Post by strummingbear on Dec 3, 2014 23:15:23 GMT
Hello all,
Around two years ago I had what I could only acknowledge as a Really Bad Idea. Inspired by my re-reading of Mongoose Publishing's "The Darklands" and various thoughts around the Lone Wolf epic, I imagined the turmoil in the Darklands after Zagarna perished. For some reason, I noticed that the existence of full statistics for the various Darklords mad it theoretically possible to play the struggle for dominance.
From there on, the notion never quite stopped nagging at me. I wrote an introduction for the situation and one for each Darklord (I even wrote two for Khatellu out of sheer disorganization), and was about to launch a play-by-post game on RPG.net ... when the news of Lone Wolf leaving Mongoose fell on the Internet.
It certainly was not the time to ask (however nicely) Mongoose for permission to use the Darklords' statistics for that game. I was not sure how welcomed the notion would be in the best of times, which that certainly was not. So the thing remained on the back burner.
Now, however, the epic Let's Play Lone Wolf gamebooks threads are slowly coming towards their conclusion, and I feel that the Battle for the Black Throne might just be the thing to maintain enthusiasm for adventures in Magnamund.
So ... what would be acceptable?
PS: let me add the general introduction and the description for Menashga. Just to give you an idea.
General introduction (all the Darklords receive the same):
The messengers have just confirmed the news. Darklord Zagarna, Archlord of Helgedad, was on the verge of overrunning hateful Sommerlund when he was destroyed by an upstart Kai Lord by the name of Lone Wolf. Not only had he fortuitously escaped the slaughter of his order at Zagarna's orders, but he had journeyed to find and bring back the dread Sommerswerd, whose power annihilated the Archlord. This is dire news indeed. As one of the other Darklords - among whom Zagarna reigned supreme in the service of the evil god Naar - you know that this terrifying development also holds the key to your own greatness.
You fully realize that the smart thing to do would be to band together with your peers and crush the impudent stripling - not even a Master, for Naar's sake! However, the defeat has struck a terrible blow in your armies' morale, and reaching said stripling will take efforts. Moreover, all of you are embodiments of evil so atrocious that you never even hold your hands behind your back to make sure one won't take the opportunity to stab you. Darklords have no peers, only servants and rivals. And maybe one master under Naar - if that many.
So crush the obnoxious pup you will. But first, you must rally the other Darklords against him - and there's only one way to achieve that: bow them all to your authority and destroy those who won't submit.
The Third Battle for Helgedad has begun. Already you are planning and contemplating how best to defeat the seventeen quasi-divine beings who also claim the Black Throne, and you know they do so as well. For the time being, a meeting of crisis has been convened in the largest chamber of the Black Tower. This will not be an encounter to plan and work together, but one to determine the new Darklord - by means foul and fouler. There will be no mercy, only destruction or abject obedience.
Introduction for Menashga:
You are Menashga, Darklord of the Black Bastion. Yours is the duty to watch out against invasion by the hated Sommlending armies; this has never been more pressing now that, unthinkably, Zagarna has been defeated. You know fully well what will happen next. Though the armies are ready to perform Zagarna's master plan spread across the whole of Magnamund and bring complete victory, they will be torn apart in the Darklords' power struggle.
That is simply impossible. Though you are not necessarily talented enough in politics and diplomacy to be the successful leader Zagarna was, you are second to none as far as strategy and tactics are concerned. The time has come to wage war against the world: such times call for a general in command. You may even relinquish the Throne to someone else once victory is assured, but for now you have to assume the burden. If sparing most of the armies for the fight against outer enemies means risking some of them against their former allies, then you shall. And if crushing other Darklords is the price to pay for the total victory that is still at hand ... you will not waver.
Around two years ago I had what I could only acknowledge as a Really Bad Idea. Inspired by my re-reading of Mongoose Publishing's "The Darklands" and various thoughts around the Lone Wolf epic, I imagined the turmoil in the Darklands after Zagarna perished. For some reason, I noticed that the existence of full statistics for the various Darklords mad it theoretically possible to play the struggle for dominance.
From there on, the notion never quite stopped nagging at me. I wrote an introduction for the situation and one for each Darklord (I even wrote two for Khatellu out of sheer disorganization), and was about to launch a play-by-post game on RPG.net ... when the news of Lone Wolf leaving Mongoose fell on the Internet.
It certainly was not the time to ask (however nicely) Mongoose for permission to use the Darklords' statistics for that game. I was not sure how welcomed the notion would be in the best of times, which that certainly was not. So the thing remained on the back burner.
Now, however, the epic Let's Play Lone Wolf gamebooks threads are slowly coming towards their conclusion, and I feel that the Battle for the Black Throne might just be the thing to maintain enthusiasm for adventures in Magnamund.
So ... what would be acceptable?
- Full disclosure of the Darklords' stats on the forum?
- Disclosure of said stats only to subscribing players, swearing not to reveal it to others?
- Restriction of play to those who happen to have the book?
- Something else?
PS: let me add the general introduction and the description for Menashga. Just to give you an idea.
General introduction (all the Darklords receive the same):
The messengers have just confirmed the news. Darklord Zagarna, Archlord of Helgedad, was on the verge of overrunning hateful Sommerlund when he was destroyed by an upstart Kai Lord by the name of Lone Wolf. Not only had he fortuitously escaped the slaughter of his order at Zagarna's orders, but he had journeyed to find and bring back the dread Sommerswerd, whose power annihilated the Archlord. This is dire news indeed. As one of the other Darklords - among whom Zagarna reigned supreme in the service of the evil god Naar - you know that this terrifying development also holds the key to your own greatness.
You fully realize that the smart thing to do would be to band together with your peers and crush the impudent stripling - not even a Master, for Naar's sake! However, the defeat has struck a terrible blow in your armies' morale, and reaching said stripling will take efforts. Moreover, all of you are embodiments of evil so atrocious that you never even hold your hands behind your back to make sure one won't take the opportunity to stab you. Darklords have no peers, only servants and rivals. And maybe one master under Naar - if that many.
So crush the obnoxious pup you will. But first, you must rally the other Darklords against him - and there's only one way to achieve that: bow them all to your authority and destroy those who won't submit.
The Third Battle for Helgedad has begun. Already you are planning and contemplating how best to defeat the seventeen quasi-divine beings who also claim the Black Throne, and you know they do so as well. For the time being, a meeting of crisis has been convened in the largest chamber of the Black Tower. This will not be an encounter to plan and work together, but one to determine the new Darklord - by means foul and fouler. There will be no mercy, only destruction or abject obedience.
Introduction for Menashga:
You are Menashga, Darklord of the Black Bastion. Yours is the duty to watch out against invasion by the hated Sommlending armies; this has never been more pressing now that, unthinkably, Zagarna has been defeated. You know fully well what will happen next. Though the armies are ready to perform Zagarna's master plan spread across the whole of Magnamund and bring complete victory, they will be torn apart in the Darklords' power struggle.
That is simply impossible. Though you are not necessarily talented enough in politics and diplomacy to be the successful leader Zagarna was, you are second to none as far as strategy and tactics are concerned. The time has come to wage war against the world: such times call for a general in command. You may even relinquish the Throne to someone else once victory is assured, but for now you have to assume the burden. If sparing most of the armies for the fight against outer enemies means risking some of them against their former allies, then you shall. And if crushing other Darklords is the price to pay for the total victory that is still at hand ... you will not waver.