Heroes, Villains, and Fiends

[copeab]

Several months ago, I mentioned here the game In Her Majesty's Name, a set of steampunk skirmish rules from Osprey Publishing. I generally liked the game and it's simplicity, but was annoyed by the lack of time and distance scale (which I've softened on).

(mentioned here : http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=112209 )

In late November, a companion book was released, primarily (about 40 of the 64 pages) detailing new Companies, pre-designed groups of 5-10 different figure types, some generic ("cossak", "farmer") and some not ("Rasputin", "Vlad Tepes"). Most Companies devote about a page of text to their background and comments on "named" figures, which is useful in an RPG setting. Some companies are relatively mundane (the US Secret Service) while others are not (the Hellfire Club). There are also a few new weapons, water vehicles, land vehicles, talents and mystical powers. There are also now detailed rules on swimming. Overall, a nice companion to INHMN, although there are no new Companies from Asia , and a possible useful resource for steampunk RPGs.

edit: There is a short bestiary section, including animals like great apes, bears and wolves. It also elaborates on the generic horse in the game, splitting it into riding, calvalry, desert and draught horses (plus camels). There are also entries for basic lesser and greater demons.

[Whitestreak]

I mentioned your concern the other day (probably a couple of weeks ago, now) to a friend who is a big fan and player of this system, Brandon.

Jeff rolled his eyes and reminded me that generic 25/28mm is generally 1/56th scale, although some folks prefer 1/48th scale.

After the appropriate forehead smacking on my part, we began to play... :)

And now, after this post, I was reminded that I should have added this to the earlier thread.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by Whitestreak

I mentioned your concern the other day (probably a couple of weeks ago, now) to a friend who is a big fan and player of this system, Brandon.

Jeff rolled his eyes and reminded me that generic 25/28mm is generally 1/56th scale, although some folks prefer 1/48th scale.

After the appropriate forehead smacking on my part, we began to play... :)

And now, after this post, I was reminded that I should have added this to the earlier thread.

Yeah, I had done some Internet research and got about 5.5' per inch. I'd probably round to 5' since that's an easy number to multiply, although 6' (2 yards) works well with my cardboard minis for Space 1889 and GURPS hex maps.

[craig cartmell]

Originally Posted by copeab

. Overall, a nice companion to INHMN, although there are no new Companies from Asia , and a possible useful resource for steampunk RPGs.

Thanks for the positive review. HVF was aimed at companies from North America, Africa and Europe. The next supplement shall be released in the spring and shall be called Sleeping Dragon, Rising Sun. It shall concentrate on companies from India, China, Japan and the western powers that were meddling out there at the time.

You can read more about it here: http://inhermajestysname.wordpress.c...ng-sun-update/

If you have any specific questions or thought on the game so far please feel free to ask here, or we have a sub-board on the Lead Adventure forums.

Cheers,
Craig.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by craig cartmell

Thanks for the positive review. HVF was aimed at companies from North America, Africa and Europe. The next supplement shall be released in the spring and shall be called Sleeping Dragon, Rising Sun. It shall concentrate on companies from India, China, Japan and the western powers that were meddling out there at the time.

Very good to hear that. I'll be looking for the book.

If you have any specific questions or thought on the game so far please feel free to ask here, or we have a sub-board on the Lead Adventure forums.

I have three questions, which are fairly minor:

(1) Is Australia assumed to be covered in the basic rules? A Canadian Company did get it's own entry in HVF.

(2) Any thoughts to basic aerial combat rules? Granted, there are onlly a couple of personal vehicle really suited to this and the pilot is essentially limited to a pistol. However, a ornithopter might mix it up with, oh, a dragon ;)

(no, there is no write-up for dragons (yet), but one could be designed with the existing rules, I think)

(3) Any consideration on notes for a hollow earth landscape and the beasties that might live there? (dinosaurs!)

[craig cartmell]

Originally Posted by copeab

(1) Is Australia assumed to be covered in the basic rules? A Canadian Company did get it's own entry in HVF.

In Sleeping Dragon, Rising Sun there is an Australian Mercenary company led by the fearless Jack Brumby, ably assisted by his sister Kate and her Valkyries :D

Originally Posted by copeab

(2) Any thoughts to basic aerial combat rules? Granted, there are onlly a couple of personal vehicle really suited to this and the pilot is essentially limited to a pistol. However, a ornithopter might mix it up with, oh, a dragon ;)

Basically: move, shoot and try not to bump into each other. In SDRS the Pilot Talent becomes available which makes ornithopters a little more durable.

Originally Posted by copeab

(3) Any consideration on notes for a hollow earth landscape and the beasties that might live there? (dinosaurs!)

I have recently re-read 'The Lost World' by Arthur Conan Doyle, beyond that I shall say nothing...

[copeab]

Originally Posted by craig cartmell

In Sleeping Dragon, Rising Sun there is an Australian Mercenary company led by the fearless Jack Brumby, ably assisted by his sister Kate and her Valkyries :D

Do they have a pet crocodile? ;)

Basically: move, shoot and try not to bump into each other. In SDRS the Pilot Talent becomes available which makes ornithopters a little more durable.

I was thinking of approximating true distance by taking the greater of horizontal (base-to-base) distance and vertical (altitude) distance, then adding half of the other.

Also, if vertical distance is greater than horizontal distance, a 4-handed weapon can't elevate high enough to fire at the flying object.

I have recently re-read 'The Lost World' by Arthur Conan Doyle, beyond that I shall say nothing...

:)