02-20-2006, 10:56 PM | #11 |
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sierra Vista, Arizona
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Re: Low-Tech vs Fantasy-Tech
Counting index, Low Tech came in at the old standard of 128 pages. Add in stuff from the various historical worldbooks and Pyramid articles, update everything for 4e, and add in a chapter or two focusing on fantasy materials and equipment and there should be enough for new standard of 240 pages. If there isn't, you can always add a chapter of weird or anachronistic items that otherwise don't fit.
But I think the name Low Tech should stay. While a fantasy campaign GM will readily identify a book named Low Tech as a useful resource, a name like Fantasy Tech might cause that same book to get overlooked by a GM working up a historical campaign. (Yes, I know that historicals are only a small percentage of what fantasy is...but we are out there nevertheless.)
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02-20-2006, 11:10 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: U.S.
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Re: Low-Tech vs Fantasy-Tech
Although it might be considered as padding by some, one thing that I think could be added to Low-Tech is something that many people overlook as a driving element of low-tech times, architecture. Illustrations with detail and schematics will be needed.
Matt Riggsby did his GURPS architecture, but with some to the sharp minds that SJ has on the hook, that work could be expanded. As for the arguement that Low Tech shouldn't include Fantasy Tech, please consider that although its basis may come from reality elements, GURPS needs to remain a Universal system and there are going to be people running a variety of games, everything from non-fantasy to high fantasy that need Low-Tech. For the elements that deviate from reality, the good old TLX+Y nomenclature will keep things clear and provide good quality material for a wide variety of players. RH
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02-20-2006, 11:19 PM | #13 |
Grim Reaper
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Italy
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Re: Low-Tech vs Fantasy-Tech
I'm curious about the fantasy stuff -- Kromm wrote 100 pages, ouch! What would you include?
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02-20-2006, 11:21 PM | #14 | |
Grim Reaper
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Italy
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Re: Low-Tech vs Fantasy-Tech
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02-20-2006, 11:31 PM | #15 |
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location:
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Re: Low-Tech vs Fantasy-Tech
I liked the format and coverge of material in GURPS Low-Tech much better than GURPS High-Tech. The latter read like Progress of Weapons with some little bits on how the rest of technology and how it works (and with society) and progressed. So for 4e I hope that *both* Low and High tech are more than just lists of weapons and armor. Perhaps more material on alternative tech possible at each tech level but not found on Earth (or not really developed) and more detailed examination of some of the tech in Low-Tech, along the lines of 3e High-Tech and more guidelines on how to use the book for exceptions (cultures like the Aztecs with several TLs present at the same time) and for cultures that don't develop the same as Earth.
A problem with combining Fantasy tech with Low tech is that to me, not all Fantasy tech is low tech. What about sub-genres like Urban Fantasy, Planetary Romance, and Science-Fantasy? So is the intent to split Fantasy bits up into each X Tech book, based on TL? Personally I'd split all the Fantasy stuff into a seperate book (Fantasy Tech or Magic Tech or Magic Items?) along with more coverage of creating magic items, etc. if needed, if the Tech books can be beefed up. That would mean a fantasy gamer might be buying a Fantasy book with 1-2/3rds of material they may not want though. >< Last edited by Casey; 02-20-2006 at 11:37 PM. Reason: fleshed out first paragraph |
02-20-2006, 11:42 PM | #16 | |
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lawrence, KS
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Re: Low-Tech vs Fantasy-Tech
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02-20-2006, 11:45 PM | #17 |
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Re: Low-Tech vs Fantasy-Tech
I like the idea of Fantasy Tech and think it would be a smart move on marketing such a book in terms of what types of campaigns people tend to play. But I do agree that the name Fantasy-Tech kind of is misleading.
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02-20-2006, 11:51 PM | #18 |
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
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Re: Low-Tech vs Fantasy-Tech
I certainly hope that the new Low Tech will have even more of the sorts of goodies that the old one had (the 3e Low-Tech was good but a bit brief, and armour weights weren't fixed, for example). I wouldn't mind some fantasy/cinematic technology in it, as long as it is clearly marked and doesn't take up too much space from the real world things. Making up fantasy equipment is relatively easy compared to doing the research for the everyday aspects of a preindustrial society. Low Tech may have less gadgets to cover than the other tech books, but the details of preindustrial society, economics etc. should make up for it.
If worldbuilding advice etc. will go somewhere else, of course, I wouldn't mind more of Low Tech going to fantasy gear. I am very hopeful about a real High Tech, rather than GURPS Guns getting written, incidentally. The firearms rules were interesting and covered some gaps in the rules, but as several have said they drowned everything else out. The lack of generic weapons didn't help matters.
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02-21-2006, 12:10 AM | #19 |
GURPS Line Editor
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Montréal, Québec
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Re: Low-Tech vs Fantasy-Tech
Hey, please remember a few things:
Those who want realistic analyses of crop yields, etc., are welcome to write e23 or Pyramid items. Fixing adventure-useful gear -- like armor, tools, transportation, and weapons -- was always on the agenda for Low-Tech for 4e. Specialized historical economics and demographics were never on said agenda. The entire Tech series always was and always will be catalogs of gear. That's what those books are for. Specific historical info is topical for historical worldbooks, which are now potential e23 material.
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Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> GURPS Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just GURPS News] |
02-21-2006, 12:23 AM | #20 | ||
GURPS Line Editor
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Montréal, Québec
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Re: Low-Tech vs Fantasy-Tech
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Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> GURPS Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just GURPS News] |
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