Quote from: RPGPunditIts a pity most of you don't read Spanish; otherwise if you wanted a really good and AUTHENTIC look at a Medieval Historical RPG complete with a magic system that actually bases itself on how magic was imagined to work by the medieval world view, I would recommend Aquelarre. On this issue, it kicks Ars Magica's ass on so many levels.

  It has been translated into French and I thought it was pretty poor.  Nice atmosphere but the rest is really amateur-hour.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalIt has been translated into French and I thought it was pretty poor.  Nice atmosphere but the rest is really amateur-hour.

I also own the English translation, which was never authorised for general release.

No point here, I just felt like gloating rather.

Quote from: BalbinusNo point here, I just felt like gloating rather.

  Well La-Dee-Dah Mr. Well-Connected!  How did you get that?

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalWell La-Dee-Dah Mr. Well-Connected!  How did you get that?

My natural sexual magnetism.

Actually, I don't entirely recall how I got to know the guy, but somehow I got in email contact with the translator.

That said, I wouldn't understimate the impact of the natural sexual magnetism.

Quote from: jhkimWell, I would say that if you're looking for an authentic medieval historical RPG, then you shouldn't play Ars Magica.  

What I've heard of Aquelarre is that it sets up an opposition between rationality and magic -- that you have a rationality/irrationality stat, and the higher your rationality, the more resistant you are to magic but the less able to cast it you are.  Is that true?  Offhand, that sounds much more modern than medieval to me, which conjures up a picture of a magic/science division.  

What I was really referring to was the kind of "spells" and monsters involved in it, that all come straight out of medieval spanish folklore.

But the Rationality/Irrationality system is actually QUITE medieval.  What it isn't is early modern.
You see, in the medieval period, before the black death/renaissance/reformation/counterreformation, the view of magic held by the erudite catholic church was quite different than later on. Medieval scholars believed that magic didn't exist, that it was an illusion, that devil-worshipers or witches were certainly heretics, but that magical power was all based on lies and self-delusions, and a lack of "rationality".
On the other hand, of course, less educated people believed it to be utterly real and a part of the world.

It was only later, after the black death and during the "witch craze", that the  paradigm changed to believe that lucifer could grant people real powers to affect the real world.

So the rationality/irrationality mechanic actually works quite well to simulate educated/uneducated thought on the matter in that time period.

RPGPundit

Quote from: BalbinusThat said, I wouldn't understimate the impact of the natural sexual magnetism.

  I would... if I were you.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalI would... if I were you.

You think I'm underestimating it?  That the impact is even greater than I realise?  I suppose that's possible...

Quote from: RPGPunditIts a pity most of you don't read Spanish; otherwise if you wanted a really good and AUTHENTIC look at a Medieval Historical RPG complete with a magic system that actually bases itself on how magic was imagined to work by the medieval world view, I would recommend Aquelarre. On this issue, it kicks Ars Magica's ass on so many levels.

I agree in full with the Pundit. I have some pet peeves with the system, but are small details. The magic system reeks authenticity, and it has a quick and easy system. The supplements are top - notch regarding background info and bringing medieval legends alive.

Quote from: ImperatorI agree in full with the Pundit.

Then you've lost the right to the title of "Swiney McSwine".

RPGPundit

Oh, boy, I liked it a lot....

Did they ever come out with a spanish version of Nephilim?  I remember when I worked on a Nephilim fanzine back in the day the company involved said they'd send me a copy but it never appeared.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalDid they ever come out with a spanish version of Nephilim?  I remember when I worked on a Nephilim fanzine back in the day the company involved said they'd send me a copy but it never appeared.

Yes. It was a translation from the original French book from Multisim, which in my opinion was a mistake (I also have the Chaosium ed and I think it's vastly superior). But the publishers of Nephilim in Spain (Joc Internacional) are different people from the AM Spanish publishers (Kerykion first, Distrimagen after them).

Yeah... French version was a bit all over the place.

Well, I have to admit that I am Mr. Stafford's bitch, so I love everyhting he works in . But yes, the book is better organized, explained, and the supplements count with people like Kenneth Hite working on it. However, the French supplements are very cool, specially Selenim.

On topic: I love Ars Magica.

I bear no ill will toward Ars Magica, but I never really enjoyed the troupe style of gaming for a number of personal reasons, among them that it seemed like it was hard for the people I played with to become attached to any of the characters when we played this way.

That being said, I really liked the way the game was written, the quality of the supplements and background material, and the magic system.

It was a truly novel game, especially for the time that it came out.

I'd probably pick it up again if I found a cheap, used copy.