Bloodshadows 2E Cover Ideas

brettmb · May 05, 2015, 11:08:33 PM

Im starting to think about what sort of cover image I'd like for Bloodshadows Second Edition, which is in the works as a stand-alone RPG. I'm open to suggestions. What would be cool? What would scream what the setting is all about? And while we're at, what are your favorite PC races from the setting?

Christopher Brady · May 07, 2015, 05:28:16 AM

A female Vampire Moll sitting on the side of the desk of a standing, looming Mobster wizard, whose interrogating a hapless detective back to us, and bound to a chair.

All I have at the moment. May come up with more, when I've gotten some sleep.

brettmb · May 07, 2015, 12:03:05 PM

Thanks. Definitely something to think about!

RPGPundit · May 10, 2015, 03:46:03 AM

Can I ask: what made you decide to change the system?

brettmb · May 10, 2015, 11:59:03 AM

I just don't think MasterBook is the right fit for the setting. I'm working on the Brutes Fantasy RPG with a completely rewritten/reorganized version of MasterBook, but that's good for that setting. So Bloodshadows 2E will use genreDiversion 3E, which does a really good job. I redesigned the spell creation rules, so they are similar to those MasterBook, but simpler.

Matt · May 10, 2015, 12:23:41 PM

Was Masterbook the WEG d6 "universal system" with genre/setting sourcebooks?

brettmb · May 10, 2015, 12:38:02 PM

It wasn't D6, but it did have wordbooks. It is 2d10-based.

Panzerkraken · May 10, 2015, 02:56:03 PM

Matt, WEG's universal was just called "The D6 System."

I've always thought of Masterbook as being sort of a progression from TORG's system (which used d20 instead of 2d10).

3rik · May 10, 2015, 02:58:13 PM

Quote from: brettmb;830813I just don't think MasterBook is the right fit for the setting. I'm working on the Brutes Fantasy RPG with a completely rewritten/reorganized version of MasterBook, but that's good for that setting. So Bloodshadows 2E will use genreDiversion 3E, which does a really good job. I redesigned the spell creation rules, so they are similar to those MasterBook, but simpler.

I picked up your Open D6 pdf version, but I like the sound of this much better. Being a stand-alone game, I assume it will include all the required rules?

brettmb · May 10, 2015, 03:40:55 PM

Yeah, Torg came first (1d20), then Shatterzone (2d10), and MasterBook is a slightly modified version of Shatterzone's system. Actually, MasterBook was WEG's universal system before D6.

The D6 version still suffers from some complicated mechanics. I have no doubt that a Mini6 version could be done, but there's more flexibility with GD3E.

finarvyn · May 10, 2015, 03:54:48 PM

The whole notion of pulp detectives mixing with vampires and demons in the same setting is awesome.

I owned at one point both printings (editions) of Bloodshadows so far (the MasterBook version and the d6 version) and think it's a great setting, but I never really enjoyed the rules so I'm hoping that this new one flows better.

My favorite of the two editions was the 1E cover:

The 2E (d6 system) cover was okay but not as cool:

Wouldn't a new edition be Bloodshadows 3E, though, and not 2E as the subject line suggests?

brettmb · May 10, 2015, 04:26:03 PM

Yeah, I guess so. Let's make it 3E. Didn't really think of it as 3E, since the D6 version was really just the same as the MasterBook version.

Panzerkraken · May 10, 2015, 10:07:58 PM

So, the game brings to mind Chinatown or To Cast A Deadly Spell more than the Dick Tracy theme the covers seem to have, so I think something like this:

(I especially like the "EPISODES of FLAMING ACTION DYNAMIC THRILLS and EERIE MYSTERY)
or anything from this page, particularly something maybe along this stylized cover:

brettmb · May 10, 2015, 10:36:24 PM

I never saw that Cast a Deadly Spell cover before. I like it.

finarvyn · May 11, 2015, 09:38:33 AM

Quote from: brettmb;830838Yeah, I guess so. Let's make it 3E. Didn't really think of it as 3E, since the D6 version was really just the same as the MasterBook version.

While I owned both, I didn't really play either much and so I don't know the differences between them. If the first two were essentially the same, one could count those two covers as 1E first printing and 1E second printing, with the new one being 2E if it's different enough.