Group Hug...why do we love (and play) TROS?

[Vanguard]

I remember leafing through a catalogue at work and seeing a promo for TROS.  It conjured up ideas of Conan and gritty high adventure (not Arnold in a loin-cloth) and I was intrigued.

Like many others here, I would consider myself an experienced RPGer, but hadn't played seriously for a couple of years - I'd become disillusioned I guess. But something about TROS really make me take notice. Having the advantage of ordering RPGs for my shop, I could afford to order in a few copies.

Once they'd arrived, I was regularly flicking through the pages, putting off other jobs. By the end of the week, I'd finished it. I'd become excited. Here was a system which played on many of the flaws previous RPGs had, catering to a generation weary of power-gaming. People who wanted to be part of a story.

But would it work in practice? It all seemed very ambitious.

On the sheer basis of my rambling enthusiasm, i managed to convince a couple of mates to pop round and have a go. And to my delight, it did work. A system which truly encouraged thoughtful play, engineered fights to be so intense that scenes themselves were embelished.

So yeah, I really think you've catered to a crowd hungry for something like, Jake. Thoughtful, intelligent, but not overbearing. Congratulations, and many thanks.

Roleplaying is fun again!

[Nick the Nevermet]

Jake, I hope this thread has raised your spirits and gotten your mind off the domain issue.  I think its quite clear that your game has met with a lot of positive feedback.  Also, I think its also interesting that you yourself are a hit.  In this day & age of online fanboys getting their jollies by attacking game designers, you were seen as cool & informative.

[Jason L Blair]

Honestly, I was going to buy the book anyway because Jake was going to be part of the GenCon indie booth, but also I wanted to see what Ron was going gaga over. However, once I actually saw the game...WOW. I was blown away by the production value. RPG quality and aesthetic runs the spectrum, and TRoS was high up there.

That, and Jake is an honest-to-Mergatroid good guy. He's friendly, he's enthusiastic, and knows what he's talking about.

[Ashren Va'Hale]

Well, actually jake, I have to give your wife credit on this one! She did an impromptu quasi-demo at a quark social last year and told me to go to your demo (incidently the same one Lance went to) and boy was I enthused by how well the game played. I have been trying to find a system that worked for years, I started RPGing in middle school on the palladium system, got sick of the way in which characters could survive multiple gunshots with no problems and I endeavored to make my own.
For me RPG's were about epic storytelling, an interactive novel that was written by a bunch of people at once, and most systems were not effective in this sense.
After playing that demo at the dragons keep where I wanted to see if your game could handle a non-combat character I was so impressed I decided to get the dang book the moment I could- there are two books in my apartment here in Utah and I gave my first book to some guys I introduced to TROS in VA and they are now introducing it to others. even one of the game store clerks got hooked on it! Your game caters to people like me who like games with epic tales of conflict, morality and humanism-
Now I just want all the supplements I can get!
-Seth

[Jake Norwood]

Thanks a lot guys. Yeah, this did raise my spirits a lot. What's more, is that it reminded me why I game and why I wrote the Riddle, which motivates me to write and produce more.

So here's an informal announcement. We're going to put Beasts and Men on shelves early next year. We'd do it sooner, but the industry has rules. I'll make a PDF available for you locals, perhaps, with credit toward the book, perhaps.

So thanks a million, and keep on playing (and posting).

Jake

[allahlav]

I run a game store in Melbourne, Australia, and I see so many new role playing games come and go that I don't often buy them anymore.  Sorry to say that was the case with Riddle of Steel.  Then my friend, a rabid Conan fan, saw it and had to have it, just for the title.  He told me how great it was, so I started reading the RPGNet thread, and then this forum.  I was impressed by how even-handed the discussions were, and how you, Jake, put in the effort to dicuss your game and its mechanics, not just sell it.  

So I bought a copy.  And now I'm the one selling it to my customers, by discussing why it's the most mature and innovative game in the last few (well, several) years.  Yes, the combat system is fabulous, all the more so for the lengths even good fighters will go to avoid it.  But it is the maturity of the game as a whole that impresses me the most.  An experience system that directly rewards role playing your character's goals?  Unheard of!  A sorcery system that is scary to everyone concerned?  Incredible!  

I have gamed with the same group of friends for the last 18 years, and I have never seen us all excited about one game before, but we are all excited about tROS.  Don't let the bastards get you down Jake.  You have produced a gem of a game, one that deserves all the praise it has received.

[Herr Nils]

A decision I'll never forget, as tRoS probably won't come to Sweden anytime soon...

Well I' am putting up a hardcore team of fencers and roll players that will hold an TRoS event at Gothcon XVII. We will probably do a quick ARMA information to. Hopefully this will rise the interest for TRoS In Sweden.

[Jake Norwood]

And now I'm the one selling it to my customers, by discussing why it's the most mature and innovative game in the last few (well, several) years.  

I've found that, honestly, other than net threads the number one seller of TROS has been game store owners that get hooked. I can name a dozen of them off the top of my head--it's where we got our start, actually. It's also the main reason I'm going to try and do as much as I can in print--because it helps you guys, and you guys have been very loyal and supportive to me.

SO keep on selling it!

Jake

[Jake Norwood]

A decision I'll never forget, as tRoS probably won't come to Sweden anytime soon...

Well I' am putting up a hardcore team of fencers and roll players that will hold an TRoS event at Gothcon XVII. We will probably do a quick ARMA information to. Hopefully this will rise the interest for TRoS In Sweden.

John C. Thinks really highly of you guys. I'm glad to hear of all the interest. Now, to find a distributor up there...

Jake

[Herr Nils]

John C. Thinks really highly of you guys. I'm glad to hear of all the interest. Now, to find a distributor up there...
Jake

We have high thoughts about Mr. Clements to, even when he tries to tell us that South Park is a subtle TV show. ;^)

You can direct the costumers asking for TRoS to http://www.hobbygames.se they make an order each month. But last time they couldn't get more then 4 copies from their distributor, it was apparently selling very well.

[Mike Holmes]

That, and Jake is an honest-to-Mergatroid good guy. He's friendly, he's enthusiastic, and knows what he's talking about.

What Blair said. How *did* you get so cool, Jacob? Gotta be all the time in Europe or something. World travellers are always cool.

Mike

[Claymore]

I've found that, honestly, other than net threads the number one seller of TROS has been game store owners that get hooked. I can name a dozen of them off the top of my head--it's where we got our start, actually. It's also the main reason I'm going to try and do as much as I can in print--because it helps you guys, and you guys have been very loyal and supportive to me.

SO keep on selling it!

Jake

I've moved over 12 in my store alone. If you show the game to someone and point out it's strength's, it sells.

Jake, when will Beasts and Men be solicited through game trader?

Claymore

[qirien]

So, my husband and I play a lot of CRPGs (computer role-playing games) together - Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, etc.  One thing that has always irked us a little is how unrealistic D&D is.  We would often say things like:
"Oh, sure, so I get a critical hit on this fire giant with a two handed sword, which should basically be the equivalent of slicing his head off, but he still has 10000 hit points left?!"
"What's up with memorizing spells, anyway?  Sorry, I know I memorized Magic Missile last night, but I can only remember one at a time and I already cast it . . . it's the same spell!"
"What does a priest need to rest for?  Either his/her god's listening, or they're not!"
"No, I don't know how our bard can wield a harp and a long sword at the same time.  Hush."

Lyrax had been telling me about how cool this new RPG was, and I thought "yeah, yeah, just what the world needs, another D&D clone".  Then one evening I picked up the book, and made a character just for fun.  Not only was the book fun to read, but everything about making a character was fun, too.  Especially the things that really make your characters come to live, like Flaws, Gifts, and Fate Points.  The many cultures described in detail in the book were great, too.  It was cool, too, how my husband's character was a scholar/archaeologist - and he actually got to play a vital role in the game.

The one thing that turned me off a little from the book was the one or two gratuitous scantilly-clad female characters.  Luckily, the superb content of the book, and the other good illustrations sort of negated that.

[Jake Norwood]

Jake, when will Beasts and Men be solicited through game trader?

Like I said...unnoficially, Feb or March...

Its not that we can't get it out sooner, but distributors have this whole 4-month waiting thing. Grrrr.

Jake

[Thirsty Viking]

Jake, when will Beasts and Men be solicited through game trader?

Like I said...unnoficially, Feb or March...

Its not that we can't get it out sooner, but distributors have this whole 4-month waiting thing. Grrrr.

Jake

Better question...  when can i send a paypal payment to Driftwood Publishing for you to ship me a copy :-)  I'd want it signed by you and brian... but i think i remember he lives in newzealand or austrailia or somewhere...  lol   not good.   Maybe i can get him to sign it at gencon next year.