metaplots and big secrets in game settings. I checked out the thread you mentioned on RPG.net and I have some comments to offer. [WARNING: As I wrote this post, it sort of got away from me, so be forewarned - it becomes a bit opinionated and rantish. Read on at your own risk...] First off, it never fails to surprise me how proprietary gamers can get about their favorite games. Some gamers actually seem to get insulted and can become accusatory when their favorite companies do something they do not like. They act as if their $25 investment gives them proprietary rights over the company's creative/business choices. In the RPG.net thread one poster went so far as to issue a "call to arms", encouraging folks to write/email/call their favorite game companies and give 'em hell. Maybe someone can explain this to me as I am at a bit of a loss... Let me offer an analogy: My brother and I like Nissan trucks, and this year there is a new paint color - a very bright lemon yellow. I think it rocks, but my brother hates it. My brother does not feel insulted or ripped off by Nissan. He would simply not buy that color vehicle. RPGs really should not be any different. They are products - you buy them or not, and find them worthwhile or not. Maybe it is the computer savvy, online forums and accessibility of game companies through the internet that make gamers feel so proprietary - I do not know. Specifically, the thread discusses two ideas common in RPGs these days, the "metaplot" and the "big secret." By and large the thread is critical of these concepts. Blue Planet contains both, and so I feel obliged to comment. Metaplot: Blue Planet has a basic and obvious metaplot - the struggle over the future of Poseidon. It is key to the background of BP and a major reason the setting is so versatile. The metaplot is not full of convoluted secrets, and just about any moderator/player should be able to guess where it is headed. The plot will also be advanced in big enough steps that such advancements should be less likely to contradict events in campaigns set in 2199. I therefore feel that the use of metaplot in BP is not gratuitous, and that it adds great potential to the setting without limiting a moderator's options. Big Secret: BP has a big secret - the aborigines. Well, our intent was not to jip customers, or lead them along bit by bit, hoping they would buy more books. Our intent was to add a level of genuine mystery to the world of BP for both players *and* moderators. In my opinion, the aborigines should never be an active part of a campaign, and if they are, then it should be only in enigmatic/plot device ways. Granted, they seem to appear in a lot of our convention demos, but that is salesmanship (more later). They rarely have anything to do with our in house games here at Biohazard. Let me offer another analogy. Remember the big "whale-song-cylinder-probe" in Star Trek 4. There was no explanation of it in the movie, no details, just cool, compelling mystery, and IMO this did not detract from the story. In fact, I would offer that it added to the quality of the story, as any detailed explanation would likely have rung hollow or been cheesy. To be perfectly honest, when BP has first conceived, we decided to include the complete game/world in the first book. We did not know how the game would be received, and so we wanted to make sure that it contained everything players would ever need in case we were financially unable to support the line with more books - that's why BP is so huge. In such an eventuality, the aborigines were intended to remain a permanent enigma - one that would offer a continuous source of wonder, speculation and mystery. IMO this is far more compelling than some throwaway explanation would have been. As long as I seem to be ranting, I have a couple more general comments about gamers perceptions, metaplots, etc. Several posts in the thread in question barked about price, and made it seem like metaplots were a scam to boost book sales. Well, just what is wrong with wanting to increase book sales? It seems like a lot of gamers would like to see companies give this stuff away. I suspect that very few gamers know just how expensive it is to put out an RPG, and just how marginal the profits, and the general market , truly are. I am always surprised that an RPG book over $20 is griped about, and yet people will drop $50 on the latest computer game with little thought. And, in the end, which provides more entertainment and replayability? For that matter, one RPG book can support a whole gaming group, while a single computer game usually supports only one player. I would offer one final comment on why metaplots are so common these days, one not touched on in the thread - interest and originality. It is a lot more interesting and motivating to work on a game setting that is evolving than on one that is stagnant and unchanging. It is also easier to come up with original ideas when there is a specific story to work with. Let's face it, the days of generic, open settings (a la earlier versions of D&D or Traveler) are long gone. Specific settings, rich with plot and story make for more interesting games, more diversity in the market and more choices for gamers. This is an important distinction, especially when you are talking about a hobby press like Biohazard. We have to work on BP in our free time, in addition to our day jobs, and so we deserve every edge when in comes to enjoying ourselves and finding motivation to keep working. The motivation certainly doesn't come from our meager-to-nonexistent financial returns. Er...ah...that went on much longer than I intended, but hopefully it provides some insight as to why the BP backstory is structured as it is, and maybe why, IMO, some gamers should reconsider certain attitudes. For what its worth, Jeff Barber Biohazard Games A quote from page 7 of BP: "In fact, this entire book should be considered just a guide, and any time a rule or mechanic gets in the way of adventure and fun you should feel free to ignore it, cross it out or (Creators forbid!) tear it out of the book. Remember Blue Planet is a game. Have fun, and try to make the game fun for those sharing it with you. The only rewards to be had from playing are the stories you take home with you, the experiences you share with your friends, and the chance to explore a world built of your own imaginations. As soon as you dive into your first adventure on Poseidon, Blue Planet is yours. Do with it what you will . . ." *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: BIOHZD@aol.com Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 10:41 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Looking For Sean Whipkey Hello Sean, If you are still on the list could you email me privately at this address. Thanks, Jeff Barber Biohazard Games *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Tun Kai Poh [t_poh@hotmail.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 10:45 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Return to the Fold > Hullo ,folks, > > Well, after an absence of a year and four months or so, I've >returned ot the BLUE PLANET fold. Welcome back! > I trust the water is still warm, and the inhabitants are still >temperate? Yeah. I tried to write a BP novel, but that stalled the moment I got a real job (in Malaysia). And things were really slow for the last few months, but then UC 5/6 happened and a bunch of guys started posting a lot, blah blah blah. >... Cuteness is okay, as long as something terrible happens to them. (JMS) Absolutely agree with that one. Kai Poh Malaysian Lagomorph ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Tun Kai Poh [t_poh@hotmail.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 10:52 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - On languages (was Introduction and Insurgency) Nelson said: >I could probably go on and on about this, but it's neither the place nor >the >time. It leads me to a comment about how rpg integrate linguistic within >the >rules though. I've yet to see a convincing way to simulate how language >acquisition work. Most of the time, it's only superficially looked upon and >this seems strange for games that put so much emphasis on communication. GDW's first edition of Twilight: 2000 had a neat table showing which languages were in what linguistic group (which is where I learned about them) and this governed how easy or hard it was to learn a particular language, given one's native tongue. I dunno if they did this for other games in the GDW system, but it may have been so. BP 2nd edition could really do with some clarification of the Language skill, like mentioning that you have to take each language separately, etc. Kai Poh Malaysian Lagomorph ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Andy Wills [andywills@home.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 11:48 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Archaeology Adventure Seeds Tun Kai Poh wrote: And spoiler space...Chris, don't read, b/c I really like this idea and will probably use it. > ...THAT CAN ETERNAL LIE > > (SPOILER for Archipelago's Kraken Access Denied, as well as the UC 5/6 > adventure) > > An expedition is sent to a large icy land mass in the polar regions of > Poseidon, to look at a glacial formation which may contain clues pointing to > the cause of the last major extinction of surface life on Poseidon. > > After much digging, the researchers discover many ominous clues which > suggest that virtually all lifeforms of that era larger than stick monkeys > seem to have been killed off by some kind of "superpredator". > > Finally the party finds several perfectly preserved aborigine combat drones > which were entrapped in glacial ice and went into hibernation. These > precursors of today's combat drones were created by the aborigines in order > to weed out virtually all land animals of their era as part of some > mysterious directive of the Creators. They soon thaw out and continue with > their last known programming... This idea just popped into my head upon reading this. It quite possibly violates some of Biohazard's metaplot, but I still like it. Basically, instead of "all land animals of their era," the fossils discovered are human predecesors(Homo erectus are parallel to sapiens, no? but something similar) A large number of them have been killed violently, by that "superpredator." When I (probably) run this, I won't have the combat drones appear--once the PCs see what killed the humans, the horror element disappears. Rather, I will probably play up the horror aspect, to add subtle, ambiguous menace to the Aborigine mystery. However, by eliminating the combat drone part, I will need a plot. Oh well, something to think up later. I have one other sideplot similar to this one which I'm planning on typing up and submitting to Undercurrents. It has the same problem--it builds the Aboriginal mystery, and adds some CoC type elements to it, but because it is ambiguous, it doesn't have a plot. That's why I'll submit it for "On the Horizon." > Kai Poh > Malaysian Lagomorph -Andy *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message.