[RPG]: The Black Monks of Glastonbury, reviewed by cj.23 (3/5)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9711.phtml

cj.23's Summary:

An excellent introduction to roleplaying in the mythic middle ages. Does a very good job of capturing the feel of Ars Magica for d20 system, though I forsee some problems for referees who like the 'module' over the 'sourcebook' approach.

Go to the full review for more information.

Post originally by ~BA at 2003-09-19 16:54:54
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I mean, I already know, since I wrote the other review of this product, but a bit of detail on what the book includes (new spells, OGL, new Ars infernalism rules and D20 prestige class, etc) would have been good.

~BA

Post originally by cj.23 at 2003-09-19 17:25:40
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Yes, but half way through my review I suddenly thought 'd'oh!' has anyone already submitted one? - found yours - and so I deleted all the stuff I had written which struck me as redundant!

And to be fair your review is much nicer than mine. However I think the fair answer to the question is it's about Monks in Glastonbury, and a lot of medieval mythic stuff. I really did not want to include spoilers if i could avoid it.

cj x

Post originally by ~BA at 2003-09-20 06:21:39
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Ah, but you see, we need to have as many different and differing views on games as possible. No opinion is redundant (unless it is an unformed one), and unless you agreed with every single one of my opinions, I for one would have enjoyed hearing your views.

~BA

Post originally by cj.23 at 2003-09-20 07:16:02
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Your review is exceptionally good on the content - I agreed with much of it, perhaps barring the art which varies from average to eye catching. I certainly agree with the comment on the maps.

Oner of my players created some notes on Glastonbury for Ars and a rough map, which feature on my web page last year. It might amuse you
http://members.lycos.co.uk/cjr23/ars/glast1.htm


Anyone else reading this discussion should certainly read the original review (contains spoilers, but not many more than the back cover does!) at
http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9513.phtml

However, an intersesting product. I hope you get to play it and write a full review soon.

cj x

Post originally by Elton Robb at 2003-09-20 18:25:38
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Wow!

This review is so cool! I think it's a little better than the other one, except you didn't care to tell me what you get.

Playing d20 Ars Magica style may be a little daunting for DMs. First of all, not all Ars Magica characters are created equal. A Magi is certainly more powerful than a companion, who is much more powerful than your standard grog. This sense of imbalance throws everything about D20 through a loop.

In the D20 World, the phrase "Game Balance" is practically worshiped! However, every game master should know that in the real world not everyone is created Equal. Everyone is born in the same state (nude and innocent), but the circumstances of our births and the way we lead our lives is infinitely unequal in every way.

Game Balance in a Fantasy game is Artificial. Real Life, an imbalance between the many different lives is natural.

This supplement raises that point within D20. Not every character is created equal, nor should they be. This fact has opened a different avenue for the game.

Fellow gamers, if you want a supplement where you are doing a lot of door bashing, and monster killing where the monsters are balanced against each other, don't get this one. However, if you want to explore the different nuances and story potential with the D20 system, "The Black Monks of Glastonbury" is the best place to start.
One thing is for sure, I'm definitely buying this. My players are going to be quite surprised when they go through a D20 Campaign like this.
<div ALIGN="CENTER"><a HREF="../product_tables/AG3402.html"><img SRC="../images/product/3402.jpg" WIDTH="112" HEIGHT="144" BORDER="0"></a><br>
<b>Ars Magica + d20</b><br>
<a HREF="../product_tables/AG3402.html">Black Monks of Glastonbury</a></div>



--- Elton Robb
Occult Lore author

Post originally by ~BA at 2003-09-20 19:31:46
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BMoG does allow for standard "party balance" play -- it is generic enough to be transported to other fantasy worlds, or different parts of Europe for D20.

A "dungeon crawl" through Glastonbury is possible for example, but only for level 20+ characters, given the CR of some of the monks there.

It is certainly more cerebral that many D20 modules I've seen. It also does a fair job of advertising the strengths of Ars.

My brain hurt.

~BA

Post originally by ~BA at 2003-09-20 19:33:16
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Your map link is broken

I'll mention your review on the Berklist. See whether we can get some discussion.

~BA

Post originally by GMJ at 2003-09-22 08:17:10
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>> I found it a lot more over the top than other Ars Magica scenarios, where only the Wizards or a town are at stake. Here the magi are playing for higher stakes, and this may be offputting to many Ars Magica referees.

This would make the third of the last three Ars books that has a high stakes story attached to it. Blood and Sand had a few Story Seeds that could lead to all out magical warfare in the Lavent Trib (Of course most of the work would be left to the SG as the idea isn't very fleshed out but still...). Fire and Ice has a senario that could lead to the corruption of the magical realm... That seems pretty big to me. Could this be a precedent for world changeing stories being included in Ars books?

Post originally by Tyrrell at 2003-09-22 13:52:45
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I've often played world changing stories before in Ars Magica. Saga's are by dint of their scale of time well suited to big stories. The return of the Diedne is probably the most commonly told saga arc (from what I pick up on lists and websites) and deals with the fate of the entire order. Look at the saga ideas in Houses of Hermes (were these also in the original Order of Hermes book?) none of these are small stories. Dragon and the Bear had a whole chapter dealing with Mythic Mongels overruning mythic Europe.

I don't see big stories as precicent setting in Ars Magica