Curufea Posted January 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO I know nothing of the Chessmen - but if there are write-ups done for races/creatures/items that are similar to those found in New Crobuzon, please let me know. For example - Vodynaoi are very similar to Deep Ones or Troglodytes. The name sounds Russian to me though... [edit] And just to re-iterate the Garuda have 2 arms and 2 wings and 2 legs. Same as an angel or other winged humanoid.. Apologies for the misleading logic of calling them 6 limbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted January 1, 2005 Report Share Posted January 1, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO I know nothing of the Chessmen - but if there are write-ups done for races/creatures/items that are similar to those found in New Crobuzon, please let me know. For example - Vodynaoi are very similar to Deep Ones or Troglodytes. The name sounds Russian to me though... It is. Vodianoi, Vodyanoi, Vodyanoy, are Russian water spirits. They lurk in pools, streams, and ponds, and lure humans into the water and devour them. [edit] And just to re-iterate the Garuda have 2 arms and 2 wings and 2 legs. Same as an angel or other winged humanoid.. Apologies for the misleading logic of calling them 6 limbed. Well, technically, something with "2 arms and 2 wings and 2 legs," is a six-limbed creature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO General campaign ideas:- Most magic should have side effects that always occur. Usually some kind of drain on stats as well as the normal endurance for the power, but possibly also body damage. Having a look through the 5th ed version of Fantasy Hero - there are many things of interest (as you'd expect). Arcane Defence (AD) is something that should be included - but it won't be a figured characteristic. It's at 0 for all characters unless they have a very good reason for it to be higher (ie they were in a Torque storm). There would be some package deals that raised it - usually as a power. For example an Elementalist would be able to add AD against magic of their element (ie AD bought as a limited power only vs an element). A player could buy Arcane Luck - which is similar to Combat Luck, and allows a very small amount of protection against magic. It seems to follow with protagonists in the books - who were only ever caught in the periphery of magical effects. AD seems to be a good way to describe the otherworldly creatures in New Crobuzon. Rather than getting "desolid vs magic" as a perfect defence - because creatures such as the Slake Moth and the Weaver did take small amounts of damage from magic. So AD and possibly Damage Resistanc e. And creatures/items capable of dimensional magics (Weavers, Slake Moths, Striders, Grindylow Statue and Toro's Helmet) should have AD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO More general ideas from FH- Perks- Contacts 1 pt - Priest, minor spell user, dissident member, scientist 2 pts - Abbot, professional spell user (e.g. biothaumaturge), dissaffected Militia member (e.g. Brennan), dissident cell leader, political party member 3 pts - Major spell user (e.g. Judah Low), Militia captain, movement leader (e.g. Toro), political party leader 4 pts - Mayor's assistant 5 pts - Mayor Lordship 1 pt - Business owner 2 pts - Militia member 3 pts - Member of parliament 4 pts - Ambassador Talents- Arcane Luck - Similar to Combat Luck, but applicable to magic and using Arcane Defence. Magesight - 5pts only allowed, unless its of your branch of magic only. Shapechanging - not allowed (no one in the books does it) Powers- Healing (resurrection) - Not allowed, not even for vampires Healing (inanimate) - possible Multiform - Not allowed Summon - Common power for spell users. Summon (amicable) - Not allowed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted January 7, 2005 Report Share Posted January 7, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO Note to self: Find these books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO I'm tempted to buy you copies - if you don't mind the style and grotesqueries (its similar to Lovecraft), and get as inspired as I am (and the folk I played the short Amber game with) - you may write up the characters from the books. Which you're damn good at doing (and I'm not just saying that because I'm trying to avoid too much work) There has always been problem in getting English authors published in the USA - I remember the rigamarole that Terry Pratchett fans had to go through to get his stuff. Amazon is still the best bet. Unless your local public library has them (but I have doubts about USA public libraries) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted January 7, 2005 Report Share Posted January 7, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO I'm tempted to buy you copies - if you don't mind the style and grotesqueries (its similar to Lovecraft), and get as inspired as I am (and the folk I played the short Amber game with) - you may write up the characters from the books. Which you're damn good at doing (and I'm not just saying that because I'm trying to avoid too much work) There has always been problem in getting English authors published in the USA - I remember the rigamarole that Terry Pratchett fans had to go through to get his stuff. Amazon is still the best bet. Unless your local public library has them (but I have doubts about USA public libraries) Crud. I was going to go the library route to save money (which I don't have lots of now). Of course, getting US authors in the US is tough too. I'd love to get a serious all-in-one collection of Fritz Leiber's Fafhard and the Grey Mouser, but.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO I haven't heard of it being collected together - I've got about four of those from the same publisher - so at least the covers match. I've heard the collected Amber is hard to get, and only have the colleciton of the first series. Amazon shows excerpts of the Crobuzon books including the various awards they've won - so there is hope local booksellers will cotton on to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO Bwahahaha - the wonders of Poser and Photoshop. This is my idea of what a Grindylow looks like. I think the book describes them as a cross between humanoids and deep sea fish - and they swim through the air in an unnatural manner, distorting space around them (I haven't got "The Scar" book within easy reach). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO And now a Khepri- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO More new art, from Nicholas William Kole who I seriously want to involve in this project if I can - Races Cray Huntsman Cray Huntsman Cactacae Face Cactacae Vodyanoi Characters Jack Half-a-Prayer, the fReemade Judah Low, the Somaturge (Golemist) Toro, leader of the Toroans Nick's website on Elfwood- http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/i/nickspacekole/nickspacekole.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markdoc Posted January 11, 2005 Report Share Posted January 11, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO I haven't heard of it being collected together - I've got about four of those from the same publisher - so at least the covers match. I've heard the collected Amber is hard to get, and only have the colleciton of the first series. Both the collected Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (two big-ass fat volumes) and the collected First Chronicles of Amber have been re-released in the fantasy masterworks series. I brought the F&GM series last year and I'm on the lookout for another copy for Mike already. cheers, Mark Linkage here: http://www.mykreeve.net/books/fantasy/fantasy_masterworks.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO Kewl! (but off topic) ;-p On topic-ish, I forgot to mention Nick's portrait of one of the female Anophelies- Mosquito Woman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO More misc notes as I read through the first book again- Newspapers Beacon Quarrel Runagate Rampant (illegal) The Shout (illegal) Forge (illegal) Vaudois Hill is SW of Lichford just before you enter Spatters The largest ghetto of Garuda is in Spatters, an estimated 2000. There are 6.7 million people in New Crobuzon The university is in Ludmead, not Mafaton. Notable Garuda- Krakhleki, a famous writer Shashjar, a member of the Diverse Tendency Party (which is mainly Xenian). Further note on the Sufferage Lottery- The Upper Class automatically qualify for the vote. Xenian Reproduction Khepri males have sex with the heads of Khepri females, who lay eggs. Baby Khepri females have the heads of grubs. No Khepri female enjoys reproduction, they practise homosexual sex for recreation, which is ritualised. Cactacae women plant egg bulbs in the ground that are fertilised by the men. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO I've added Nick Kole's art to my site. I'm on leave for the next two weeks - so I should have time to actually make rules-related progress on this conversion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted February 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2005 Slake Moths Val Char Cost 30 STR 20 13 DEX 9 20 CON 20 30 BODY 40 10 INT 0 23 EGO 26 18 PRE 8 1 COM -4 7 PD 1 5 ED 1 2 SPD 0 10 REC 0 40 END 0 55 STUN 0 2" RUN-82" SWIM04" LEAP-2Characteristics Cost: 111Cost Power END 5 Antennae: IR Perception (Sight Group) 0 11 Antennae: Mind Scan 3d6 (Sentients capable of dreaming class of minds), Cumulative (+1/2) (22 Active Points); Neither Character nor Target Can Attack Through Link (-1) 2 28 Aura of Nightmares: Change Environment 16" radius, -1 DEX Roll and all Skill Rolls based on DEX, -1 EGO Roll and all Skill Rolls based on EGO, -1 INT Roll and all Skill Rolls based on INT, -2 PRE Roll and all Skill Rolls based on PRE, Long-Lasting 1 Day, Multiple Combat Effects, MegaScale (1" = 1 km; +1/4), Personal Immunity (+1/4) (99 Active Points); No Conscious Control (The aura is excreted as a byproduct of the Slake Moth's digestive system; -2), No Range (-1/2) [Notes: Those living in the area that is the hunting ground of one or more Slake Moths have terrible nightmares and depression. They are affected for the entire day, although it is worse at night (when the Moths feed).] 10 5 Chitinous Shell: Damage Resistance (5 PD/5 ED) 0 45 Claws: HKA 2d6 (3d6+1 w/STR), Penetrating (+1/2) (45 Active Points) 4 57 Dimensionally Patterned Wings: Mind Control 6d6 (Any sentient life capable of dreaming class of minds), Personal Immunity (+1/4), Telepathic (+1/4), Inherent (+1/4), Cumulative (+1/2), NND (Defense is to look away or see only a reversed image of the wings. ; +1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Persistent (+1/2), Area Of Effect (11" Radius; +1) (142 Active Points); No Range (-1/2), Set Effect ("Do not move"; -1/2), Always On (-1/2) 0 5 Insectile Legs: Extra Limbs (2) 0 19 Moth Wings: Flight 14" (28 Active Points); Restrainable (-1/2) 3 90 Proboscis: Major Transform 3d6 (Sentient into mindless being, Up to GM, no current method known), Partial Transform (+1/2), Continuous (+1), NND (No orifices, or transdimensional (such as a Weaver); +1), BOECV (Mental Defense applies; +1) (202 Active Points); Concentration, Must Concentrate throughout use of Constant Power (1/2 DCV; -1/2), No Range (-1/2), Limited Target (Sentients that dream; -1/4) 20 160 Transdimensional Body: Physical Damage Reduction, 75%, Arcane Reduction 75%, Mental Reduction 75% 0 10 Transdimensional Insect Mindset: Lack Of Weakness (-10) for Mental Defense 0 Powers Cost: 435Cost Skill 3 Teamwork 12- 3 Tracking 11- 3 Tactics 11- 3 Stealth 12- Skills Cost: 12Cost Talent 16 Berserk Fury Talents Cost: 16Val Disadvantages 25 Psychological Limitation: Instinctive animal behaviour and intelligence - Moth (Very Common, Total) 5 Dependence: Dreamshit - only before pupating, the minds of sentients after pupating Takes 1d6 Damage (Uncommon, 1 Day) [Notes: This is actually two disadvantages rolled into one. Dreamshit is extremely rare, but sentients are common.] 15 Hunted: Militia 8- (As Pow, NCI, Capture) 10 Hunted: Mr Motley 8- (As Pow, NCI, Limited Geographical Area, Capture) 5 Hunted: Isaac Van Der Grimnebulin 11- (Less Pow, Limited Geographical Area, Kill) 5 Physical Limitation: Does not see in the visible spectrum. (Infrequently, Slightly Impairing) 20 Enraged: If other Slake Moths are attacked or killed (Uncommon), go 14-, recover 11- Disadvantage Points: 85Base Points: 75Experience Required: 414Total Experience Available: 0Experience Unspent: 0Total Character Cost: 574 Height: 4.00 m Hair: Brown Weight: 200.00 kg Eyes: No eyes, but antennae Appearance: It was taller than a bear. A clutch of sharp extrusions like dark cartilaginous whips blossomed from its sides and flickered out towards him. Other, smaller; sharper limbs flexed like claws.The creature stood on legs like monkey's arms. Three pairs jutted from its trunk. It stood now bipedally, now on four legs, now on six. Always those juge irregular wings, curving in strange directions, shifting in shape to fit the room, each as random and inconstant as oil on water, each a perfect reflection of the other, kept gently moving, their patterns changing, flickering in a seductive tide. It had no eyes that they could recognize, only two deep sunken hollows sprouting thick, flexing antennae like stubby fingers, above rows of huge slab-teeth. As Isaac watched, it cocked its head and opened that unimaginable mouth, and from it a huge, prehensile, slavering tongue unrolled. It waved quickly through the air. Its end was coated in clumps of gossamer alvaeoli that pulsed as the enormous thing flailed like an elephant's trunk. Personality: "Slake-moths don't live entirely in our plane. Their ... ah ... nutritional needs are met by substances we cannot measure."... "They draw the dreams ou with their wings, flood the mind, break the dykes that hold back hidden thoughts, guilty thoughts, anxieties, delights, dreams...." ... "And then," he continued, "when the mind is nice and juicy ... they suck it dry." Quote:These cries were not audible. They vibrated in wavelengths other than sonar. The scientist felt the hair all over her body bristle as teh ghosts of emotions fleeted through her skill like half-heard rumours. Snippets of alien joy and inhuman terror wafted in her nostrils and ears and behind her eyes, synaesthetically.Background: Brought to New Crobozuon by Mr. Motley, and eventually the Militia as well, for experimentation and drug production. Adult Slake-moths produce Dreamshit to feed their young.Powers/Tactics: Slake Moths will hunt in packs. Separating out a single sentient being so that one of them may feed, before finding anohter. They will always attempt to bring their wings into sight to paralyze their prey before they suck the intelligence out of them. Slake Moths do recognise individuals and will hunt down those that have hurt them in the past, including those that have captured them.Campaign Use: One Slake Moth will easily terrorise the largest city. A flock of them will cause a national emergency and any government will immediately take drastic steps to kill or capture them if they are loose.If a corrupt government, then capture is a priority as they produce Dreamshit to feed their young - a very powerful drug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted May 8, 2005 Report Share Posted May 8, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO Dang it... I was going to build one of these.... My impression was they were stronger and tougher... 30 STR, 30 BODY, 75% Damage Reduction. I mean, not even the Weaver could kill one... and the stunted one took hours to die -- after they dropped a ton or more of gravel on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted May 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO I take it you've got up to them then I wanted to do this one first, to spark interest in the books and the genre.... Anyhow, I made it not that overly powerful because it's really meant for an heroic setting. I think it'd give superheroes a tough time - but because only normal people faced it, it'd be a tremendous monster... But you may be right. This is, after all, the first time I've tried turning a book character into Hero. So I don't have as much experience.... I do like my Aura of Nightmares though [edit] - Okay I've changed it now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO Finished books 1 & 2, and await 3 to come out in softback. Found the link between PERDIDIO STREET STATION and THE SCAR (ahh... that's where Bellis Coldwine comes from!). Found it interesting that Isaac is a portly, black man with a beard. I kept trying to picture who would play him in the movie version. Does he ever re-appear? I also find it interesting we still have no idea what a hochi looks like, other than covered in spines... Slake Moths have to be some of the nastiest things ever dreamed up for a novel. Larger than a man, far stronger, and far harder to kill. I think their wings are Mental Paralysis myself. The Mind Control you used isn't powerful enough for the instant "freeze" effect the wings have. But I like the other powers -- work well to represent how the creatures operate. Oh, and I loved the idea that there was something that preyed on Slake Moths... And that something is far to dangerous to consider messing with. And the Weaver is really, really weird. I started reading his (it's?) lines out loud to get the right effect and understanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted May 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO There's a brief encounter with an Hotchi near the begining of the third book, Iron Council. I think it is riding a bird of some sort from memory. They are kind of an anthropomorphised hedgehog. Most of the characters (if not all) never appear in the other books, except as mentions. Spiral Jacobs and Toro from the third book have a brief mention in Perdido as well... Oh, and the Construct Council is mentioned in the third book as well. Brian Blessed would be good for Isaac (IMHO), or possibly a very grizzled Robbie Coltrane... I like how in one of his interviews, China goes on about the Monsters, and how he likes them - and it's just that publishers insist he builds a story around them before he can get them published I like the sheer frontier-quality of the setting. Everything is unknown and dangerous.... I also like the Mayor and the Ambassador of Hell in Perdido - I'd like to know how their relationship works... The concept of the Weaver is very cool. And I don't think I'll ever attempt the stats for them - they're really "GM plot device" because they are so alien. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted May 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO Just found out that he's won the Arthur C. Clarke Award again this year (this time for Iron Council) ... congrats! http://www.appomattox.demon.co.uk/acca/winners.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savinien Posted July 27, 2005 Report Share Posted July 27, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO I'm reading the first book now and got it at the library. I hope you haven't given up on the conversions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted July 27, 2005 Report Share Posted July 27, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO I need to order IRON COUNCIL now that it's out in softback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted July 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO Sorry, since then - Western Shores has kind of taken over, now that I'm actually GMing again. Oodles of background material and world design to do.. Also recently sidetracked into making steampunk papermodels for a free website (on a side note - someone has been hacking the site - http://www.paperworlds.com which gets me really irritated) However - I will get back to it when I have less other distractions - and if anyone wants to do their own content or conversions, I'm happy to host it and give credit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savinien Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Re: New Crobuzon to HERO Finished the first book. Interesting and a good read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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