Careers (2/20/2012 Insider)

[AJ the Ronin]

Basically, you get 2 careers in character creation.

Link

[Siranaul]

So, 1 Archetype and 2 Careers. Sounds interesting so far. Reminds me of the World of Darkness in a small sense.

I wish I could afford a No Quarter subscription.

[AJ the Ronin]

List of careers from that article:
Arcane Mechanik
Warcaster
Fell Callers
Knights
Mercenary
Pistoleer
Aristocrat
Military Officer
Highwayman
Priest
Man-at-Arm
Thief

Did I miss any?

[PG_ThatRickGuy]

I hope there is a lot of flexibility with Archetypes. Hearing that you must be archetype "gifted" to be a mage makes me a bit sad. Because I was hoping that there would be a difference between forceful and finesse for casters as well. The difference between calling down a rain of fire to smite thy enemy and applying a tiny bit of pressure to a vain around the heart of your enemy. Either way, it's a dead enemy killed by a mage, but it's approaches taken from two drastically different characters.

-Rick

[stormwell]

List of careers from that article:
Arcane Mechanik
Warcaster
Fell Callers
Knights
Mercenary
Pistoleer
Aristocrat
Military Officer
Highwayman
Priest
Man-at-Arm
Thief

Did I miss any?

Theres meant to be 25 in total, so; Bodger, Rifelman, Warlock?

[PPS_Simon]

I hope there is a lot of flexibility with Archetypes. Hearing that you must be archetype "gifted" to be a mage makes me a bit sad. Because I was hoping that there would be a difference between forceful and finesse for casters as well. The difference between calling down a rain of fire to smite thy enemy and applying a tiny bit of pressure to a vain around the heart of your enemy. Either way, it's a dead enemy killed by a mage, but it's approaches taken from two drastically different characters.

-Rick

There are some further subtleties and classifications for Gifted characters that we'll be talking about in the coming months.

Theres meant to be 25 in total, so; Bodger, Rifelman, Warlock?

More than 25! Warlocks will not be included in the first book, though. We're saving those for book 3 which focuses on the wilds of Immoren.

[AJ the Ronin]

Theres meant to be 25 in total, so; Bodger, Rifelman, Warlock?

Like I said, careers from the article. Obviously that list is missing the careers mentioned on NQ and those not mentioned yet.

I wonder if Gun Mage is a career.

[Siranaul]

Mage Hunter

Hehehe Iosian Gun Mage Hunter

[lifelesspoet]

The first thing i look at when opening a new rpg book is dice mechanics for skills and combat, then the setting details if the cover wasn't detailed enough. Then I check for the character creation, mostly to see if its level or skill based and how custom or specialized the creation is. Am I the minority? A bad dice system will ruin any well detailed character creation system, rollmaster i'm looking at you.

[Weaselcreature]

I suppose it depends on the game, lifeless.

In some RPG campaigns, the focus may be on the RP portion, and you just kind of muddle through combat, but still have a great game, while other campaigns are table-top mini games w/ fleshed out/advancing characters, and they can be equally as fun. These 2 types of campaigns can also use the same system, although the combat mechanic important to the 2nd type.

Some people don't like complex combat systems, as it takes to long to play out a battle, taking time away from some intriguing and in-depth story lines.

I like both both spectrums (and all in-between) myself.

[AJ the Ronin]

Mage Hunter

Hehehe Iosian Gun Mage Hunter

How you know that is what I want to play?

[Sergeant Bus]

More than 25! Warlocks will not be included in the first book, though. We're saving those for book 3 which focuses on the wilds of Immoren.

I thought the intent was not to have to buy a ton of books. I am pretty sure it was stated somewhere about this. Over all I am okay with it but will all of these books be available at the same time? Or do we have to wait months between these books?

-Sergeant Bus

[PPS_Simon]

I thought the intent was not to have to buy a ton of books. I am pretty sure it was stated somewhere about this. Over all I am okay with it but will all of these books be available at the same time? Or do we have to wait months between these books?

-Sergeant Bus

Our plan is still to only release a set of four core books, the first containing the core rules and general overview of the Iron Kingdoms and the following three expanding on different themes and regions of western Immoren. These books will not release simultaneously.

[drachenfels]

so with the above list...

Ogryn:
fell caller
thief


"HEY EVERYONE!! WATCH ME ROB THIS GUY!!"

[PPS_Simon]

so with the above list...

Ogryn:
fell caller
thief


"HEY EVERYONE!! WATCH ME ROB THIS GUY!!"

Only trollkin can be Fell Callers, not Ogrun, but otherwise why not!

I think a Fell Caller bandit could be a lot of fun, especially if he was part of a criminal kriel, maybe some of them Highwaymen, preying on travelling caravans in the depths of the Gnarls.

[AJ the Ronin]

Our plan is still to only release a set of four core books, the first containing the core rules and general overview of the Iron Kingdoms and the following three expanding on different themes and regions of western Immoren. These books will not release simultaneously.

And after the 4 core? Some of us like supplements with our rpgs.

Then again it is nice to have a complete rpg.

[PPS_Simon]

And after the 4 core? Some of us like supplements with our rpgs.

Then again it is nice to have a complete rpg.

One step at a time.

Aside from the books, though, I'm sure we will support the game in No Quarter.

[HerrDeux]

One step at a time.

Aside from the books, though, I'm sure we will support the game in No Quarter.

Put it in print, and I'll buy it!

[AJ the Ronin]

Players are an impatient lot!

Between this and the new Marvel rpg every other rpg is just under my radar (ok, the new Delta Green is there too but that seem to be a 2013 thing).

[drachenfels]

Only trollkin can be Fell Callers, not Ogrun, but otherwise why not!

I think a Fell Caller bandit could be a lot of fun, especially if he was part of a criminal kriel, maybe some of them Highwaymen, preying on travelling caravans in the depths of the Gnarls.

I think i have found my first character... Grubnatz obnoxious pickpocket!

[PG_ThatRickGuy]

You sir, have won the internets!

-Rick

[jdripley]

Great picture drachenfels! I'm still laughing over that. And it's my desktop wallpaper. That's tops!

Also, props to PPS_Simon for the attentive care you give the roleplaying community.

I'm really excited about what I read in the Insider. I mostly play DnD 3.5 these days, and I've grown discontent with the cookie cutter feel of the classes. Sure feats and skill selection can make characters mechanically different, but... I mean, realistically your cleric has 5 or 6 core feats they really have to take. So does your fighter, Wizard, whatever it is. And after playing DnD for a few years you've pretty much dialed in what skills your DM is going to use, so you just take those skills.

So this whole race/archetype/career/career system seems wonderfully open ended to me. Lots of possibilities!

[PG_DocEther]

I was super stoked before, after last NQ's article, now I'm basically doing cartwheels. I love everything you guys are doing so far, even if you're only letting us know about it little by little.

The idea of Archetypes and the duel Career system for characters sounds a lot like WFRP in a really good way. It should keep new characters fresh yet still have that identifiable nature. A Warcaster Fighter vs a Warcaster Gunmage will probably still be pretty different, but both will still be Warcasters at the end of the day. Love it.

Now we need to wait to see how character advancement will work. Are players locked into those career choices? Can they move on to new ones or gain more through experience?

[Lanz]

So we can start as warcasters? Interesting...

[warlorddrax]

thank you drachenfels!
i have a new desktop wallpaper!

seriously though, i fell out of my chair after reading seeing it

internet points to you sir!

[Terraneaux]

So some people I was talking to were skeptical about adapting a wargame ruleset to an rpg. It's interesting, however, that it's the same direction that DnD originally took.

I'm really looking forward to the 'wilds' book the most, because part of what I like in the setting is the contrast between highly industrialized, 'civilized' nations and wilds that are like Australia on Nightmare Mode. Running around exploring crazy places like the Bloodstone Marches seems fun.

[pgmason]

I like the dual career idea - it provides a neat way to model wildly different character types using the same basic building blocks. For example, taking characters from Warmachine, Nemo might be an Arcane Mechanik/Warcaster, while Caine would be a Gunmage/Warcaster. I was very worried that having Warcasters playable from day one would make them all too similar.

[Sthiel]

So some people I was talking to were skeptical about adapting a wargame ruleset to an rpg. It's interesting, however, that it's the same direction that DnD originally took.

I'm really looking forward to the 'wilds' book the most, because part of what I like in the setting is the contrast between highly industrialized, 'civilized' nations and wilds that are like Australia on Nightmare Mode. Running around exploring crazy places like the Bloodstone Marches seems fun.

Isn't it the other way around? Didn't Privateer Press do some IK RPG materials and then create Warmachine based on that?

[ProtoClone]

Isn't it the other way around? Didn't Privateer Press do some IK RPG materials and then create Warmachine based on that?

I believe so.

I really like the sound and idea behind all of this. The ideas are brewing in my head now...

[Lanz]

Isn't it the other way around? Didn't Privateer Press do some IK RPG materials and then create Warmachine based on that?

As in D&D's rules, which IKRPG Mk1 was made for, were generated from wargames, which predate D&D by a few decades.

[Sthiel]

As in D&D's rules, which IKRPG Mk1 was made for, were generated from wargames, which predate D&D by a few decades.

DnD was based on wargames? Where do you get that from? I remember a lot of Napoleonics, Some WWII Stuff - As I remember Avalon Hill was a pretty big name in our circle. I don't recall a lot of fantasy wargames in the early 70's. There were some SPI titles based around Tolkein - but they came out after D&D. First fantasy mini game I remember (Though to be fair it has been a LONG time) was chainmail - which TSR put out in support of D&D.

[AJ the Ronin]

Privateer started as an RPG company, yes. I know that The Longest Night predates all other WARMACHINE products. Not sure if the Monsternomicon and Lock and Load do so too.

[Lanz]

DnD was based on wargames? Where do you get that from? I remember a lot of Napoleonics, Some WWII Stuff - As I remember Avalon Hill was a pretty big name in our circle. I don't recall a lot of fantasy wargames in the early 70's. There were some SPI titles based around Tolkein - but they came out after D&D. First fantasy mini game I remember (Though to be fair it has been a LONG time) was chainmail - which TSR put out in support of D&D.

I don't think there's a direct "D&D was based on X", but as far as I'd heard, the concept of that kind of game (a small party-based role-playing game) was derived from wargame rules initially. It's no secret that Gygax played wargames himself prior to making D&D and was no doubt at least inspired by them.

[drachenfels]

when i posted this information to my local forum someone responded with :

"Or, and this would appeal to the side of me that wants to really "Role" play instead of "Roll" play would be a Gobber who is a cross between a bodger and Reinholdt (so Arcane Mechanic/Thief or Arcane Mechanic/World Traveller if that is an option). The little hyper guy who constantly irritates the mean Khador warcaster by "fixing" his warjack and "improving" his equipment!"


so ofcourse i had to draw this too....

[PPS_Simon]

DnD was based on wargames? Where do you get that from? I remember a lot of Napoleonics, Some WWII Stuff - As I remember Avalon Hill was a pretty big name in our circle. I don't recall a lot of fantasy wargames in the early 70's. There were some SPI titles based around Tolkein - but they came out after D&D. First fantasy mini game I remember (Though to be fair it has been a LONG time) was chainmail - which TSR put out in support of D&D.

You're very close! Gygax and company created the original Chainmail rules from which D&D grew in the nebulous ooze of primordial adventure games! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chainmail_(game)

[Sthiel]

I don't think there's a direct "D&D was based on X", but as far as I'd heard, the concept of that kind of game (a small party-based role-playing game) was derived from wargame rules initially. It's no secret that Gygax played wargames himself prior to making D&D and was no doubt at least inspired by them.

Ok I will buy that - the concept of using dice to adjudicate combat. Makes sense.

The comment I was originally remarking on though was a concern about basing a RPG on a specific Wargame - That is not the case in this instance, though it could certainly be argued the Wargame has considerably expanded the Iron Kingdoms setting!

[captainspud]

Warlocks will not be included in the first book, though. We're saving those for book 3 which focuses on the wilds of Immoren.

Question: will there be a lot of player content in books 2, 3, and 4? Because as a DM, I really don't like the players having a reason to own books of fluff details and plot hooks. What they own, they're going to read, which makes the material much less useful for the DM.

[Ger]

I'm liking what I'm hearing so far. Still waiting for more details and trying not to go crazy.

I do like that you need Gifted to go Warcaster. It suggests that Warcaster is something you at least need to plan for at character creation to make a possibility. Which fits the fluff.

Any chance we can get a gear article in the near future Simon? Talk about Firearms, Blasting Powder, and some of the special arms and equipment the IKCG had in it. What's still around, what's changed...etc. Curious about the monetary system too now that I think about it.

Mayhaps a "So my _____ wants to buy a pistol and a pocket watch" format where you walk through how that character would go about getting that stuff. To give an idea of where the systems at in that regard.

[drachenfels]

"So my _[ Trollkin Fellcaller Thief ]_ wants to buy a pistol and a pocket watch"

step 1) fine person that owns 1 or both items
step 2) announce to all that you will be taking them
step 3) ???
step 4) you now own said items.

[Weaselcreature]

Question: will there be a lot of player content in books 2, 3, and 4? Because as a DM, I really don't like the players having a reason to own books of fluff details and plot hooks. What they own, they're going to read, which makes the material much less useful for the DM.

I think it's important for players to be able to read fluff (but not plot hooks). Even if it's about an area they aren't adventuring in. It gives the player a better feel for the world. The character grew up in the world, so would have more knowledge and sense of what's going on/what could happen than a player who knew little of the setting. The players should use this information to help play their character, help react to or anticipate how dealings with NPCs might go, but shouldn't use specific knowledge their character wouldn't know.