I should quickly start off by mentioning the great community around here and wonderful sense that Ron has created something quite special and ground-breaking with Sorcerer as a RPG. I'm an older gamer -- my first D&D set was those three mimeographed stapled books in that little white box -- with two kids (one gifted) although haven't been RPGing for many years. Sorcerer intrigues me, not so much the horror/demonic settings so much as the idea of the narrative/story-driven participatory game where the point seems to be the interaction and creation of the game itself. Any how, to get to my main question ...

I have been unable to locate Sorcerer in any dedicated game store in southern Ontario (I'm in Waterloo, but also have contacted Toronto et al). No one seems to even have a distributor able to get it in for me. So ... does anyone know of a store in southern Ontario that might have it? Or do I just order it online (and then how long might it be to get it shipped up here ... any guess)?

My idea for a game setting is to set it into a world similar to the one created created by Susanna Clarke in her wonderful novel Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (sans magic naturally) and combine the brilliant idea posted in another thread (Eric's thread about Maerd http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=19813.0 ) about demons being shadows and humanity being hope. Something along those lines anyways, we'll see. If I can ever find a copy of the book, naturally.

So, any Ontario Sorcerer owners out there? Where'd you get your copy?

Kudos to Ron for both creating the "game system" he has and also for poking his head in here and participating so well.

I'm also searching on drivethrurpg.com (although as a web developer myself, their site seems horribly slow today).

Hello and welcome!

For on-line ordering, the right place to get Sorcerer is Indie Press Revolution, which is also the place the buy-buttons on the Sorcerer website will take you.

However, as I understand it, shipping to Canada can be unpredictable. If you'd like, contact Brennan Taylor at IPR (his email's on that website) and see what he can commit to. If it's a reasonable time, then ordering from there is the best bet.

On the other hand, if any Canadians would like to speak up with Ontario knowledge, please do.

Thanks for writing in. Your preliminary notions about play seem right on the money, and make me eager to see what you make of the book.

Best, Ron

Email's been sent to Brennan. I doubt it'd take too many days so I'll probably go ahead and order whn I hear back from him. I also didn't really finish one of my thoughts in the original post ... where I said "Sorcerer intrigues me, not so much the horror/demonic settings so much as the idea of the narrative/story-driven participatory game where the point seems to be the interaction and creation of the game itself."

I more accurately meant o emohasize ... Sorcerer intrigues me, not so much the horror/demonic settings so much, as the idea of the narrative/story-driven participatory game where the point seems to be the interaction and creation of the game itself by it's very participants.

After so many years of seeing the same RPG mechanics re-hashed countless times with simply a change of genre, it's refreshing to know that you and others are seriously re-thinking how to play and "structure" RPGs and the gameplay mechanics behind them. Bravo.

Also, in the downloadable Apprentice PDF you say Binding Strength should be kept hidden but mentioned elsewhere on this forum that re-thinking that, you needn't anymore? Am I right or have I misread something.

Hi Davey,

Please remember that the Apprentice is not a rules-introduction for Sorcerer. It was originally intended to be, but not only pertains to a much earlier version of the game, but it's bad at what it tries to do. It's only on the site for people to understand the history of the game. It is not there for instructional purposes.

Regarding Binding, check out Binding rolls from ealier this year.

Best, Ron

I understand that, thanks Rob.

Ron. Damn fingers.

No problem!! I get that all the time ...

Did the Binding thread help answer your question?

Best, Ron

Yes, thanks very much. I've also got PMs from a group with the books in the Toronto area who've put me onto another store there to try. Otherwise I plan on just doing the online order.

My Susanna Clarke milleu game ... Humanity is not hope (like the Maerd scenario, even though Eric's is an excellent example, I thought) ... Humanity is a measure of one's wealth/power/status in early Victorian times ... when it hits 0 you've basically become a penniless beggar on the streets. Poor beyond belief, un-noteworthy (even below that of the common unknown poor masses of working class), with no access or ability to obtain anything of value or move among your sorcerer peers. Ambition and abilities crushed by utter poverty and squalor and dispair.

How's that in your mind?

Harsh and unforgiving, but a pretty good way to play in the 19th century ... or any century, really.

Will make your players very squeamish about any action that will cost them status or wealth -- again, very approrpriate to the time.

Sounds great!

Re: Purchacing Sorc. -- I got my main book at a  game store in Ann Arbor, and Soul in Minneapolis.  But &Sword and Sex and Sorc. got to me by mail promptly.