tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post2888209396121801334..comments2024-03-28T15:30:09.903-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Pulp Fantasy Library: The Unforsaken HieroJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-83346370176529086682021-02-11T08:53:58.779-05:002021-02-11T08:53:58.779-05:00A friend's Gamma World was game was actually q...A friend's Gamma World was game was actually quite a fun hard science game (for example radiation just killed you it didn't mutate you; mutations were the result of lab escaped artificial rDNA viruses from experiments before the Fall). Often with societies attempting to rebuild, but disrupted by the discovery of surviving caches of the far superior oldtech. We [collectively since there were about thirty active players in various groups in various locations] had begun to get some inkling into the reasons for the Fall (and the talon that the Galactic Federation had had in it), when sadly his best friend died and he lost interest in running it any more (as it was now haunted by a ghost). [Something I can well understand.]<br /><br />I think it does vastly improve the game to have various re-established societies in it (often with some distorted echo of pre-Fall mores). I feel the lack of historical interaction between these societies when they do expand into each other means that anything can happen).<br /><br />I only think the gonzo split world works for the 7th edition, where the reason for the gonzo juxtaposition of everything, was, according to <b>Red Sails in the Sunset</b> turning on the LHC and making a patchwork earth of different disconnected realities (sort of like Rifts, but less organised).Reverance Pavanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217657347160811310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-29853135977178740012021-02-08T10:43:50.384-05:002021-02-08T10:43:50.384-05:004e is a very good edition, one of my favorites. Yo...4e is a very good edition, one of my favorites. You can get a rather cheap POD copy from dtrpg too.artikidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17474295473142339717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-54342430853298417512021-02-08T10:20:29.640-05:002021-02-08T10:20:29.640-05:00It's certainly more than enough to excuse him ...It's certainly more than enough to excuse him the minor sin of not finishing the Hiero trilogy for us, yes. :) Dick McGeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14521293874696659063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-13029925673073499992021-02-08T09:50:04.566-05:002021-02-08T09:50:04.566-05:00I did know about Lanier's role in seeing Dune ...I did know about Lanier's role in seeing <i>Dune</i> published and for that alone he is assured of a place in my heart. James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-4005040082019409312021-02-08T09:49:33.741-05:002021-02-08T09:49:33.741-05:004e GW is one I skipped. Perhaps I should rectify t...4e GW is one I skipped. Perhaps I should rectify that situation.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-39370085296625085282021-02-08T09:18:37.655-05:002021-02-08T09:18:37.655-05:00Lanier is well-known in publishing and scifi circl...Lanier is well-known in publishing and scifi circles as being the man most responsible for getting Herbert's Dune published - and for being fired by the publishing house Chilton for his troubles. He was also pretty skilled miniature sculptor who earned a living through commission work for some time.<br /><br />He doesn't seem to have written (or at least published) anything past 1986, and his last novels were released in 1983 (including both Unforsaken Hiero and Menace Under Marswood, which was a good but light read that might be categorized as YA these days - much like Foster's Pip & Flinx books are). He was never a prolific author but everything I've read by him was a pleasure, and I heartily recommend his series of humorous "Ffellowes" short stories.<br /><br />I note that Goodman Games had a good bio post about him over here, including mention of his contacts with JRR Tolkein and Gary Gygax.<br /><br />https://goodman-games.com/blog/2020/12/19/adventures-in-fiction-sterling-e-lanier-3/Dick McGeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14521293874696659063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-87946386097129350762021-02-08T08:47:13.165-05:002021-02-08T08:47:13.165-05:00The 4th edition of GAMMA WORLD had a whole campaig...The 4th edition of GAMMA WORLD had a whole campaign area with nation-states and city-states, many based on cryptic alliances, but definitely not all.Aahzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05457808817535444273noreply@blogger.com