Comments on The Free RPG Blog: Go Berserk! Burn, Pillage and have non-consenting ...

We've started a playtest discussion about some...

2009-01-16T11:17:00.000Z

We've started a playtest discussion about some rules mods and things over at our blog if anyone is interested, you can help us develop Midgard - feel free to chip in with suggestions.

Link: http://www.webjam.com/the_black_orifice/forums/$the_black_orifice_forum/~ViewTopic?id=df3056d2-b46d-4faa-b289-7a2c8cb17d43&page=1

Ben

Printed and ready for reading. Looks great, and I...

2009-01-13T21:20:00.000Z

Printed and ready for reading. Looks great, and I'm interested in seeing how the nontraditional stat/skill mechanics will work out. It's always nice to see a game that avoids the traditional stat & skill idea but doesn't take it to a level of navel-gazing that some "out there" lite systems go with.

Will try to pass along some more feedback as soon as I give it a read-through.

Thanks for the printer-friendly version Ben, that'...

2009-01-12T21:27:00.000Z

Thanks for the printer-friendly version Ben, that's much appreciated.

@Kiashu - Thanks for the proof read! I have...

2009-01-12T18:46:00.000Z

@Kiashu - Thanks for the proof read! I have fixed it. Although I read through the post several times, my brain just saw what it wanted to see, rather than what was there. That's my story and I am sticking to it! ;)

@Ben - Nice work on the printer-friendly version. It's that sort of fast turnaround response that makes me glad I put in outrageous claims about you supporting it.

@Brunomac - Midgard does have fantastical elements in it but they are not from the Germanic-Celtic type myths that Tolkein borrowed from but instead from Norse legends. There is plenty of scope for the ghosts of past warriors, horrific sea beasts and the like. Midgard is written very much from the historical point of view of the Vikings themselves. Therefore, all the things the Vikings believed are real in Midgard. It's a popular and well-conceived way of making historic games have a fantasy edge.

As for rape, that's very much up to your sort of gaming group. There aren't any rules specifically for it. I added that into the title to mock the stereotype. I'd imagine you'd have no problem playing a suitable-for-young-teens game as well as a hard-bitten gruesome game for evil adults!

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Come for the rape, stay for the great character cr...

2009-01-12T18:13:00.000Z

Come for the rape, stay for the great character creation system!

Um, seeing as all that rape is mentioned, are there rules for that unwholesome passtime, or is it simply a matter of role play?

I was curious, would it be fairly simply to inject fantasy elements into the game? I know that might not be the intention of the makers of the game, but throwing in the occasional ghost or troll or some other time period-specific monsters might give the game longer legs for us D&D type dorks...

printer-friendly version now available, plus a few...

2009-01-12T17:21:00.000Z

printer-friendly version now available, plus a few rules tweaks included based on feedback from here and recent playtesting. Go to my blog for more info: webjam.com/the_black_orifice

David - no problem, I'll get on to it right away. ...

2009-01-09T12:27:00.000Z

David - no problem, I'll get on to it right away. Printer-friendly version comig soon.

It's not only the front cover that's heavy on the ...

2009-01-08T21:57:00.000Z

It's not only the front cover that's heavy on the printer ink, each page has a large black border, which is enough to put me off printing this game. I would love to see a version produced without the border, or at least with a border of some other colour.

Some great lines in there, Rob. I especially liked...

2009-01-07T00:34:00.000Z

Some great lines in there, Rob. I especially liked the distinction,

"The book is really the result of someone trying to get the rules out of their head and onto paper; rather than a long-playtested game where you've had to explain things 200 times and so the best way to do so comes more naturally."

That's an important one.

Pity you can't even spell the game's name, though :)

Many thanks to you, Ben! Thank you for sharing a g...

2009-01-06T16:09:00.000Z

Many thanks to you, Ben! Thank you for sharing a great game.

I think you're perfectly placed to write a good Norse setting. It doesn't have to be particularly accurate, it just needs to be fun and accurate. You might like to include:
Basic description of the lives of Vikings and Heroes
Description of the World at that time.
The Gods and what they might get up to.
Some NPCs and an example adventure.

The reason it should come from you is that if you get someone else to write it, there will be a jarring difference between your intriguing and slightly irreverant style and the style of another author.

I you really can't be persuaded, you could try advertising on 1KM1KT or some of the other forums but I would imagine many creator do things for cold hard cash these days.

I'll keep this conversation going on your site too so that we can keep all the thoughts (and nagging) in each place!.

Thanks for the review, Rob.

Midgard is stil...

2009-01-06T14:58:00.000Z

Thanks for the review, Rob.

Midgard is still very much under playtest - we're just about to start a medium-term campaign, so expect some system updates soon.

As for a setting, I'm just not confident I'm the man to do it the justice it deserves. Maybe I should find an expert on the history who could help me out.

Cheerio for now,

Ben