[19:14] <+JElliotStreeter> Hello! I'm Jeremy Streeter, one of the two cooperative owning partners of Wicked North Games. I've been gaming since I was 6 years old. My brother introduced me to car wars and mega traveller, and I was stuck from there until now playing and writing and making games of my own.
[19:15] <+JElliotStreeter> About 10 years ago, I got the "bug" to start making my own games more seriously. We played with lots of systems and settings, finally narrowing in on the d6 system originally created by West End Games.
[19:16] <+JElliotStreeter> Then we started focusing more on what we liked and didn't like so much about the game mechanics. We wanted to make games from the standpoint of settings and worlds with rich content that people could take for inspiration and just play with less effort than I experienced as a child.
[19:17] <+JElliotStreeter> Westward is our second setting, Azamar our first. We have another in the oven, and lots of other plans in the works! (done)
[19:17] <~Dan> Thanks, Jeremy!
[19:17] <~Dan> The floor is open to questions!
[19:18] <~Dan> I'll go ahead and throw one out there myself: Can you tell us a bit about the setting of Westward?
[19:19] <+JElliotStreeter> So Westward came from an odd, off topic discussion with the owner and admin of the d6 Resurrection wiki site, travis wooten. Everybody can pretty much thank him as we decided that a conference call with him would be fun.
[19:19] <+JElliotStreeter> During the call, we discussed various ideas around genres to try and develop against, and Steampunk was high on the list.
[19:20] <+JElliotStreeter> I'm a huge science fiction fan, but steampunk alone seemed lonely, so because of some inspiration from several childhood games (mainly video game RPGs), I focused on integrating in a Western theme to give the setting a twist. I didn't want to stick with a conventional Earth setting since that seems like its been done over and over again.
[19:21] <+JElliotStreeter> We chose an alien world and called it Westward, since it spins East to West (magnetically) instead of the other way around. The sun rises in the West.
[19:21] <+JElliotStreeter> (done)
[19:22] <+Beelzedude> Can you talk about what you changed about d6 for your games?
[19:22] <+JElliotStreeter> We've created a unified Attribute and Skill set. They're all the same regardless of what game setting we release. This allows players to play against any genre, any setting we ever release with little effort.
[19:23] <+JElliotStreeter> We ditched the standard d6 pips (+1, +2) since trying to explain them to a 8 year old was laborious.
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[19:24] <+JElliotStreeter> We expanded the difficulties to include another level: so now its: Easy, Moderate, Difficult, Very Difficult, Heroic, and Epic
[19:24] <~Dan> (Howdy, CC! Westward Q&A in progress!)
[19:24] <+JElliotStreeter> As well as expanding the target ranges for these difficulties.
[19:24] <+JElliotStreeter> We changed the way scale works, and tried hard to better define handling the wild dice and failed rolls.
[19:25] <+JElliotStreeter> We created a "Character" feature system, that provides Modular rule-breaking character components.
[19:25] <+JElliotStreeter> This provides the capacity to add interesting pieces to a character that make a RPG fun, as well as add in supernatural abilities and handle things outside the scope of a standard game.
[19:26] <+JElliotStreeter> I'm sure there's a little more, but that's most of it off the top of my head(done)
[19:26] <+Manata> I know you guys are always working on new and exciting stuff, but I've noticed they they tend to be under two main umbrellas: Cinematic (2d6 + stat) and traditional d6 Parent/Child die pool. Can you touch on how development of the mechanics differ for these two gaming "flavors"?
[19:26] <+Beelzedude> Sounds most reasonable. Although I like the pips they can be hard to explain to adults, too. ^^
[19:27] <+JElliotStreeter> Flavor 1: Cinematic is actually 2d6 + Attribute Points + Skill Points = total against difficulty
[19:27] <+JElliotStreeter> Flavor 2: up to 6d in Attributes + up to 6d in Skills = total against difficulty
[19:28] <~Dan> Is that a "hard" cap?
[19:28] <+JElliotStreeter> In flavor 1: The cinematic Attribute and Skill points go from 1-6 & 0-6.
[19:28] <+JElliotStreeter> Yep!
[19:29] <~Dan> To clarify: Nothing in the world can go higher than 6d?
[19:29] <+JElliotStreeter> It allows a degree of fundamental control, especially in system that plays on a "runaway wild die"
[19:29] <+JElliotStreeter> 12d
[19:29] <+JElliotStreeter> total
[19:29] <+Beelzedude> (So no more 30+6 pools. too bad. ^^)
[19:29] <+JElliotStreeter> I prefer the 2d6 rolling cause its %$*!#% fast.
[19:30] <+JElliotStreeter> It will help a lot in a Science Fiction setting (the next one), with Westward, we kept the max 6d + 6d rolling. Because there are times when all you have is sticks and stones. :D
[19:31] <+Beelzedude> I quite like larde pools of d6.
[19:31] <~Dan> How do you handle things that are superhumanly strong, for example?
[19:31] <+JElliotStreeter> I used to, but when it comes to playing with kids, it becomes cumbersome.
[19:31] <+JElliotStreeter> Sure
[19:31] <+Beelzedude> I would imagine.
[19:32] <+JElliotStreeter> Superhuman strength would be handled by a Feature. the best way to do this would be by focusing a Feature on a super hero situation.
[19:32] <+JElliotStreeter> I'll create a mock Feature here:
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[19:32] <+JElliotStreeter> Mega Stength, Cost: 30.
[19:33] <+JElliotStreeter> Description: The character channels an inner power and temporarily uses supernatural strength.
[19:33] <+JElliotStreeter> (The Strength roll is x3. Activated.)
[19:34] <+JElliotStreeter> That makes the next Strength roll (which will probably involve a Skill of some kind - or Damage :D )after activating the feature, will be multiplied by 3.
[19:35] <+JElliotStreeter> (done)
[19:35] <~Dan> Hmm. Well, I'm looking at Azamar, and it says that dragons have a Strength of 6d. Does that mean that all things being equal, a dragon is no stronger than the strongest human?
[19:35] <~Dan> (I know we're talking Westward, but just an example.)
[19:35] <+JElliotStreeter> Dan: what scale is the Dragon at?
[19:36] <~Dan> Ah. That I don't know. Where would that be listed?
[19:37] <+Beelzedude> How would one activate such a Feature? Are they a x times/day thing or do you have some kind of resource for that?
[19:37] <~Dan> Oh, n/m... I see.
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[19:37] <~Dan> Okay, that makes more sense. :)
[19:37] <+Manata> I see. One would suspect that the average target numbers would vary between the two systems as appropriate to the expected averages. Like, Moderate in "Cinematic" and Moderate in "6dA+6dS" might be a slightly different number.
[19:38] <+JElliotStreeter> Activating a Feature costs Cinema Points. Ah - another d6 difference. We consolidated Character Points and Force/Fate Points into a single pool called Cinema Points. you activate something by spending one Cinema Point.
[19:38] <+Manata> I love that move, by the way. So streamlined.
[19:38] <+JElliotStreeter> These are your experience, you use them to not only buy the Feature, but also activate the "powers" from it.
[19:38] <+JElliotStreeter> Its possible to get Features that are Permanent, and not Activated, but boy, do they cost more...
[19:39] <&Silverlion> Which was how original D6 did Force points..
[19:39] <+JElliotStreeter> Manata: Correct - the difficulties are changed based on the number of dice you're rolling.
[19:40] <+JElliotStreeter> Force Points, in SW d6 doubled the die pool && they had to be declared ahead of time. You don't have to do that with Cinema Points.
[19:40] <+JElliotStreeter> The idea is to play the game and have fun, if you realize you're about to die and you have points to burn, do it!
[19:40] <+Beelzedude> Do they also serve the purpose of adding dice to a pool like character points?
[19:41] <+JElliotStreeter> SW d6 did Character Points as 1 point = 1 extra die to roll.
[19:41] <+JElliotStreeter> Cinema Points can do that as well, yes.
[19:41] <+JElliotStreeter> They also can counter a failed roll.
[19:41] <+JElliotStreeter> (allow a re-roll)
[19:41] <+JElliotStreeter> And provide an extra (defensive) action (when you're all out of actions)
[19:41] <~Dan> JElliotStreeter: Can you explain how the scale rules work?
[19:42] <+Beelzedude> (Our SWd6 GM house ruled force points to double every pool for the entire scene. That made them a tiny bit more powerful. ^^)
[19:42] <&Silverlion> Yeah butn 1E Star Wars only had Force Points.
[19:42] <+JElliotStreeter> the Scale we provide in Azamar and Westward are very diffierent. In Azamar, I used an Incremental Scale, that increased by smaller steps
[19:43] <+JElliotStreeter> In Westward, Scale is simpler and broken only into 3 levels. Character, Heavy, and Expansive.
[19:43] <+JElliotStreeter> Character to Character is 1:1
[19:43] <+JElliotStreeter> Character to Heavy 1:x2
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[19:43] <+JElliotStreeter> Character to Expansive: 1:x3
[19:44] <+JElliotStreeter> The idea is that if something deals damage at a heavy scale, its probably meant to destroy a vehicle.
[19:44] * ~Dan nods
[19:44] <~Dan> Makes sense.
[19:44] <+JElliotStreeter> If something deals damage at an expansive scale, its probably meant to destroy a building (or more)
[19:44] <+JElliotStreeter> They don't really have much more powerful weapons than that in Westward, which makes it easier to pull that in.
[19:45] <~Dan> Speaking of vehicles, can you say a bit about the tech level of Westward, and how it developed in the setting?
[19:45] <+Beelzedude> It also makes sense to stick to those scales, imho.
[19:45] <+JElliotStreeter> Silverlion: I remember that! Part of the direction we wanted...
[19:45] <+JElliotStreeter> Dan: Sure!
[19:46] <+JElliotStreeter> The technology on Westward is based on a capacity for advanced knowledge, but the lack of resources in general made it very difficult to manufacture much of anything enmasse.
[19:46] <+JElliotStreeter> This lead to a down turn of highly advanced technology and more an embrace towards the iron, steel, and less refined materials within the game.
[19:47] <+JElliotStreeter> There does seem to be a good abundance of silicon on Westward, but changing silicon between its many states of matter is very expensive and (hot) difficult to do in a world with limited electrical means.
[19:48] <+JElliotStreeter> Beelzedude: What do you mean to stick to those scales ?
[19:48] <+JElliotStreeter> (which ones)
[19:48] <+JElliotStreeter> (done) on the previous question, btw. :D
[19:50] <+Manata> Kickstarter backers will know that lessons like the stretch-goal dice manufacturer disappearing, and the GM card deck ideas not panning out as originally planned were a bummer, but ultimately we call came out better and wiser in the end. Can you speak to what you've learned from the Kickstarter process?
[19:52] <+JElliotStreeter> Manata: I'm not a big fan of crowdfunding, to begin with... but I real feel like the entire process taught us that we needed to be farther along before we ever decide to crowdfund again. My plan is to have the book written, and laid out already before we goto Kickstarter. that means the core of the money s going to pay for amazing artwork.
[19:52] <+Beelzedude> JElliotStreeter: What I mean is that bigger scales probably aren't necessary due to the lack of huge starships. ^^
[19:53] <+JElliotStreeter> If we can do more, we will, but I want to focus on the product way before we ever go through the process again
[19:53] <+Manata> Ahh, the art! Amazing art in Westward, by the way!
[19:53] <~Dan> The artwork in Westward is very high-quality, by the way.
[19:53] <+JElliotStreeter> Beelzedude: indeed. next setting: they will be !
[19:53] <+JElliotStreeter> :D
[19:53] * ~Dan high-fives Manata :D
[19:53] <+Beelzedude> groovy
[19:53] <~Dan> What sorts of vehicles do exist in Westward?
[19:53] <+JElliotStreeter> next setting is starships and intergalactic travels galore.
[19:54] <+JElliotStreeter> Airships. Wagons. Horses. Shieldhorses.
[19:54] <~Dan> Shieldhorses?
[19:54] <+JElliotStreeter> Tramlines (trains)
[19:54] <+ADumbeningRat> And steamechs.
[19:54] <+JElliotStreeter> heck yeah.
[19:54] <+Beelzedude> How pervasive is the tech in the setting? Is everything a bit steampunk-y or are six-shooters still ordinary six-shooters?
[19:54] <+JElliotStreeter> there are still ordinary six-shooters.
[19:55] <+JElliotStreeter> Steamtech is semi-pervasive, but gunpowder is easier to make than water. :D
[19:55] <+JElliotStreeter> ADumbeningRat: Is that you Hish?
[19:55] <+ADumbeningRat> Hola, Jeremy.
[19:56] <+ADumbeningRat> And yes.
[19:56] <+JElliotStreeter> woot. So ADumbeningRat is Khairul Hisham! The artist who did 99% of the art for Azamar and about half of the art for Westward!
[19:56] <+Manata> Rad!
[19:57] <+JElliotStreeter> woot
[19:57] <~Dan> Welcome to #rpgnet, Khairul!
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[19:57] <+Kei> heya folks
[19:57] <~Dan> (Howdy, Kei! Westward Q&A in progress! :) )
[19:58] <+Beelzedude> So it would be possible for someone who's not that into steampunk (i.e. me ^^) to go for an ordinary western-y dude?
[19:58] <~Dan> (d6 Western steampunk scifi mecha setting. :) )
[19:58] <+JElliotStreeter> Beelzedude: Absolutely.
[19:58] <+JElliotStreeter> I recommend a Marshal.
[19:58] <+Beelzedude> groovy.
[19:58] <+JElliotStreeter> Think Mal on Firefly without a starship.
[19:58] <+JElliotStreeter> :d
[19:58] <+Beelzedude> :D
[19:59] <+JElliotStreeter> I asked Hisham to just make a bunch of creatures from scratch in Westward, so you can blame him for a bunch of the original ideas there.
[19:59] <+ADumbeningRat> Thanks, Dan. I became involved with Wicked North Games because of their open art call in RPGNet, btw.
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[19:59] <+Manata> The shieldhorse rocks, Hisham!
[19:59] <+ADumbeningRat> Thanks.
[19:59] <+Beelzedude> Someone should run a european-time-friendly game of this here.
[20:00] <~Dan> ADumbeningRat: Cool. :)
[20:00] <+JElliotStreeter> Yes. Yes they should.
[20:00] <~Dan> Actually, Jeremy...
[20:00] <~Dan> ...I'd like to extend an offer to you.
[20:00] <+JElliotStreeter> <dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnn />
[20:00] <~Dan> If you want to run a demo game via IRC, I'll help you get it organized.
[20:00] <+Beelzedude> Is there some place to look at some of the art?
[20:01] <+JElliotStreeter> Beelzedude: I'm working on a PDF artbook for Westward for backers, I haven't decided it will be available for purchase otherwise yet.
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[20:01] <~Dan> Welcome to #rpgnet, illustratedpixels!
[20:01] <+JElliotStreeter> Hi Alex!
[20:02] <~Dan> Is this the other artist? :)
[20:02] <+illustratedpixels> hi thought id stop by
[20:02] <+JElliotStreeter> Hey everybody, this is our Art Director at WNG
[20:02] <+Beelzedude> is there some on the KS (?) site?
[20:02] <+Beelzedude> hi
[20:02] <+Manata> Hish has a few pieces on his site.
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[20:02] <+ADumbeningRat> I think I have some Westward art in my gallery. Let me link you. (Link: http://www.hishgraphics.com/gallery/wicked-north-games/westward-rpg/)http://www.hishgraphics.com/gallery/wicked-north-games/westward-rpg/
[20:03] <+Beelzedude> groovy, thanks.
[20:03] <+ADumbeningRat> Heya Alex!
[20:03] <+illustratedpixels> HI
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[20:03] <+JElliotStreeter> We probably have more art on FB and G+ than anywhere else. We let ALL of the artists who work with us know that they can use Westward and WNG in advertising themselves, and that they are free to get crazy with doing so should it helps them sell anything, ever.
[20:04] <~Dan> That's good of you. :)
[20:04] <+Beelzedude> indeed.
[20:04] <~Dan> On a related note, you guys are always welcome to hand out here and promote your work whenever you like.
[20:04] <~Dan> hang out, rather
[20:04] <+JElliotStreeter> We **actually have art that didn't make it into the book. Alex did a lot of art that was meant for the GM Cards that is not in the book. I'm sad that many people will not see it but for in the artbook.
[20:04] <+JElliotStreeter> :D
[20:05] <+ADumbeningRat> I can vouch for this. Thanks to WNG and their policy of "social media collaboration" I've gotten a lot of other work that I wouldn't have without them.
[20:05] <+Beelzedude> *thumbs up*
[20:06] <+illustratedpixels> im gonna run and grab some food quick ill be back on in a while just wanted to say hi to everyone
[20:06] <+Beelzedude> hehe, the shieldhorse looks fun.
[20:06] <~Dan> This may be a silly question, but just how cinematic is Cinema6, particularly as it appears in Westward?
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[20:06] <~Dan> (Howdy, Le_Squide! Westward Q&A in progress!)
[20:06] <+JElliotStreeter> well... I think its pretty fast.
[20:07] <+JElliotStreeter> roll some dice. add it up. success,
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[20:07] <+JElliotStreeter> fail
[20:07] <+JElliotStreeter> roll dice. attack. roll some dice. dodge. attack > dodge. hit.
[20:07] <~Dan> Oh, that's good to know, but I I was thinking more in terms of how over-the-top the action is.
[20:07] <+JElliotStreeter> Dan: That's always up to the GM and players. We
[20:08] <+JElliotStreeter> made an effort make it easy possible, but yeah... you know how it goes.
[20:08] <+JElliotStreeter> :D
[20:08] <+Manata> I love that you can ***try*** to do just about anything; just get ready to shake hands with that Epic difficulty target number.
[20:09] <+JElliotStreeter> As for making it cinematic, its about as easy as making the game mechanics easy. The idea, is that success is as easy as spending some points. You save your butt by spending the points, which tends to get cinematic quickly.
[20:09] <+Beelzedude> What is the range of that?
[20:09] <+JElliotStreeter> Umm...
[20:09] <+JElliotStreeter> off the top of my head, I think its 45
[20:09] <+Manata> 60+
[20:09] <+JElliotStreeter> there you go.
[20:09] <+JElliotStreeter> hehehe
[20:09] <+JElliotStreeter> its high.
[20:09] <+Manata> Easy 6 Moderate 13 Difficult 21 Very Difficult 31 Heroic 46 Epic 60
[20:10] <+Beelzedude> That's a _lot_.
[20:10] <+JElliotStreeter> Manata: rocks.
[20:10] <~Dan> How many Cinema Points can you spend on a single roll?
[20:10] <+JElliotStreeter> Its meant to be a lot. An Epic roll should be: I want to run across these roof tops, while not being noticed, jump over that chasm, and land on that guys shoulders and kill him in one blow.
[20:11] <+JElliotStreeter> As many as you have.
[20:11] <+JElliotStreeter> Its an easy game to gain and lose points.
[20:11] <+JElliotStreeter> Intentionally easy.
[20:11] <~Dan> Cool. I always like that.
[20:11] <+JElliotStreeter> BUT - there is a system that encourages role playing over just stabbing or shooting people.
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[20:12] <+JElliotStreeter> You get multipliers for convincing somebody that you're awesome (an enemy) and turning them to your side.
[20:12] <+JElliotStreeter> Same defeating them in combat, but x2 or x3
[20:12] <+Beelzedude> What about the costs to raise stats and skills? have they changed from WEG d6?
[20:12] <+JElliotStreeter> these multipliers "help" social characters who normally don't get those kinds of things.
[20:12] <+JElliotStreeter> Yep. But not really...
[20:12] <+JElliotStreeter> Since we got rid of pips...
[20:12] <+JElliotStreeter> Attributes are x10
[20:12] <+JElliotStreeter> Skills are x3
[20:13] <+JElliotStreeter> (times the current ratings)
[20:13] <+JElliotStreeter> 3d Dexterity x 10 = 30 Cinema Points to 4d
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[20:13] <+Beelzedude> That would make stats way cheaper and skills the same if I am not mistaken.
[20:13] <+JElliotStreeter> 3d Dodge x 3 = 9 Cinema Points to 4d
[20:14] <+Beelzedude> In comparison, that is.
[20:14] <+JElliotStreeter> Attributes are cheaper, skills the same. But the Attributes were always ridiculous in SW d6
[20:14] <~Dan> JElliotStreeter: Can you say a bit about alien life on Westward?
[20:15] <+JElliotStreeter> Yes. You're on an alien world. Everything there wants to eat something else. Everything that doesn't eat something else is probably poisonous. You should keep eating the things you know to eat and not the native wildlife.
[20:16] <~Dan> As I recall from my skimming, there are some pretty gonzo creatures out there... including one giant creature with a disintegrator ray?
[20:16] <+JElliotStreeter> Also - we have an awesome creature with a weird tentacle-like head and three likes that shoots laser beams from its eye. Think beholder, only smellier and can't fly.
[20:16] * ~Dan laugs
[20:16] <+JElliotStreeter> Yep - that's the one.
[20:16] <+JElliotStreeter> My favorite.
[20:16] <~Dan> That would be it. :)
[20:16] <~Dan> But no intelligent aliens?
[20:16] <+JElliotStreeter> Designed to kill player characters for the fun of it if they're silly enough to tangle with one.
[20:16] <+JElliotStreeter> define intelligent
[20:17] <~Dan> Tool-using?
[20:17] <+JElliotStreeter> Ah - there sure are.
[20:17] <+JElliotStreeter> Frog people.
[20:17] <+JElliotStreeter> :D
[20:17] <~Dan> Oh. Cool. :)
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[20:17] <~Dan> You haven't toad me about them.
[20:17] <+JElliotStreeter> dork.
[20:17] <~Dan> :D
[20:18] <+Manata> Speaking of skimming the book, I noticed that the Notable Characters are so amazingly fleshed out. Did these evolve from your home games, or are they based on folks you know?
[20:18] <+JElliotStreeter> looking up the name
[20:18] <+JElliotStreeter> Manata: Those are all about true boredom, and kickstarter backers.
[20:18] <~Dan> (brb -- please continue)
[20:19] <+Manata> Nice!
[20:19] <+Manata> Speaking of kickstart backers...show of hands, in this room...who's name is in the book for backing it?
[20:19] <+Manata> _o/
[20:19] <+JElliotStreeter> The "main" character
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[20:20] <+Beelzedude> I am sadly not able to back things on KS due to the lack of the right debit-card type.
[20:21] <+Manata> Ahh, bummer. I plan on buying another physical copy via my friendly local gaming store, but honestly the money I paid was worth it to follow the progress.
[20:21] <+JElliotStreeter> lame. dumb debit cards.
[20:22] <+Beelzedude> Someone should tell them to accept paypal or paysafe cards.
[20:22] <+JElliotStreeter> So ...
[20:22] <+JElliotStreeter> Manata: the main Character Jill
[20:22] <~Dan> (back)
[20:22] <+JElliotStreeter> is based on this person (physically)
[20:23] <+JElliotStreeter> Jill Strongarm's human counterpart: (Link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151904795548009&set=a.10150120514603009.303937.677923008&type=1&theater)https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151904795548009&set=a.10150120514603009.303937.677923008&type=1&theater
[20:23] <+Manata> Oh, wow, that's really rad.
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[20:23] <+JElliotStreeter> Alex did a piece of her that's in the book, I believe at the Character Chapter.
[20:24] <+JElliotStreeter> She was also the made model for the elven character in Azamar on the Azamar cover,.
[20:24] <+JElliotStreeter> She is sadly not part of the next book. :/
[20:24] <+Manata> Yea, her character sent the intro letter for chapter 2.
[20:24] <+Beelzedude> Those are some very grey eyes.
[20:24] <+JElliotStreeter> At least - not yet.
[20:25] <~Dan> JElliotStreeter: Care to say a bit about cybernetics in the setting?
[20:25] <+JElliotStreeter> Dan: That frog creature is a Snerg, p170
[20:25] <+Beelzedude> There are cybernetics? This keeps getting better.
[20:25] <~Dan> JElliotStreeter: Looking at it right now. :)
[20:25] <+JElliotStreeter> Yes. We've called them Enclaves.
[20:26] <+JElliotStreeter> So - if you're unlucky enough to lose a limb, or you just want an "upgrade", people secretly go and get surgeries for possessing these "steampunk" equivalent steamtech components.
[20:26] <+BlasterKyubey210> Must be a legal pain in the arse
[20:27] <+JElliotStreeter> hehe
[20:27] <+BlasterKyubey210> "Oh sure, I'm here to get this numbbed arm replaced with one of those Servo-Arms so I can use this Greatsword one-handed and get back at the guy that numbbed my arm"
[20:27] <+JElliotStreeter> There's a lot of left over discrimination from Earth, so having an Enclave is generally frowned upon.
[20:28] <+JElliotStreeter> But they are available in a "
[20:28] <+JElliotStreeter> bionic" format
[20:28] <+JElliotStreeter> (done)
[20:28] <~Dan> So if you have them, you're either too desperate or too much of a badass to care?
[20:28] <+JElliotStreeter> Yeah. Or you like trouble...
[20:28] <~Dan> Speaking of badass, can you tell us about the mechs?
[20:29] <+JElliotStreeter> So Mechs come in piecemeal form (you pick and choose parts)
[20:29] <+JElliotStreeter> based on a "Socket" system
[20:29] <+JElliotStreeter> Or you buy them Complete.
[20:29] <+JElliotStreeter> I'm lazy, so I like the complete versions.
[20:29] <~Dan> (There are mecha as well, Beelzedude. :) )
[20:29] <+Beelzedude> (Dan: meh. ;p)
[20:29] <+JElliotStreeter> the socket pieces, well - its easy to go completely bananas there.
[20:30] <+BlasterKyubey210> What scale of Mechanoid we looking at?
[20:30] <+JElliotStreeter> they are divided into chassis, arms, legs, and Augments (weapons, jump jets, armor) ya know - neat stuff.
[20:30] <+JElliotStreeter> Aliens Loader.
[20:30] <+JElliotStreeter> :D
[20:30] <+JElliotStreeter> mainly.
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[20:30] <+Manata> If you like battletech, you'll love the mech character sheet.
[20:30] <+BlasterKyubey210> Armored Troopr, Labo- I see
[20:31] <+JElliotStreeter> Not too big. There are a few that hold 2-3 people.
[20:31] <+JElliotStreeter> But not many
[20:31] <+JElliotStreeter> Except for the Steamech city.
[20:31] <~Dan> BlasterKyubey210: (Link: http://wickednorthgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/westward_front_cover_medium.jpg)http://wickednorthgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/westward_front_cover_medium.jpg
[20:31] <+JElliotStreeter> That's in the "locations" section.
[20:32] <+JElliotStreeter> Motis is a giant walking Steamech town.
[20:32] <~Dan> Cool. :)
[20:32] <+Beelzedude> That looks like a warjack and a old-timey diving suit had a child. I approve. :D
[20:32] <~Dan> What happened to "meh", Beelzedude? ;)
[20:33] <+Beelzedude> I would put those more into the power armour category, than mech due to size. ^^
[20:33] <+JElliotStreeter> I think when I was giving the cover artist some queues, I was probably playing bioshock a little too much...
[20:33] <+Beelzedude> hehe
[20:34] * ~Dan chuckles
[20:34] <+JElliotStreeter> There is a complete mech called the baba yaga class
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[20:34] <+JElliotStreeter> Its pretty big. More of platform with legs...
[20:34] <+JElliotStreeter> and guns.
[20:35] <+ADumbeningRat> I saw that one, drawn by Gennifer. Pretty Baba Yaga's Hut-esque.
[20:36] <~Dan> How hard is it for someone in a mech to play alongside other PCs who aren't?
[20:37] <+JElliotStreeter> Not that hard at all - mainly depends on the story at hand I think.
[20:37] <+JElliotStreeter> Crossing vast distances: horses and mechs should be pretty even for movement.
[20:37] <+JElliotStreeter> Mechs have a very distinct limitation in Westward.
[20:37] <+JElliotStreeter> Tjhey're attacks do not exceed 6d.
[20:38] <+JElliotStreeter> ever.
[20:38] <~Dan> Why's that?
[20:38] <+JElliotStreeter> The reasons are explained in the book, but mainly it was for game balance. That and
[20:38] <+GenoFoxx> forgive me if this has been aske but how agile are the mechs?
[20:38] <+JElliotStreeter> its more challenging it squish a person with 6 dice than 12 dice.
[20:39] <+GenoFoxx> are we talking walking tanks are more people style agility?
[20:39] <+GenoFoxx> are/or
[20:39] <+JElliotStreeter> they have up to 6d in mobility. they have some human-like mobility, but most of it comes at costs, like power or malfunctions.
[20:40] <+JElliotStreeter> mobility = the mech equivalent of dexterity.
[20:40] <+JElliotStreeter> targeting = the mech equivalent of ranged weapon attacks.
[20:40] <+JElliotStreeter> mobility = melee and dodge, too.
[20:40] <+JElliotStreeter> BUT - getting hit by a person does relatively nothing.
[20:41] <+JElliotStreeter> The armow on Steamechs compensate for their lack of agility with sheer might.
[20:41] <+JElliotStreeter> they are definitely clunky, but some of their "optional equipment" helps things along.
[20:41] <+JElliotStreeter> (done)
[20:41] <~Dan> What are airships like?
[20:42] <+JElliotStreeter> Very blimp-like.
[20:42] <+JElliotStreeter> Lots of that, with a few inspired by Nausicaa and the valley of the wind. Because I'm an old school anime fan.
[20:42] <+JElliotStreeter> :d
[20:42] <+JElliotStreeter> :D
[20:42] <+Beelzedude> Guns of Icarus like?
[20:42] <+JElliotStreeter> They have "air bladders" inside of them.
[20:43] <+JElliotStreeter> to help them "float"
[20:43] <+JElliotStreeter> and stuff.
[20:43] <~Dan> Are there air pirates?
[20:43] <+GenoFoxx> so hybrids between a plane and a dirigible
[20:43] <+JElliotStreeter> Yes and yes. woot.
[20:43] <+JElliotStreeter> Dan and GenoFoxx.
[20:44] <~Dan> Sweet. :)
[20:44] <+JElliotStreeter> plus its fun to say "air bladder"
[20:44] <+JElliotStreeter> haha
[20:44] <~Dan> And would you like to say a bit about the setting's equivalent of "wild Injuns"?
[20:44] <+JElliotStreeter> Sure - this is where everybody says the same thing to me.
[20:45] <+ADumbeningRat> "Never play cards with an enclave named Doc"?
[20:45] <+JElliotStreeter> So, people on Westward wander off in the distant wastes. They either go crazy, contract wacky diseases (sometimes called Feralism or rockbiter syndrome) where they become cannibalistic.
[20:46] <+JElliotStreeter> The people out there are called Ferals. they are tribal and they eat other people (some of them).
[20:46] <+JElliotStreeter> They attack the forts and prefects, and so on.
[20:46] <+JElliotStreeter> BUT - they can be reasoned with as well.
[20:46] <+JElliotStreeter> They respect strength and power and survival.
[20:46] <~Dan> So sometimes they're pleased to meat you?
[20:46] <+JElliotStreeter> or eat you.
[20:46] <+Beelzedude> badum-tss.
[20:46] <+GenoFoxx> So semi-sane 'Serenity' style Reavers
[20:47] <+JElliotStreeter> There we go!
[20:47] <+Beelzedude> that's what I though about.
[20:47] <+JElliotStreeter> The thing everybody says to me/
[20:47] <+JElliotStreeter> :D
[20:47] <+JElliotStreeter> yes - very much like them.
[20:47] <~Dan> That's not a bad thing. :)
[20:47] <+Beelzedude> (Don't worry Dan, I saw your pun.)
[20:47] <+JElliotStreeter> Not to say that I'm a browncoat or anything.
[20:47] <+ADumbeningRat> And awesomely illustrated by my most favorite Star Wars RPG artist ever, Mike Vilardi: (Link: http://fav.me/d6l5csi)http://fav.me/d6l5csi
[20:47] <+JElliotStreeter> :D
[20:48] <+JElliotStreeter> And yes - we are working with Mike Vilardi - who illustrated many many of the West End Games Star Wars d6 books.
[20:48] <+GenoFoxx> so how splintered is Westward?
[20:48] <+JElliotStreeter> Splintered?
[20:48] <+JElliotStreeter> politically?
[20:48] <~Dan> Factions?
[20:48] <+GenoFoxx> nations
[20:48] <+JElliotStreeter> socially?
[20:49] <+JElliotStreeter> There is a single governing body in the Capital City. The people in the Prefects have for centuries helped the "people
[20:49] <+GenoFoxx> political landscape
[20:49] <+JElliotStreeter> in the Capital City.
[20:49] <+JElliotStreeter> with resources, mining, water, stuff like that.
[20:49] <+JElliotStreeter> there is disrest and some prefects outright rebel against the city.
[20:49] <+JElliotStreeter> And they can...
[20:49] <+JElliotStreeter> Some cannot, and so they comply.
[20:50] <+JElliotStreeter> Its a mess!
[20:50] <+JElliotStreeter> (done)
[20:50] <+JElliotStreeter> There's even a fun bad guy with a fun name!
[20:50] <+JElliotStreeter> Manciple Primus
[20:50] <+GenoFoxx> so there no seperate and distinct nations
[20:50] <~Dan> Looks like we have 10 minutes left in "regular" time. Is there anything you'd like to bring up that we haven't covered?
[20:51] <+JElliotStreeter> BTW - we got the print proofs for the book today. So there are preview (photos) of the printed book (unbinded) on FB and G+ on the WNG pages
[20:51] <+JElliotStreeter> (Link: https://www.facebook.com/WickedNorth)https://www.facebook.com/WickedNorth
[20:52] <+GenoFoxx> so any plans for a straight sci-fi RPG?
[20:52] <+JElliotStreeter> Indeed.
[20:52] <+JElliotStreeter> Transience.
[20:52] <+Beelzedude> What flavour of sci-fi will it be?
[20:52] <+JElliotStreeter> high-technology science fiction
[20:52] <+JElliotStreeter> (Link: http://wickednorthgames.com/transience/)http://wickednorthgames.com/transience/
[20:53] <+Manata> looks really cool.
[20:54] <+Beelzedude> so on the softer side of the Mohs scale?
[20:54] <+JElliotStreeter> So - a small, and lesser known fact about Transience, Westward, and Azamar - we plan on connecting it all together down the road.
[20:54] <+Manata> Oh, wow, that sound really great.
[20:54] <+JElliotStreeter> Mohs scale?
[20:54] <+Beelzedude> (Link: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness)http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness
[20:54] <+Beelzedude> taken from the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. ^^
[20:55] <+Beelzedude> applied to sci-fi.
[20:55] <+Manata> Warning: TV Tropes link. You'll keep clicking links and get lost for hours!
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[20:55] <+JElliotStreeter> Beelzedude: yep - softer side. Definitely. Our editor, though, has his BS in physics.
[20:55] <+JElliotStreeter> So I'm using him as a reference for a lot of it. :)
[20:55] <+Beelzedude> Manata: psst...
[20:56] <+JElliotStreeter> We are also in talks (serious talks) with a couple of high level folks to get the right to an IP.
[20:56] <~Dan> (Howdy, Ettin!)
[20:56] <+JElliotStreeter> And makes games under it.
[20:56] <+ADumbeningRat> Any plans on more sourcebooks, for Westward and/or Azamar?
[20:57] <+ADumbeningRat> An Inferium sourcebook for Azamar would be awesome.
[20:57] <+Beelzedude> that's cool. It's always a plus when the people involved know their way around science and then choose to go for something else instead of having no clue in the first place. ^^
[20:57] <+Manata> I don't suppose you've drank enough whisky to tell us the IP?
[20:57] <~Dan> An Infernium sourcebook?
[20:57] <+JElliotStreeter> brett has started on an Azamar expansion for the vast underworld of Azamar called the Inferium. Set 5 years after the last events in the Azamar sourcebook.
[20:57] <~Dan> The Hell you say!
[20:57] <+ADumbeningRat> Huzzah!
[20:58] <+JElliotStreeter> The IP?
[20:58] <+Beelzedude> the one you are in serious talks about getting the rights to.
[20:59] <+Manata> Yea, have you drank enough whickey to tell us, or do we need to get you another?
[20:59] <+JElliotStreeter> Well - we're talking to a couple of folks who have the ear of Vin Diesel. We are trying to get the Riddick IP. HE owns and controls it, and we're talking to the producer of the video games who also would oversee the production of a tabletop RPG, should we get the rights.
[20:59] <+Manata> oooh, rad.
[20:59] <+Kei> ice
[20:59] <+Beelzedude> damn, that's groovy. good luck on that.
[20:59] <+Kei> nice, even
[20:59] <+Manata> Hey, I know we're close to time, but can you say a few words about the D6 Magazine? I love it, and I'm sure there are some here would as well, or even may like to contribute.
[21:00] <~Dan> There's no rush, Manata. Jeremy can hang with us as long as he likes. :)
[21:00] <+JElliotStreeter> d6 Magazine: Not just cinema6. If you can write or make things for d6 gaming, you should submit it to us.
[21:00] <+JElliotStreeter> d6 Magazine's next issue theme is "gothic" but its just a guideline.
[21:01] <+Kei> wait, there's a d6 magazine?
[21:01] <+JElliotStreeter> the d6 magazines are completely free, so we like, don't pay anybody anything, and we ask that you supply the artwork for your writing.
[21:01] <+JElliotStreeter> you can write na adventure, or article or whatever. we do interviews as well.
[21:01] <+JElliotStreeter> yes. yes there is Kei.
[21:01] <+ADumbeningRat> Link: (Link: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/101581/d6-Magazine-Issue-4)http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/101581/d6-Magazine-Issue-4
[21:02] <+JElliotStreeter> (Link: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=3910)http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=3910
[21:02] <+JElliotStreeter> We're working on issue 6, we only have 2 submissions right now.
[21:02] <+JElliotStreeter> And yes - they're free.
[21:03] <+Beelzedude> wait...the Azamar .pdfs are free?
[21:03] <+JElliotStreeter> yep - because. well - because the layout quality didn't meet my very high standards.
[21:03] <+JElliotStreeter> I didn't want to charge people for something that I felt was below them.
[21:03] <+JElliotStreeter> Westward will come in three flavors:
[21:04] <+JElliotStreeter> Print: $45.00 USD
[21:04] <+JElliotStreeter> High Quality (Premium) PDF ~42MB: $10.00
[21:04] <+JElliotStreeter> and
[21:04] <+JElliotStreeter> Low Quality PDF ~12MB: Pay What You Want (free)
[21:05] <+JElliotStreeter> Release date for Westward is this Friday on DTRPG/RPGNOW et al. Print will only be available in the US Domestic area (unless Alliance Distribution has international distribution contracts we don't know about)
[21:06] <+JElliotStreeter> The low quality PDF won't be printable or copy pasteable. At least at the moment. I'm not sure about all that.
[21:07] <+Beelzedude> (hm..what's so bad about the layout? have you seen the old ICE RM books? ^^)
[21:07] <+JElliotStreeter> Not that its inherently bad, just not to **my high standards :)
[21:08] <~Dan> You strike me as a classy individual, Jeremy. :)
[21:08] <+JElliotStreeter> Nah - Just ocd.
[21:08] * ~Dan chuckles
[21:09] <+JElliotStreeter> We want to damage the gaming market, not in the traditional sense, but the gaming industry as a whole is focused on these d20 games and warhammer.
[21:09] <+JElliotStreeter> We want a piece of that gaming. Not the money, just the gaming,
[21:10] <+JElliotStreeter> They can keep their money.
[21:10] <+JElliotStreeter> wotc, paizo, citadel...
[21:10] <~Dan> Can you hang out with us longer, by the way, or do you need to run?
[21:11] <+JElliotStreeter> I want to make amazing games for players who deserve to play them because we have great imaginations, and because it is the kind of person that helps make this world better everyday.
[21:11] <+JElliotStreeter> I can hang a little while longer.
[21:11] <+JElliotStreeter> :D
[21:11] <+JElliotStreeter> We also plan on making educational games. I think an area RPGs miss, is education.
[21:12] <~Dan> Excellent. I'd like to ask some questions about Azamar and your other plans, so would you like me to call the end of the "official" chat and post the log?
[21:12] <+JElliotStreeter> we remember well, our childhood experiences where we acted stuff out and used our imaginations. a game designed to help invoke those things just makes it easier.
[21:12] <+JElliotStreeter> sure - as you see fit Dan!
[21:13] <~Dan> Alrighty then! I'll just take this opportunity to thank you again for stopping by and chatting with us. I shall post the log and return with the link in a few moments!
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