Hexagram (general comments, all issues)

[brandonm]

A stickied thread for all Hexagram discussion!

[Terquem]

I remember a conversation I had with someone about the potential good or not so good appearance of on going fiction in Hexagram. The arguments against it were sound. Then it was brought up in an issue recently in the form of a general request for feedback on the subject.

Here is my question. If a story was begun in Hexagram, but for reasons the magazine ended publication before the story was resolved.
Would that be such a terrible thing to warrant not doing it at all?

[Steve Jackson]

For that reason, I would be reluctant to serialize a story. I have thought about it. I'd have to have the whole story in hand, and I would have to think that every part of it was strong, and I'd have to feel very condident that we would do more issues in a reasonable time. On the whole, then, fiction over a couple of thousand words total is probably not a good idea for this zine.

[JohnPaulB]

I would like fiction in Hexagram if it was followed by stats or some other TFT related notes.

An example of what I'm referring to is a story in Fantasy Gamer #4, 1984.

Vampire Trap by Timothy Zahn

Plus TFT Gaming Notes For Vampire Trap by Steve Jackson

The story was 4 pages long (in 8.5 x 11 format).

The notes were about Djinns and a Whirlwind Spell. As the story also included a protagonist that was a sword, Steve included a Bind Spirit spell and stats for Fantasy swords, and other things (like lamps & rings) and binding into them earth/air/fire/water elemental, demons, ghosts and wight.

[Oneiros]

Obligatory "A slipcase/box for our Hexagram issues would be awesome!" post.

[Shostak]

Originally Posted by Oneiros

Obligatory "A slipcase/box for our Hexagram issues would be awesome!" post.

But to house 7 issues, of course.

And every once in a while, take a cue from Marvel Comics with their Giant Size and put out a Megahexagram.

[Steve Jackson]

Conveniently, that size will also hold QQs.

[Steve Jackson]

Originally Posted by JohnPaulB

I would like fiction in Hexagram if it was followed by stats or some other TFT related notes.

An example of what I'm referring to is a story in Fantasy Gamer #4, 1984.

Vampire Trap by Timothy Zahn

And you will notice that Tim went on to great things!

[Shostak]

A great short article for a future Hexagram would be alternate names for the basic armor types.

[Terquem]

Or even any article on armor would be nice.

Alternative rules are always interesting.

About the fiction thing. I think, when I remember AQ fiction, a critical component of the discussion is quality. The fiction in AQ was really good, succinct and yet dramatic. If we can't have stuff in Hexagram as good as that I would say, skip it.