HeroQuest
Issaries, Inc. |
Glorantha Trading AssociationTALES OF THE GLORANTHA TRADING ASSOCIATIONWinter's Grip (January, 2004)Greetings to Observers of the Glorantha Trading Association. In the throes of winter, All hope for an early Spring. Hail to Elmal and the Torch Gifts. Gather 'round the coals and hearken to the word on Glorantha, Issaries Inc., its partner publishers, and GTA activity. Welcome new members in from the cold; thanks again to those who contribute their hidden stores that the Tribe may survive another season of darkness. Herein you'll find tales about:
HEROES, DRAGONS, AND MORE HEROESThree great things since the last Tales: Hero's Book in October; Dragon Pass at the beginning of December; and Masters of Luck and Death should be arriving in stores now! Detail on Gloranthan Goodies provided by Stephen Martin:Mark Galeotti's HERO'S BOOK is a quick start guide to the world of HeroQuest and its rules. The first half includes character creation, contests and the like, theist magic, and an introduction to play. The second half outlines Heortlings and Lunars -- their lifestyles, cultures, and gods, with 6 pre-generated characters and a sample hero band for each.
Hero's Book, Playing in the Hero Wars Now out is DRAGON PASS: LAND OF THUNDER details the lands, myths, and history of Dragon Pass, the heart of Glorantha. Much in this gazetteer is new, thanks to Ian Cooper's inspired mining of Greg's writings and compilation of works from other Gloranthan luminaries to form the definitive record of Kerofinela. With it is Wesley Quadros' stunning and information-packed full-color map of the region. This books' stunning artwork includes new pieces by legendary artist William Church.
Dragon Pass, Land of Thunder (A Gazetteer to Kerofinela) The newest book is just out! MASTERS OF LUCK AND DEATH collects hero bands gathered and edited by Stephen Martin. Here is 'something for every purpose' -- 27 groups who might be encountered in Dragon Pass (and beyond), from Teshnan dancers to Orlanthi rebels, Lunar missionaries to Grazer warriors. Included are a few old favorites such as the Temple of the Wooden Sword and Geo's Inn, others that until now have just been given passing mention like the lofty Comet Seers, and many that are completely new.
Masters of Luck and Death, Hero Bands for the Hero Wars COMING SOONGlorantha lovers will find more great books in 2004, says acquisitions editor Mark Galeotti:The third volume in the Sartar Rising scenario arc, GATHERING THUNDER, is due in April. The Empire has been hurt, but not defeated. The rebels must quickly find new allies and magics if they are to stand any chance of defeating the Empire's latest stratagem, the construction of a new Temple of the Reaching Moon to bring all of Dragon Pass under the Glowline. This book culminates in the epic Boatraising, as heroes accompany Kallyr herself on a mighty heroquest to reshape the skies. This book is currently in final editing. The second volume of the Imperial Lunar Handbook, UNDER THE RED MOON, should come with midsummer. Long-awaited, it studies the Lunar Way and provides players and narrators with more information on Lunar politics, philosophy, and perspectives than has ever been dreamed of. Included are a huge array of magical keywords: from familiar aspects of the Moon Herself to new gods as Grim UrGethru, regimental deity of the 2nd Household Foot; and Borovich of Derfik, the experimental heroquester. This book is almost ready for final editing. This Fall should see publication of THE WORLD OF GLORANTHA, a 64 page book by Mark Galeotti. Issaries aims to set out the essentials of Glorantha, a world still wide open for adventure and fun while full of rich and intricate plots, creeds, and cultures. This will be an introductory work that provides enough basic information for play without burying the novice under a deluge of detail. No mere reprint of Glorantha: Introduction to the Hero Wars, The World of Glorantha gives players and narrators alike a fresh look at the ancient world of Glorantha. Each section focuses on the upcoming great events of the Hero Wars and how they affect the lands and people of Glorantha, both near and far. Several plots, conspiracies, and struggles are revealed for the first time in this book. Each 2-page spread also has a "cool box" that will discuss some interesting subject related to that spread -- and again, we are not just be rehashing old information here. The Spirit Mountains of Kimos, hidden secrets of the Blue Moon Plateau, and the War for the Center are just a few of the subjects brought to light in this book. A tentative table of contents is available, which will be updated from time to time.
Rolling Along...
GLORANTHAN ART COMPETITIONAnother artistic venture, presented by acquisitions editor Mark Galeotti:Delighted by the art competition for the Imperial Lunar Handbook, Issaries asks what might the Gloranthan Tribe do with a wider canvas. To answer that question, we offer a new competition for illustrations in The World of Glorantha. We want to see distinctive but everyday artifacts and symbols of the cultures and peoples of Glorantha, not vignettes or great tableaux. Send in relatively small black line drawings of things like statues and seals, pots and plows, knives and necklaces, swords and scroll-tubes, coins and combs, and all the other impedimenta of daily life. Ultimately, we are looking for well-drawn pictures that not only look good but that also illustrate something about the culture or religion of some part of Glorantha. For an idea of the areas of Glorantha that the book will cover, see the product page. Read the rules carefully, as submissions that do not conform will automatically be disqualified. Deadline for entry is March 31, 2004, and as before all entries become the property of Issaries, Inc. One or more winning entries will be included in The World of Glorantha; each winning artist will receive credit and a contributor copy of the book. We will announce the winner in a GTA Dispatch and on the web site. Illustrations may also be used on the Issaries website, or in future books (with due credit and contributor copies). AND SPEAKING OF CONTESTSMore on the latest contest from Stephen Martin. Remember: if you enter contests like these you need to include your full name and mailing address, and don't mix other correspondence with a contest entry. Otherwise your entry may be ignored.Old Business: Something for Everyone, HEROFORMING Issaries received 17 submissions from 8 contestants for the Heroforming contest. Overall, they are probably the best crop of competition entries yet. (Does this reflect how much fun character generation can be in HeroQuest?) And what mysterious reason is behind so many of the submitted heroes having "strands of silver in dark hair"?. Great job, all! Here are the winners: 1st Place: PARMAL CANDEL, (by Bradley "Brand" Robins), which was among the Top Five of all of the judges. 2nd Place tie: CHOLARA (by Matthieu Vallée) and LLYWEL TATHAN (by Bradley "Brand" Robins) as each appeared in four out of five judges' Top Five lists. Completed character sheets will be available for the three winners soon at. (Additional heroes will follow as Issaries volunteer Dave Camoirano has time.) Issaries will send Brand and Matthieu each a copy of Hero's Book. Nearly New Business: HEROIC TALES Competition Winners, from Newt Newport: The judges for the Ring of HeroQuest Narrators have convened to announce: 1st Place: "The Knight of Ghosts and Shadows" (by Bradley "Brand" Robins), who received Dragon Pass as his prize; 2nd Place: "Chef of Iron" (by Guy Hoyle), who received the Lunar Empire map; 3rd Place: "What Child is This?" (by Harald Smith), who received a copy of Hero's Book; Honorable mention goes to James Frusetta (aka Jamuz) for a last minute attempt to swamp the completion with "Uz Tales"
Thanks to all the entrants. It really has been fun and a pleasure to read all
your entries. Even though the competition is now over we are still accepting
submissions and the section will be updated on a monthly basis. To read these
(and all the other entries), visit
New Business: HEROQUESTING OBSERVERS.
The winners of the last GTA Observers drawing were Graham James and
Barale-Thomas. They each received a copy of HeroQuest.
As usual, the next Observer drawing starts immediately. This time, Issaries
is donating two copies of Masters of Luck and Death! Twenty-seven hero bands
chock full of new and old favorites, this is Stephen's personal favorite of
all Issaries books, past or present. On March 1st, Issaries will select two
non-paid GTA observers at random from the entrees received by midnight PST on
Leap Day: February 29, 2004. (Please remember to include OBSERVER CONTEST in
the subject line.)
If you know someone who would like to keep up on all happenings Gloranthan,
and maybe score a free prize sometime, have them
contact us
so that we can add them to the list of Observers. Or just
send them to http://www.rpglist.org/mailman/listinfo/gta-observer
to add themselves!)
As before, the Best of Glorantha 2003 recognizes the finest current efforts
to further Glorantha and HeroQuest. If you want to get in on the process, you
still have time: join the GTA as an initiate or other paid member before the
February 15 deadline and you will be able to vote, too! Go
here for more information on the GTA and the Best of Glorantha awards.
New Initiates: Gerald Bosch, Tanner Critz, Frederic Dumont, Rob Heinsoo.
The hero bands are gathering for war, and although most of the tribe has
responded to the call, some renowned members have failed to show. Without them,
the bands are seriously understrength. If you know of a working email for any of
the following GTA members, please
send it to us
or ask them to contact us:
Britt Daniel
We have names but no good email addresses for several anonymous members, too (a
heroquester can never be too careful, after all). Unless you keep your contact
information current, if you are an anonymous member you will regularly miss out
on PASSWORD DISTRIBUTIONS, special offers, and all sorts of insider stuff. Even
if you are not an anonymous member you may miss out, as the repeat appearances
of some of the above names shows.
We are pleased to say that, following our link-up with the
SJG Men In Black program, Issaries is now putting its support
for demonstration games at conventions and stores on a new footing by appointing
two new Event Liaisons. Paul 'Newt' Newport, leading light behind the RHQN, and
stalwart champion Roderick Robertson will be stepping forward as UK/European and
North American Liaisons, respectively.
Roderick and Newt will coordinate Issaries and HeroQuest promotion in the world
at large. Although the exact responsibilities will be announced at greater length
in the near future, their basic goal is to help bring awareness of HeroQuest and
Glorantha to as many people as possible, with an eye towards convincing them that
they must go out and buy all of our products! They will receive requests from
conventions for support and send appropriate materials, coordinate demonstrations
for conventions and game stores, and work with the Men In Black (of which both
are members). While we expect all official demo work to take place under the
auspices of the MIB program, Newt and Roderick are your first points of contact
if you want to learn more about demonstrating HeroQuest, even if you have no
plans to join the MIB.
Roderick and Newt are seeking individuals now to run HeroQuest games both
locally and at larger conventions, and can be reached
here.
Narrators are encouraged to join the Men In Black so that they can receive
direct rewards for their work. However, this is not required, and we plan to
offer support material to anyone who wants to play or promote HeroQuest.
Nick will also be overseeing the conversion of all of the existing fan
submissions from Hero Wars to HeroQuest -- now that HeroQuest is out, some of
the material on needs an update. You can help Nick out:
if you have
fan contributions on the site we would appreciate
it if you could review them and update them according to
the HQ conversion notes where necessary. And if
you just want to lend a helping hand,
email Nick
and offer to help convert other material (such as the old RQ scenarios). And, of
course, we continue to seek submissions of keywords, scenarios, and other
support material for HeroQuest. New templates will be up soon, so start typing!
What Issaries needs is someone familiar enough with Paint Shop, Photoshop, or a
similar graphics tool to put the images together, colorize images when
appropriate, and generally create interesting art and merchandise.
(Professional experience in graphic design or marketing is NOT required!) This
volunteer also needs access to the internet to upload the images and manage the
stores. As well as the heartfelt thanks of Issaries and the occasional perk, the
volunteer would also be able to purchase CafePress goods at a discounted rate.
If you are interested,
send an email
telling Issaries why you are the right person for the job.
GAME AIDS FROM HEROQUEST (pages 268-275) are available for download
in PDF format. And now, they are
available in booklet form as well
-- formatted by Viktor Haag so that it can be printed and then stapled in
a convenient booklet form. We hope to see more of Viktor's rearrangements soon!
Thanks, Viktor.
HEROQUEST CONVERSIONS show how compatible Hero Wars and
HeroQuest are: both use
the same core rules mechanic yet they are different games in many ways. Yet
Issaries claims that all of their old supplements remain fully compatible with
the new rules! How compatible they are can be judged by looking at the "Hero
Wars to HeroQuest Conversion" files, which went online at the end of last year
but now are available in PDF form. Ranging from guidelines on converting heroes
to the welcome information that no conversions are needed for some books, these
notes by Dave Camoirano, Roderick Robertson, and Stephen Martin
are available here.
By now, everyone should have heard that HEROQUEST VOICES is at last available
as a single download. Both screen resolution and print quality versions of this
seminal Gloranthan document are available from Pen & Paper; for more information
or to link, go to the product page. And soon,
it will be available in one of Viktor's booklet version as well!
Need to teach HeroQuest? Use a HEROQUEST DEMO! Since HeroQuest
has shipped, now
is the time to spread the word. And Jeff Kyer can help. Developed for Steve
Jackson Games' "Men In Black" demo program, Jeff has written a "how to" manual
for teaching HeroQuest to both old hands and the uninitiated.
"The Taxman Commeth" is a short adventure that contains an outline, a teaching script, and
a map of the Tin Inn by Darran Sims. Combined with
HeroQuest Voices or the sample heroes it is
almost all you need to teach the game (candies and dice not included).
Coming Soon -- HEROQUEST MAGIC AIDS!
As if that wasn't enough, the HeroQuest Errata has been expanded
to correct a few more errors in the rulesbook.
One of the changes incorporated into both documents involves
Natural Magic, a
category of ability that has been added to clarify and correct the information
in HeroQuest regarding innate abilities (such as the Shapechange to Puma
ability of the Puma People).
Got even more questions? NARRATOR ADVICE is coming soon, a semi-regular column
of advice for narrators (and players) about issues they have had to deal with
in play. From "Creating New Keywords" to "Dramatic Use of AP in Contests",
these articles will be sure to help everyone's game.
The first ORIGINS event deadline has come and gone, but we may need narrators
to run some of the events we submitted. And there is still time to register
your own events.
Contact us
if you are planning to
attend. Greg Stafford will be there as a guest of honor once again this year.
CONTINUUM, the successor to Convulsions, picks up on 23-26 July, in Leicester,
UK. Glorantha and HeroQuest will be at the heart of the event, which includes
tabletop games, freeforms, seminars, and displays. Luminaries expected
include Charlie Krank of Chaosium and Mark Galeotti of The Unspoken Word, and
possibly even an official representative from Issaries, Inc. For details,
prices, and registration, see the Continuum web site.
GENCON INDY (formerly known as just GenCon) will be held August 19-22 in
Indianapolis, Indiana. Issaries is seeking individuals to run events for us.
We can provide scenarios and prizes, but we need reliable narrators to help
bring the Word to those lost in the Darkness that is d20.
Email us
if you are going and can run one of our events (or plan to run one of your own).
Issaries has been contacted by several other conventions. Check out the
conventions pages (for officially sponsored events) and
(for other conventions). We will try to update these regularly.
Last summer, the head of Issaries' Japanese licensee (Guild Corporation of
Japan) retired due to ill health. He has transferred all business interests to
ArcLight, thus ending the Japanese Hero Wars license. Although we know that
Atelier Third had at least one supplement ready to go, its status (and theirs)
is unknown at this time.
As if that was not enough, Multisim was shut down by the French government for
financial reasons, thus ending our French license as well.
To top it all off, the licensed Gloranthan Classics miniatures came to their
foretold end on December 31st. If you didn't get your sets before then, good
luck trying to find them now -- the license requires that the molds be
destroyed, so none of these figures will ever again be cast.
However, there is new growth as well. Issaries has finalized an agreement with
the creators of The Path of the Damned, so this is now a licensed product. We
are very pleased to be associated with such fine talents as Guillermo Ortiz
and Mariano Krasmanski.
Additionally, Edge Entertainment tells us that they will be releasing the
Spanish language edition of HeroQuest this Spring. The delays in Issaries'
publication of the game unfortunately delayed Edge as well, but they now have a
much stronger product to release upon the Spanish market worldwide, with a great
range of support products available to them. They have also sponsored a fan
group's mailing list and fanzine (see QUICK PLUGS for details).
More information (including the translation's striking cover by Alejandro Terán)
is available. Keep an eye on
Edge Entertainment's site for details.
The RHQN (as it is known) was established by a team of stalwarts from the
United Kingdom who have been heroic in their commitment to running HeroQuest
at conventions and stores in the UK and Europe: Mick Rowe, Darran Sims,
Stuart 'Dr. Moose' Mousir-Harrison, and its supermo, Paul 'Newt' Newport, who
is also Issaries' European Event Liaison.
The idea behind the RHQN is to support narrators who are actively playing
their part in taking the Gloranthan message to conventions and stores. The
idea is not in any way to undermine the MIB program -- quite the opposite,
members are encouraged to join the MIBs -- but to provide an additional
forum for advice, support, the sharing of draft scenarios, and general mutual
assistance. As time goes on, the members hope to expand the types of material
available on the site.
The RHQN website is a great resource for _any_
narrator. It already includes a section of "Heroic Tales" (cameos suitable as
the basis for a session's play), and will shortly feature "Locations & Lairs"
(interesting and atmospheric locations for play). Before then, however, the
RHQN is seeking submissions for "Patrons & Nemeses". They are looking for
powerful narrator characters who, in the not-so black and white world of
Glorantha, can either be a source of aid and comfort or one of annoyance and
pain, depending on how the heroes. Like the Heroic Tales competition, they will
award prizes to the top three submissions. See their web site for more details.
The RHQN has already lined up events at several conventions, starting with
Conceptions 2004 in Dorset UK (which runs from Wednesday March 3rd to Sunday
March 7th), a ridiculously inexpensive five-day con. They'll be running many
a game of HeroQuest, so head out to the seashore and get in a game!! Other
cons which they have confirmed are Beer n Pretzels (Burton-upon Trent, UK --
May), Continuum (Leicester, UK -- July), and Battlemasters (UK -- September).
More conventions will be confirmed as the year progresses.
Whether you are interested in joining as a member, or simply want to explore
the resources available there for narrators, we strongly encourage you to
take a look at the RHQN.
Contact Newt
if you have any queries or are interested in joining.
Ron Edwards had a great article on Thed, Mother of Disease, in the Fall issue of
the online 'zine, Daedalus. Also featured were an interview with Greg Stafford
and an article on "The Power of Myth" by Chris Chinn (co-author of "The Well of
Souls" scenario recently announced on the Ring of HeroQuest Narrators website).
Check them out.
Issaries is still looking for some old artists whose works we would like to use
again! Anyone who can help locate David Dudley, Jeff Brain, Tom Clark, Steve
Oliff, or Dale Enzenbacher would be doing us a big favor by
contacting us.
(We know Dale Enzenbacher is still local to the
Bay Area, and Steve Oliff is likely in Southern California.)
Two more HeroQuest articles appeared in Pyramid, the online roleplaying 'zine
from Steve Jackson Games. (You should check it out). First, Mark Galeotti
tells of the Kralori Homeland cut from
HeroQuest in the October issue.
Second,
The Two-Times Unfortunate Encyclopedists of Barbaric Deviltry
in the December issue, a hero band cut from Masters of Luck and Death because the Kralori homeland
was not in HeroQuest.
Remember, Issaries Inc. has closed down its Oakland office and moved to
Concord, CA. If you need to contact Issaries, please use only the new address
and phone number. Please
email
before you mail something large (like a package or shipment of books!), or if you are sending
something you don't trust the post office to deliver safe and unbroken (like
a CD), so he can talk to you about an alternative mailing address.
Issaries, Inc.
Trade Talk #13 "OUTSIDE GENERTELA: THE ISLANDS" is out, and #14 is on the
schedule to be "Outside Genertela: The Southern Continent". Submissions are
expected from David Dunham, Simon Bray, Martin Hawley & Peter Metcalfe,
Andre Jarosch, and Shannon Applecline, among others. Learn about the islands,
the war beneath the waves, Harrek's future kingdom and jungle Aldryami, and
other secrets. The Chaos Society also reports that the licensed comic book
Path of the Damned #3 should be available soon. Other books they are working
on include Borderlands Companion (working title of the final "Pavis & Big
Rubble Companion"), Ye Booke of Tentacles Vol. VI, and perhaps a follow-up to
"The Widow's Tale". Finally, they want to remind everyone that Tentacles will
be held at Whitsun from May 28th to 31th. See the Tradetalk website
and the Tentacles website for more information.
How about VISION RUNICA, in Spanish. Issue "0" was published as a PDF in
December 2003, a "monograph concerning the Lunar Empire" according to Germán
Cantabrana González, one of the 'zine's editors. The 64 page fanzine is from
the Hispanic Heroquest Official Mailing List (which used to be known as the
Glorantha Hispana list) -- all of the text, illustrations, and maps were
provided by members of the list, which is supporting and supported by Edge
Entertainment, Issaries' Spanish-language licensee for HeroQuest. They hope
to produce an issue every 6 months, more or less, and hope to be able to
produce print issues in the future. (They hope to release the next issue in
May 2004). Check out
scenarios, a color map of Ralios, and articles on Lalia, Arkat, Eurmal, and more!
And have you seen the dandy new bi-lingual KETHAELA website dedicated to the
Holy Country? See it in (French) and
(English) Wow! Site members have contributed a
set of pictures and descriptions of various Holy Country places. Plus, sites
are cross-linked, they have articles for download, and the whole site's look
can be customized to match whichever of the Sixths you come from. Well Done!
And they even make the effort to translate it all into English, too. Thanks!
Moon Design Publications reports that the fourth (and last) volume of the
licensed Gloranthan Classics series, BORDERLANDS AND BEYOND, will be ready
for Tentacles 2004 in May at the earliest, or Continuum in July at the latest.
It will include the contents of Borderlands, Plunder, and Runemasters, plus a
few new bits and pieces, including new art and some unpublished material.
Artists who want to help with new artwork are welcome to
contact Rick Meints.
Noted artist Dario Corallo is already working on the cover.
The book is currently in the layout stage, and will have the same look and feel
as the previous three volumes. Rick will start taking pre-orders for both
softcover and hardcover versions once it has gone to the printers, which will
be about a month before it is ready for shipment.
Are you getting daily Glorantha tidbits in your email? If not, check out
LOKARNOS (nominated for Best of Glorantha 2003: Best Website)
and its wonders, or link to it from the main Glorantha page.
Truly great reminders of all the online material in internet archives across the
worlds of Glorantha.
I for one find maps the hallmark of inviting Otherness. Stories and statistics are
fine enough, but the invitation to explore, to find out what's "in between" the
known and named, lives best in a well made map. The maps appended to the Lord of
the Rings got me started, but my personal adventures still live in Dragon Pass.
The accomplishment here is the collection, including some small differences from
what I remember, so much that is new, and lots that I'd forgotten.
Give and Share this book.
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