It's called Ian's Blog because it actually is Ian's blog. Hire me for my creativity.
This is an infrequent collection of posts about RPGs, socialism, and video games, not necessarily in that order.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Age of Bronze? More like Before Iron
So, officially, Age of Bronze will be titled Before Iron when it comes out.
Hi, I spotted the link to this blog on the RTR KAP game starting this week, and I wanted to say that it sounds pretty cool. I was talking to my friend about it (the guy running the KAP game) and we got to discussing religion's role in KAP and how it might play out in Before Iron. Obviously the traditional religious elements of KAP won't be around, but how much will classical religion be making an appearance? I'm specifically wondering if we'll be seeing references to Plato, Aristotle, and Boethius's "Consolation of Philosophy."
We won't be seeing any references to the Classical era. The era depicted in Before Iron takes place a solid 900 years before Plato. One of the weird byproducts of the gulf between the current age and the Classical era is that we tend to think of those guys as writing about their contemporaries, when they were really writing about their ancient history. To boot, the Greeks weren't the same people as the Mycenaeans, which is an important distinction to bear in mind as you approach the game. We do have an alternate morality system based on Plato, which is a little more mystically oriented, but that's probably going to end up as a web supplement in order to keep the basic book focused like a laser on the Greek Warrior Code as the dominant form of player character morality.
Now, there's plenty of religion, but it's visceral and immediate. It's the time of Bronze Age myth! It's not just that you hear tales of the local river god from your priest. You can actually walk down to the river and talk to him. When you get scared, Phobos is physically there to torment you. That lends a different feel than knights worshiping a long dead god (or gods) right off the bat. Your characters are the people IN the stories which end up becoming the foundational tales of Greek religion.
You know, I was listening to a lecture on tape about Plato and it did occur to me that he's really as much the /end/ of a long tradition of Greek philosophy as much as he is the /beginning/ of our long tradition of philosophy. His ideas sort of sound like a response to a lot of ideas that came before, synthesizing and in some cases offering an antithesis to centuries of prior philosophical thought. Hrm...that's making me want to run into Gyges and his ring.
So, can you comment on how Fate is considered in this game as opposed to the Classical view discussed in "Consolation of Philosophy" (i.e., sometimes you're on top, sometimes on bottom, best not to get worked up about it)?
The entry on Hubris might answer that question for you in some detail, not sure. We're pretty narrowly focused on Homer and striving against the fate and expectations laid out for you by the Cosmos. Which, of course, never turns out well, not matter the intentions.
It's done and more or less out of my hands and in Nocturnal's. It'll be out when it's out. I've heard next year, but I'd heard this year a good while ago. That's RPG publishing! :D
Not a firm date. Essentially, our part is done. It's in the layout and editing phase, which I consult and rewrite on, but that's about it.
Obviously this has been the refrain for years now, but lots of projects get juggled. I'm confident that it'll be out sooner rather than later, though a firm date is beyond what I know. Soon as I know anything I'll put it up, for sure.
Whatever the name I'm looking forward to it !
ReplyDeleteHi, I spotted the link to this blog on the RTR KAP game starting this week, and I wanted to say that it sounds pretty cool. I was talking to my friend about it (the guy running the KAP game) and we got to discussing religion's role in KAP and how it might play out in Before Iron. Obviously the traditional religious elements of KAP won't be around, but how much will classical religion be making an appearance? I'm specifically wondering if we'll be seeing references to Plato, Aristotle, and Boethius's "Consolation of Philosophy."
ReplyDeleteWe won't be seeing any references to the Classical era. The era depicted in Before Iron takes place a solid 900 years before Plato. One of the weird byproducts of the gulf between the current age and the Classical era is that we tend to think of those guys as writing about their contemporaries, when they were really writing about their ancient history. To boot, the Greeks weren't the same people as the Mycenaeans, which is an important distinction to bear in mind as you approach the game. We do have an alternate morality system based on Plato, which is a little more mystically oriented, but that's probably going to end up as a web supplement in order to keep the basic book focused like a laser on the Greek Warrior Code as the dominant form of player character morality.
DeleteNow, there's plenty of religion, but it's visceral and immediate. It's the time of Bronze Age myth! It's not just that you hear tales of the local river god from your priest. You can actually walk down to the river and talk to him. When you get scared, Phobos is physically there to torment you. That lends a different feel than knights worshiping a long dead god (or gods) right off the bat. Your characters are the people IN the stories which end up becoming the foundational tales of Greek religion.
You know, I was listening to a lecture on tape about Plato and it did occur to me that he's really as much the /end/ of a long tradition of Greek philosophy as much as he is the /beginning/ of our long tradition of philosophy. His ideas sort of sound like a response to a lot of ideas that came before, synthesizing and in some cases offering an antithesis to centuries of prior philosophical thought. Hrm...that's making me want to run into Gyges and his ring.
DeleteSo, can you comment on how Fate is considered in this game as opposed to the Classical view discussed in "Consolation of Philosophy" (i.e., sometimes you're on top, sometimes on bottom, best not to get worked up about it)?
The entry on Hubris might answer that question for you in some detail, not sure. We're pretty narrowly focused on Homer and striving against the fate and expectations laid out for you by the Cosmos. Which, of course, never turns out well, not matter the intentions.
DeleteHey, this sounds interesting! How is the state of the project?
ReplyDeleteIt's done and more or less out of my hands and in Nocturnal's. It'll be out when it's out. I've heard next year, but I'd heard this year a good while ago. That's RPG publishing! :D
DeleteNot a firm date. Essentially, our part is done. It's in the layout and editing phase, which I consult and rewrite on, but that's about it.
ReplyDeleteObviously this has been the refrain for years now, but lots of projects get juggled. I'm confident that it'll be out sooner rather than later, though a firm date is beyond what I know. Soon as I know anything I'll put it up, for sure.