http://wickedthought.livejournal.com/574839.html (http://wickedthought.livejournal.com/574839.html)
699 Years Ago...
... Jacque de Molay was arrested for crimes of heresy.
He and his fellow Templars were set up by the King of France and the Pope because of greed, jealousy and fear.
But, the night before the betrayal took place, the Last Grand Master gathered together thirty of his most trusted knights, gave them a locked box, and told them to ride forth into the night and to not look back.
What happened to those thirty knights has always been a mystery... until now.
In celebration of this historical event, for today and only today, I am making a special Wicked Offer. Order a .pdf or hard copy of Thirty: A Little Game about a Big Secret and you will receive a free .pdf of any other John Wick game at the Brewery.
For centuries, historians have speculated... where did they go? And what was the treasure Jacque de Molay gave them?
Now, you can find out.
Thirty (softcover) was a fun pick-up. I can't say whether or not I'll ever play it, but is one hell of a fun read, and gave me plenty of ideas for other games.
Is that about the templars who founded Switzerland? ;)
(I was kinda disappointed that it isn't abouth Gemell's Thirty...)
There is a precinct called "Tempelhof" in Berlin, which is named that way, because it used to be a chapterhouse for the knights templar in the 13th century.
I didn't personally like 30, but I can't really say why without utterly spoiling it for anyone who might play it.
Do we have any way of blocking text so people have to choose to read it and can't see it accidentally?
Pundit, pm me, I doubt this would be one for you to be honest.
Quote from: BalbinusDo we have any way of blocking text so people have to choose to read it and can't see it accidentally?
Spoiler
Why, yes: the "spoiler" tags.
I'd guess it was the knights who made away with the Order's treasury, which Phillipe le Bon, may he rot in the hell which was surely specially designed for him - if hells exist at all, never got his nasty hands on. Speculations abound as to where it went. Scotland, then under the rule of the excommunicated Robert the Bruce, and where a few years later, the Oriflamme was supposedly unfurled at Bannockburn? Switerland, as others have suggested? Oak Island Nova Scotia, where a cunningly designed seies of traps has thwarted generations of treasure seekers? If I actually liked any of John Wick's designs, I'd pick it up for the subject matter. Fascinating stuff.
-clash
You're a bit of a Templar geek aren't you Balbinus?
Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalYou're a bit of a Templar geek aren't you Balbinus?
Absolutely, have I made other references to them though?
Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalYou're a bit of a Templar geek aren't you Balbinus?
Who wouldn't be, given their druthers! :D
Actually, if Balbinus didn't care for the treatment of the subject matter, I probably wouldn't either.
-clash
Spoiler
Thanks Grimgent, much appreciated.
Ok, the adventure is all about a metaphysical quest through a kind of metareality dream space full of symbolism and so on.
That didn't grab me as a concept, but it then goes for the whole postmodern thing where the ultimate encounter is where the PCs meet the players and realise that they are characters in a roleplaying game. To make it worse, and I consider that pretty fucking bad personally already, it's laid out precisely how it goes and reads more like a novel than an adventure.
Personally, if I wanted to break the fourth wall I'd hire Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang again which was at least a fun movie. In gaming it holds absolutely zero interest to me.
Gik! Uk! Thanks for the warning, Balbinus! If I went and got it for what I thought would be the subject matter, I'd end up with that... that... stuff... all over my hands. If Wick wants to wank, he can go out in the forest like the others, and I'm not interested in assisting.
-clash
Gee whiz, I was expecting either conspiracy gaming or "Thirty Demon Whores of the Templars".
"I just critically hit Baphomet!"
Wow, Freemasonry must really change individuals, as Pundit would have never pimped such Swinery elsewise.
Eh, I didn't find it that bad. Like I said, I don't know that I'll ever play it, but I did enjoy reading through it
Spoiler
(though Balbinius' point regarding the end is valid--that bit was sort of a wank, though before that is a pretty good read, I thought, and I enjoyed reading about the Templar treasures)
.
Quote from: Zachary The FirstEh, I didn't find it that bad. Like I said, I don't know that I'll ever play it, but I did enjoy reading through it Spoiler
(though Balbinius' point regarding the end is valid--that bit was sort of a wank, though before that is a pretty good read, I thought, and I enjoyed reading about the Templar treasures)
I enjoyed reading most of it save that bit too, but I didn't really think it was a game, it felt to me more like a failed novel.
Quote from: SettembriniWow, Freemasonry must really change individuals, as Pundit would have never pimped such Swinery elsewise.
They're required to support each other, perhaps this falls under that somehow...
:D
Quote from: BalbinusI enjoyed reading most of it save that bit too, but I didn't really think it was a game, it felt to me more like a failed novel.
More than one person has said it doesn't fit neatly into the classification or the feel of a game. And now I suppose one more has, as well.
I'm unclear on something. Is this thing an actual roleplaying game, complete in itself, or is it just an adventure? Or is this a roleplaying game like "The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen by Baron Munchausen" by Hogshead was a roleplaying game, which is to say, it isn't really?
I liked reading EABM, but I would never play it.
I mostly posted the link because the game is allegedly about the Templars, and in honour of this day, John Wick is having that one-day special. In general, I don't like anything Wick has ever made as far as RPGs are concerned.
I find it strange that the game is about what you say, balbinus... does it have anything at all to do with the templars at all??
RPGPundit
Quote from: BalbinusAbsolutely, have I made other references to them though?
I know you've dropped de Molay references a couple of times and I know that you've run a game on the Albigensian Crusade and know quite a bit about the period. In my experience, it's difficult to sustain an interest in the Albigensian Crusade without it creeping towards other acts of political expediency masquerading as religious fervour :)
Quote from: RPGPunditI mostly posted the link because the game is allegedly about the Templars, and in honour of this day, John Wick is having that one-day special. In general, I don't like anything Wick has ever made as far as RPGs are concerned.
I find it strange that the game is about what you say, balbinus... does it have anything at all to do with the templars at all??
RPGPundit
You play the Templars, you just don't play them within a historical framework in the way I hoped when I bought it.
What I wanted was being the last of the Templars, fighting to preserve our wisdom in the face of extinction, sadly that is not what I got.
Note, I'm not saying the Templars were wise, who the fuck knows now? But that was what I thought the game would be about.
Well anyways, the special offer is over already. I'm closing the thread.
RPGPundit