tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post7883009418100790280..comments2024-03-18T20:22:06.331-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Retrospective: Apple LaneJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-69600819850995196522010-07-15T20:53:24.298-04:002010-07-15T20:53:24.298-04:00While RQ has always been my system of choice, I us...While RQ has always been my system of choice, I used to think that the rate of limb loss was over the top. Then I started watching <i>Deadliest Warrior</i> and realized it wasn't. The episode in which the expert attacked a ballistics gel torso with a Roman gladius (a simple shortsword) and hacked off both arms with his first two whacks convinced me that it is entirely realistic. Then there was the Vlad the Impaler episode where the scimitar cut a pig in half in one stroke, and the William Wallace episode where the Claymore removed three heads in one swing. To survive even a basic armed attack, you need luck (he blew his attack roll or rolled low on damage), skill (I parried him!) or armor (3pt linen absorbs 3 of the 6pt damage - phew, I still have my arm!).<br /><br />Baboons, ducks etc take a bit of work as GM to pull off, but they're worth it. So much more interesting than yet another generic orc.Swordsmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05144171573448751890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-68422612294930883482010-07-15T15:41:10.346-04:002010-07-15T15:41:10.346-04:00No feathers ruffled here. Apple Lane was definitel...No feathers ruffled here. Apple Lane was definitely a turning point, but RPG content at the time was still solidly "hack 'n slash." I don't think it is until Griffon Mountain and the Pavis and Borderlands modules that more depth was started to be given to NPCs.<br /><br />I agree with James, to me, RuneQuest is Glorantha is RuneQuest.<br /><br />FrankFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15855679156477779666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-27649477994318263922010-07-15T14:52:06.398-04:002010-07-15T14:52:06.398-04:00In some ways, it sounds as if Apple Lane would be ...<i>In some ways, it sounds as if Apple Lane would be better compared to something like People of Pembrooktonshire by LotFP.</i><br /><br>How do I say this without ruffling someone's feathers somewhere: <i>People of Pembrooktonshire</i> is better :) Or more accurately, the NPCs of <i>Apple Lane</i> are detailed, yes, but they're still little more than sketches. That's more than you get in <i>The Keep on the Borderlands</i>, but nowhere near what Jim Raggi presented us with.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-71414097666862741602010-07-15T14:49:07.819-04:002010-07-15T14:49:07.819-04:00Whereas that looks like a plot hook to me. Why is ...<i>Whereas that looks like a plot hook to me. Why is Gringle "too busy"? What's so important that he can't protect his own source of wealth?</i><br /><br>The scenario states outright that Gringle has "ritual obligations" that demand he be elsewhere. In a setting other than Glorantha, this would seem implausible, but I can totally buy that a Runelord of Issaries can't forsake the demands of his cult to protect his material livelihood. Indeed, given that <i>Apple Lane</i> is, at least in part, intended to introduce new players to Glorantha, I can't help but think it was intentionally written this way in order to spur interest in the "secret stuff" the Issaries cultists are up to that demands Gringle's full attention.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-61517215018623884032010-07-15T14:44:43.154-04:002010-07-15T14:44:43.154-04:00I am glad that Runequest over time went the way of...<i>I am glad that Runequest over time went the way of understating its tie to the Gloranthan setting and became more of an "open", DIY system. Whereas many consider Glorantha to be a "selling point", I find it to have too much of a "cost" of setting depth to interest me. I think the rpg evolved into something better than what came before, providing GMs with a rules set to apply to a more gritty style of play, or reflect historical or sword & sorcery settings. Instead of an rpg that confines itself to one "sandbox".</i><br /><br>It's an interesting thing. For me, the only appeal of RQ is Glorantha. I like the rules well enough but I already have <i>D&D</i> as my go-to fantasy game. If I use some flavor of BRP, it's because I want to play in Glorantha or the Young Kingdoms or Tragic Europe or whatever.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-62625888742915370852010-07-15T03:55:40.965-04:002010-07-15T03:55:40.965-04:00http://templeofdemogorgon.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-...http://templeofdemogorgon.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-favorite-d-module-was-runequest.html<br /><br />I loved this one.Kevin Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14122665488285424578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-80959713409437488572010-07-14T19:19:15.791-04:002010-07-14T19:19:15.791-04:00In some ways, it sounds as if Apple Lane would be ...In some ways, it sounds as if Apple Lane would be better compared to something like People of Pembrooktonshire by LotFP.metamorphosissigmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18163514061779555557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-78345947699772494212010-07-14T15:21:36.248-04:002010-07-14T15:21:36.248-04:00For introductory scenarios, I've always prefer...For introductory scenarios, I've always preferred village/small town settings with adventure nearby to a straight dungeon, so it's no surprise that both Village of Hommlet and Apple Lane are among my favorites.("Larm" from Brave Halfling also looks promising.) Oddly, I've never run Apple Lane, though I don't think it would be that hard to fit into another setting.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01254215329246851683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-16399369145969709512010-07-14T13:48:13.404-04:002010-07-14T13:48:13.404-04:00Plus the setup of "I am too busy to deal with...<i>Plus the setup of "I am too busy to deal with an attack on my own pawnshop." Lead to mocking of Gringle behind his back.</i><br />Whereas that looks like a plot hook to me. Why is Gringle "too busy"? What's so important that he can't protect his own source of wealth?thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-81682887192039692712010-07-14T13:25:17.700-04:002010-07-14T13:25:17.700-04:00Heh, in my most recent RQ campaign, Whiteye's ...Heh, in my most recent RQ campaign, Whiteye's Extinguish vs. the PC's torches was definitely a factor, however, it only slowed the PCs down. Eventually they overcame the trollkin and Whiteye ended up using Divine Intervention to escape though.<br /><br />FrankFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15855679156477779666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-65359077219328616772010-07-14T12:52:10.177-04:002010-07-14T12:52:10.177-04:00Coincidentally, I just finished running an intro a...Coincidentally, I just finished running an intro arc of Runequest using Apple Lane for the New York Red Box crew, largely because I was encouraged to revisit the game by James' series of RQ posts here. <br /><br />I was leery of the pawnshop defense scenario so we did an expanded set of "initiation games" then went directly to the Rainbow Mounds. The ultimate result: a one-armed King of the Newts! <br /><br />I was immersed in RQ2 back in the day so I find baboons more interesting than wacky. My problem with the assaulting gang was the weird diversity: baboons, dragonewts, centaurs,all mushed in tightly together as bandits. Just too many impossible things before breakfast. However, what really made me balk was the set up of powerful NPCs who are ready to burst in and save the day at the last moment, ick. <br /><br />However, the Pawnshop offers a unique twist that makes me want to use it sometime: the PCs know that there will be an assault on the pawnshop to reclaim a gem. The DM is instructed to leave the room for awhile, while the players figure out where they hide the gem and their general plan. So neither side has absolute knowledge of the situation. <br /><br />The Rainbow Mounds were awesome. Whiteeye's extinguish spell brought a near TPK that led to between-adventures drilling on lighting a torch in the dark ("This is my torch! There are many like it but this one is mine!") and careful tactics. The Newtling/Rock Lizard rivalry is a great side quest that led to more strategy and carnage. <br /><br />I regret to say we hardly spent any time in Apple Lane itself, since I was trying to complete the dungeon arc in 4 short sessions. If I had it to do over, I would invite the PCs to spend more time there. Among the townsfolk, there are a couple or three cult connections that would serve well as an introduction to the greater setting.Invincible Overlordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11499224778426220577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-90210935404225244762010-07-14T12:30:37.980-04:002010-07-14T12:30:37.980-04:00An aside: Who'd play Runequest if they weren&#...An aside: <i>Who'd play Runequest if they weren't using Glorantha?</i><br /><br />I am glad that Runequest over time went the way of understating its tie to the Gloranthan setting and became more of an "open", DIY system. Whereas many consider Glorantha to be a "selling point", I find it to have too much of a "cost" of setting depth to interest me. I think the rpg evolved into something better than what came before, providing GMs with a rules set to apply to a more gritty style of play, or reflect historical or sword & sorcery settings. Instead of an rpg that confines itself to one "sandbox". <br /><br />(It's almost like RQ was "ahead" of its time - starting from a very defined, exhaustive setting (more akin to rpgs from the 90s on) - and then shifting to more of an old school-style of game from RQ3 on).KPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18374233546533225028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-49682019905365673332010-07-14T11:50:21.268-04:002010-07-14T11:50:21.268-04:00Back in the day, I think I did actually run Gringl...Back in the day, I think I did actually run Gringle's Pawnshop. These days, I ignore it, focusing on the Rainbow Caverns.<br /><br />As to the "funny" races, we did have jokes about orange sauce and such, but in my more recent play, while there were still jokes, it really wasn't all that bad (though I'm not sure I've ever had a PC duck - we have had PC newtlings and baboons though). I don't mind a bit of humor with the ducks considering their curse.<br /><br />In my more recent play, I changed things up a bit such that limbs don't fly nearly so often. That was a problem with my early play.<br /><br />FrankFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15855679156477779666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-86946070040260271162010-07-14T10:36:39.619-04:002010-07-14T10:36:39.619-04:00There may be plots and motivations in there but I ...<i>There may be plots and motivations in there but I seriously doubt that most can play them with a straight face.</i><br /><br>Of the two scenarios, "Gringle's Pawnshop" is the weakest and was probably intended as an introduction to the mechanics of combat. And you're right, it <i>is</i> hard to play Gloranthan baboons with a straight face. Many people feel the same way about ducks, morokanths, and myriad other unique aspects of the setting, because, honestly, they're pretty wacky. Even so, it's possible and if one can get into the right frame of mind, it all somehow <i>works</i>. <br /><br />(To be clear, I think this is true of all the best fantasy, including many aspects of <i>D&D</i>, but Glorantha, I've noticed, especially really old school Glorantha, seems particularly hard for people to get into.)James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-79335291866812224882010-07-14T10:03:58.004-04:002010-07-14T10:03:58.004-04:00I ran this in June, but I am sorry to report that ...I ran this in June, but I am sorry to report that everybody found the attack on Gringle's Pawnshop to be a howler. The baboons especially was felt to be too ridiculous. <br /><br />This was compounded by the fact that in Runequest 2 body parts tend to fly off a lot!<br /><br />Plus the setup of "I am too busy to deal with an attack on my own pawnshop." Lead to mocking of Gringle behind his back.<br /><br />The whole experience was a bit surreal to say the least. <br /><br />There may be plots and motivations in there but I seriously doubt that most can play them with a straight face.Robert Conleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863009007381185340noreply@blogger.com