As an avid gamer I wonder if anybody is taking a swing at a game based on the World of Alvin Maker. I have just finished up a set of rules to make hexery a part of the AD&D rules for my campaign because I like the idea of mild, precision, attention based magic as part of a fantasy world.
It softens the distinction between Hard Wizard/ Priest magic and the non magical general population. It also creates a facinating array of Hex magic Items and accounts for such things as enchanted palace walls, towers, and gates without recourse to the cumbersome catch all of wish magic, which requires a handy 18th Lv Mage to produce.
However back to the main point, It is clear that fatigue and concentration are part of Nackery, and predisposition to a certain knack and training come into it. So characters could be developed and charted and then move towards Makery. Then once they are Makers I guess they could advance in power and fine detail.
Still the Old World may have given the New its powers but it did not provide many non human challanges. It might be difficult to create a campaign that had meaningful conflict or intrigue. Classes like Underground Railroader, Hex Harlot, Slave Finder, and Witch Hunter come to mind. However being American and Human and Modern might not be enough of a stretch to give an RPG feel.
Still an alternate world, with magical races and monsters in which humans possessed the powers of Hexery, Knackery and Makery might be possible.
BC
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Frankly, AD&D seems like the wrong system for this. Try d20, or GURPS, both of which provide for more flexible class/skill approaches and magic systems. You might also find Deadlands very close in flavor.
[ December 12, 2003, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I was going to bring up Hatrack 1830's, but kind of the rule there is to focus on characters, not so much on wiggy powers. Probably why I never got into it.
Posted by Morgoth (Member # 5961) on :
I agree with Tom the D20 system would probably work better.
Posted by macmhagan (Member # 6058) on :
Gurps (sjgames.com) was supposed to do it a long time ago...I heard they even signed a deal with OSC, but nothing ever happened.
Anyone know what happened?
Posted by GoatRider (Member # 7174) on :
Sorry to dig up an old thread, but it seemed more appropriate to search and then continue this one.
I was looking for a good setting to build a GURPS campaign around, and thought a book that I would like to continue living in would be a good choice. First thing to come to mind was the Alvin Maker series. So I plugged "Alvin Maker GURPS" into google, and found this mention in Roleplayer #28, 1992:
quote: Have I mentioned that we'll be publishing GURPS Alvin Maker, based on the stories by Orson Scott Card . . . and that Card is writing the worldbook himself? Look for it in 1993.
- Steve Jackson
According to someone on the Steve Jackson Games forums, he never submitted a first draft. Anybody have a lever? Now that he seems to be finished with the series, and GURPS just came out with a new edition, this would be a very good time to do this.
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
quote: Now that he seems to be finished with the series,
I thought there was going to be one more!?
Posted by GoatRider (Member # 7174) on :
quote: I thought there was going to be one more!?
Don't listen to me, I just read the books. I'm new to the forums here so I don't know what the scuttlebutt is. And it's been a little while since I read this book and I don't remember the ending, but I'm left with the impression that everything is pretty much wrapped up. Correct me if I'm wrong though. But if he's already published chapters, DON'T READ THEM TO ME! I want to wait until I have the book in my hands.
Meanwhile, someone on the SJGames board suggested that with the new edition of GURPS, it's going to be a lot easier to create rules for "knacks" and such.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"I'm left with the impression that everything is pretty much wrapped up. Correct me if I'm wrong though."
You're so very, very wrong. Card has always told people exactly how this particular allegory will end -- and until that happens, it's not the end. *grin*
There's one book left, AFAIK.
[ December 30, 2004, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by GoatRider (Member # 7174) on :
"You're so very, very wrong." Fair enough, I said it's been awhile since I read it. I'm looking forward to reading more of it!
But then, since Alvin is fresh on his mind, it's an even better time for him to write the GURPS supplement! Unless it takes time away from writing the last book, I wouldn't want that.
I'd write it myself, but for several reasons-
- The Alvin world is owned by Mr. Card. Even if he isn't the sort to send out legions of lawyers, I have way too much respect for him to do that.
- He no doubt has more world notes that he could incorporate into a gaming setting.
- He would do a much better job than me.
[ December 31, 2004, 09:09 AM: Message edited by: GoatRider ]
Posted by Da_Goat (Member # 5529) on :
Your username frightens me in a way no words can express.
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
Posted by GoatRider (Member # 7174) on :
Oh dear! Nothing personal, I hope you realize. It's been my codename for a very long time. I've even got the domain name, take a look at www.goatrider.com, and maybe you'll get an idea what it means. When you do, tell me- I don't quite know what it means either.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Don't know if anyone's already mentioned this in a thread, but there's now this link on the front page:
quote:eGenesis to Develop Alvin's World as a Multi-player Online Game Letter to Hatrackers from Orson Scott Card January 5, 2005
<-- refuses to pay a subscription for a game
Posted by Teppy (Member # 7217) on :
Andy Tepper here. Just wanted to say hello to everyone, and say how much I'm looking forward to this project. It's a huge responsibility - developing this world in a way that is true to the fiction that OSC has created. It's also one that I've spend a lot of time thinking about.
As we chatted about how such a world would look and feel, the (very early at this point!) design seemed to flow so naturally from the existing stories. In game design, that's a very good omen.
Posted by Da_Goat (Member # 5529) on :
Welcome to Hatrack.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Your project sounds exciting. I wish I could participate in it.
Posted by NinjaBirdman (Member # 7114) on :
I'm gonna have to read the Alvin Maker books now(was planning on it anyway) and try out a Tale in the Desert(was also planning on this). I think Gabe and Tycho from Penny Arcade have mentioned A Tale in the Desert before(not sure if it was on their site or in person) and they said it was pretty awesome if memory serves, I just never got around to trying it.
Posted by GoatRider (Member # 7174) on :
I'm excited about the possibility of this! However, I'm also disapointed that he'll probably not write the GURPS source book now. Oh well, if I had been holding my breath on that, I probably would have turned blue and keeled over 10 years ago.
Posted by Puppy (Member # 6721) on :
You can blame me for that, Goat. I think he expected me to do most of the work on that GURPS book, but I was 14, and wasn't too great at follow-through It was one of my first experiences in game design, though ...
Teppy, it's great to have you here! I hope you don't mind if I tell the rest of the forum members that I briefly got to discuss some of the high-level game concepts with you, and you really seemed to get what this world is about and how to bring it to life — much better than I do, even, and I've had this world stewing in my head since I was nine I strongly suspect that the folks here are going to be very pleased with the end result, assuming all goes well.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Out of interest, what's the fourth magic system? We have the greensong, knacks, and African totem summonning -- but I can't think of the fourth, unless you're going to make Making its own system altogether.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Eastern european vampires. Posted by GoatRider (Member # 7174) on :
Puppy,
Did he give you any of his back-story or setting notes? That would be the biggest advantage of having Uncle Orson's blessings on a project like this. Also, you'd be able to sell it, instead of just for your own personal use.
Posted by Puppy (Member # 6721) on :
I don't think he has notes Which is why fans find inconsistencies ...
Posted by MarvL (Member # 7251) on :
It's obvious that the Books will define the on-line world, and provide much of the context.
I've been playing A Tale in the Desert for most of a year now, and there's not much more plot than you'd see in the smelly world. It will be nice to have a backstory.
What's not so obvious is that player invented content may also find its way into future books.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
There's only one future book.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"What's not so obvious is that player invented content may also find its way into future books."
This has actually already happened. Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
Really?
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Yeah, see: Shadow, Ender's.
-Bok
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Papa, you aren't created content are you? Are you the stern flip-side to Kama's sauciness?
-Bok
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I'm actually specifically referring to almost any mention of the townsfolk in Alvin Journeyman. Posted by Chris Kidd (Member # 2646) on :
At VBS people where crawling through the vents before ES. Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Chris go back to VBS so I can give away all of our dirty secrets! I'll meet you there in 5 minutes!
*shakes his head disapprovingly* He sometimes forgets to take his medicine. Posted by GoatRider (Member # 7174) on :
What's "VBS"?
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Virtual Battle School.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I'm bitter about the subscription. . . otherwise, I'd resurrect Joshua, Twilla, Quincy Umble, Miriam Gruber and Needles Harrington in a heartbeat.
Posted by Chris Kidd (Member # 2646) on :
Steve you don't know have of the secrets at VBS. until you have been there as long as i have. then you can tell the secrets.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Bah, Chris, you'll always be a newbie in VBS to me
-Bok
EDIT: To clarify, people were crawling through the vents before VBS was hosted on Hatrack.
[ January 12, 2005, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: Bokonon ]
Posted by Chris Kidd (Member # 2646) on :
I remember VIN and Steph started the venties. Bokonon who where you at VBS ?
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
I was Erik (Workowski?). Back on the email list that was the precursor to VBS (which Barbara Walton coordinated), a person whose VBS character went by "rain" started the vents. IIRC, they were first access via the workout area.
-Bok
Posted by Chris Kidd (Member # 2646) on :
Do you remember a character called Silk back in 97, that was me. do you have any writeing saved from when you where writeing at VBS.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Card has always told people exactly how this particular allegory will end -- and until that happens, it's not the end. *grin*![[Party]](graemlins/party.gif)
![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Evil]](graemlins/evil.gif)
![[Evil Laugh]](graemlins/evillaugh.gif)
![[Taunt]](graemlins/taunt.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)