[Arrows of Indra] The Greyhawk Grognard Review

RPGPundit · March 12, 2013, 01:42:13 PM

AoI got an excellent 5-star review from the Greyhawk Grognard!

I wanted to call particular attention to this bit:

QuoteAll this is accomplished with what was, for me anyway, just the right amount of foreign terminology and jargon. Too many settings seem to operate under the impression that all it takes to make an exotic setting is to use hundreds of weird names, but that ends up being nothing more than an exercise in frustration for all but the half-dozen die-hard fans who are willing to memorize the glossary. Arrows of Indra avoids that pitfall; a mace is still a mace.

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Benoist · March 12, 2013, 02:09:57 PM

I've already seen AoI compared to Tekumel/EoPT, and that quote basically sums it up for me.

I don't think the right comparison is with Tekumel. I'd like to think more of AoI as "Oriental Adventures" actually done right, but not about Japan, about India instead. It's in the same range of "bringing something else to life than Medieval Europe to the D&D game table" and Arrows of Indra is doing it correctly, I think.

RPGPundit · March 13, 2013, 06:42:35 PM

Quote from: Benoist;636467I've already seen AoI compared to Tekumel/EoPT, and that quote basically sums it up for me.

I don't think the right comparison is with Tekumel. I'd like to think more of AoI as "Oriental Adventures" actually done right, but not about Japan, about India instead. It's in the same range of "bringing something else to life than Medieval Europe to the D&D game table" and Arrows of Indra is doing it correctly, I think.

I'd generally agree, though there's obviously going to be some overlap with Tekumel; I'm waiting for someone to accuse me of "ripping off" tekumel in some way, when in fact whatever way that is will likely be a case of both myself and Prof. Barker "ripping off" Indian mythology or culture.

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Zachary The First · March 13, 2013, 07:47:22 PM

I'm very relieved that it sounds so accessible; one of my biggest pet peeves in RPG products is when you have to essentially learn a new language to GM the thing.

The Butcher · March 14, 2013, 12:40:24 AM

Just wanted to chime in and once more express my bewilderment towards the conceit that one needs to "learn a new language" to play Tékumel.

I still don't get it.

Congratulations on the stellar review, Punds. I'm looking forward to reading AoI.

Melan · March 14, 2013, 03:52:59 AM

Quote from: The Butcher;636926Just wanted to chime in and once more express my bewilderment towards the conceit that one needs to "learn a new language" to play Tékumel.

I still don't get it.

In Jakkalá, they call that Hyél"ű Na'ayanár Mítá'rgyayiál Chiték'küüss-shéker, or "Glorious General of the Distinguished Straw Clan", a term which should be familiar to even the most lowly savant of the Mu'ugalavyá period. Lá, so it is recounted.

RPGPundit · March 14, 2013, 04:16:32 AM

Quote from: Zachary The First;636830I'm very relieved that it sounds so accessible; one of my biggest pet peeves in RPG products is when you have to essentially learn a new language to GM the thing.

It was a VERY intentional part of the design process to try to avoid that as much as possible.

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