Steve Jackson Games - Site Navigation
Home General Info Follow Us Search Illuminator Store Forums What's New Other Games Ogre GURPS Munchkin Our Games: Home

Go Back   Steve Jackson Games Forums > Roleplaying > The Fantasy Trip

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-27-2022, 09:35 PM   #1
Draygon
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Default Question for STEVE JACKSON

Hi Steve,

Not sure of you'll read this, but I had a question that I always wondered about. What ever happened to your characters that you used as examples in the Melee, Wizard, and ITL rulebooks? You mentioned these were examples from actual gameplay, so I imagine that you used these characters in other play sessions. Like middle earth characters, for example, these characters ended up permanently living in my fantasy world imagination...lol. I'm referring to FLAVIUS, (Wulf was a goner) RAGNAR THE IMPETUOS, BJORN, YZOR, (How can we forget when KRAIT took that fatal bite from Yzor's illusion?) MELIO GLORIOSUS, HENIOCHUS THE BRAVE, GRABIVARIKO, and last but not least, the beginning character KOV. A million thanks for providing years of fun through your creations and innovations in gaming. Blessings!

Janos
Draygon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2022, 04:31 PM   #2
Chris Rice
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: London Uk, but originally from Scotland
Default Re: Question for STEVE JACKSON

I’d also be interested in hearing about these things.
Chris Rice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2022, 05:19 PM   #3
DarkPumpkin
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Cidri (exact location withheld)
Default Re: Question for STEVE JACKSON

I seem to recall Steve saying somewhere that Melio Gloriosus was none other than Howard Thompson's character.

Btw, "Melio Gloriosus" or "the boastful soldier" is one of the oldest stock comedy characters in Western culture, going back to the Roman playwright Plautus. HT is a man of culture!
DarkPumpkin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2022, 08:19 PM   #4
Draygon
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Default Re: Question for STEVE JACKSON

Dark Pumpkin- Dude, what a genius name, considering the context in which he was presented! Thanks for that golden nugget !
Draygon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2022, 11:59 PM   #5
DarkPumpkin
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Cidri (exact location withheld)
Default Re: Question for STEVE JACKSON

Quote:
Originally Posted by Draygon View Post
Dark Pumpkin- Dude, what a genius name, considering the context in which he was presented! Thanks for that golden nugget !
It's super nostalgic to think of Steve Jackson, his boss Howard Thompson, and their buddies sitting around a table in 1976 to playtest Melee. Pretty sure Steve mentioned it in an old Designer's Notes or Space Gamer column, or perhaps here on the forum. I think a couple of the other playtesters and their characters were mentioned.

Paging Steve! I want to ask you, did you and the guys go out to the movies to catch Jaws, Taxi Driver, or Star Wars after a hard day's game design? :-) Or perhaps just a night at home watching The Six Million Dollar Man, Kojak, or Battlestar Galactica...
DarkPumpkin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2022, 09:42 AM   #6
Draygon
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Default Re: Question for STEVE JACKSON

Dear Genie,
While we're at it, I will expend a "Greater Wish, " and ask for a short article in the next Hexagram that recollects Steve's (and Howard's) actual characters and a few fun encounters please. A picture of an old character sheet would be a nice visual- go! and return after you have faithfully and skillfully accomplished all that I've asked of you! ". Lol
Draygon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2022, 11:23 PM   #7
Draygon
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Default Re: Question for STEVE JACKSON

Oh, and what was some of the music you guys listened to at the time?
Draygon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2022, 07:22 AM   #8
Bill_in_IN
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Indiana
Default Re: Question for STEVE JACKSON

Quote:
Originally Posted by Draygon View Post
Oh, and what was some of the music you guys listened to at the time?
At the time? I probably still do listen to it.
Bill_in_IN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2022, 09:34 PM   #9
JohnPaulB
 
JohnPaulB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Portland, Maine
Default Re: Question for STEVE JACKSON

Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkPumpkin View Post
I seem to recall Steve saying somewhere that Melio Gloriosus was none other than Howard Thompson's character.

Btw, "Melio Gloriosus" or "the boastful soldier" is one of the oldest stock comedy characters in Western culture, going back to the Roman playwright Plautus. HT is a man of culture!
Maybe he got it from Sondheim.

I put the following on the Brainiac TFT site in 1999.

Here is the archetypical player who does no wrong, the gamer's gamer who is held in awe by player and gamemaster alike. [with apologies to Stephen Sondheim and his 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]


Scene: the game has been going for an hour, when HE enters.

=======================

My Dice, My Dice, I've come to claim my dice.
Come tenderly to crush them against me thrice.

Let haste be made, I cannot be delayed.
There are lands to conquer, cities to loot and peoples to degrade.

{from the other gamers - Look at that arm, look at that chest, not to mention the rest...}
{from HIM - Even I am impressed!}

My Dice, My Dice, Come bring to me my dice.
My lust for it can no longer be held suffice.
Convey the news, I have no time to lose.
There are towns to plunder, temples to burn, and women to abuse.

{from the other gamers - Look at that foot, look at that heel, what magnificent muscles of steel...}
{from HIM - I am my ideal!}

I, MELEE GLORIOSUS. I, slaughterer of thousands.
I, oppressor of the meek, sub-doer of the weak, degrader of the Greek,
destroyer of the Turk, must hurry back to work.

I, MELEE GLORIOSUS. I, paragon of virtue.
I, in war, the most admired; in wit, the most inspired; in love,
the most desired; in dress the best displayed... I am a Parade!

{from the other gamers - Look at those eyes, cunning and sheen, look at the size of those thighs like a mighty machine...}
{from the gamemaster - Those are the mightiest thighs I ever have seen.}

My Dice, My Dice. Before my lucky dice.
The gates of the village are open wide.
Make haste, make haste. I have no time to waste.

There are shrines I should be sacking,
Ribs I should be cracking,
Eyes to gouge and the gods to entice....

BRING ME MY DICE!!!

------------------------

Melee Gloriosus will be coming to a game near you.
__________________
- Hail Melee

Fantasy Chess: A chess game with combat.
Don't just take the square, Fight for it!
https://www.shadowhex.com
JohnPaulB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2022, 10:11 PM   #10
JohnPaulB
 
JohnPaulB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Portland, Maine
Default Re: Question for STEVE JACKSON

Is there an actual date anywhere for Elyntia?

Something like 25th year of the Reign of King of Elyntia or
198 years after the fall of Tanander.

In Ardonirane Scenario Book, there is a calendar starting at the inauguration of that city. There is a reference to
"201yc (Year of the City or the Taranian Calendar) Series of wars in Elyntia and its neighbors break out. Refugees swell Ardonirane’s population, but disruption in trade causes hardship."
The current year is 400yc.

I'm not looking to put a date for how long the Mnoren have been gone, but it would be nice to have a date to peg something 50 years back; you know, like "I recall the hurricane of 1997" as opposed to "I remember that hurricane 25 years back".
__________________
- Hail Melee

Fantasy Chess: A chess game with combat.
Don't just take the square, Fight for it!
https://www.shadowhex.com
JohnPaulB is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Fnords are Off
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.