Explore the detailed setting of Potter's Lake and all the weirdness it attacts. If you enjoy games like Over the Edge, Unknown Armies, Seventh Seal, or Call of Cthulhu this is probably a game for you.
Post originally by Lee Foster at 2004-10-08 08:09:44
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Abdul,
The third edition of Heaven & Earth is 70,000 words, so it's still very robust. As far was what is missing, here's some examples:
1. Character creation and game mechanics encompass about 17 to 20 pages. In the last edition, they accounted for about 50 pages.
2. All the fiction from the last edition is gone, which is about 30 pages in total.
3. This edition treats ghosts and spirits as plot devices rather than opponents. As such, the mechanics for these beings are lite to non-existent, freeing up a lot of room.
These are just some of the major changes that would account for the difference in page counts between the editions. Overall, this edition is much more setting intensive and a lot less mechanics intensive.
Post originally by Lee Foster at 2004-10-08 08:17:32
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Dan,
I'll do my best to sum up the mechanics for you.
There are six degrees of difficulty ranging from Easy to Nearly Impossible. Each degree determines the die used. For example, a d20 is rolled for Easy and a d4 is rolled for a difficulty of Nearly Impossible. The die result, the governing attribute rank, and a skill modifier (if appropriate) are added together and compared against a Target Number of 9. Destiny points can be spent to augment the roll.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Post originally by Lee Foster at 2004-10-08 08:28:37
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Dan,
Characters have six attributes: Coordination, Fortitude, Strength, Aura, Awareness, and Knowledge. Fortitude = willpower, Aura = the ability to influence others (charisma, intimidation, persuasion, etc.), Awareness is a wits/perception based attribute, and the rest are probably self-explanatory.
In this edition, characters purchase an occupation at either Rookie, Professional, or Veteran level. These occupations grant a host of appropriate skills. A Rookie level adds a +1 to the appropriate skill rolls, the Professional level adds a +2, and the Veteran level adds a +3.
Extracurricular skills, outside of the occupational ones, can be purchased as well.
Post originally by Lee Foster at 2004-10-08 08:42:15
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Dan,
Yes. The Central Traits from O.T.E. are a good comparison to the occupations in Heaven & Earth. Characters receive all the skills appropriate to their occupations at whatever level they purchased the occupation at. I should note that different occupations cost different amounts to purchase. For example, the deputy occupation is costlier to buy than say a taxi driver because of the gameplay value of the skills inherent to the occupation.
Post originally by Patrick Riley at 2004-10-08 09:13:41
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In CoC, it is possible to run through a campaign, uncover the secrets of the universe (go insane), and then tart up a new campaign with new (or surviving) PCs and do it some more.
In OTE, Al Amarja is so open-ended that even if the players discover all its secrets, the GM can easily make more.
What happens with H&E? It is good for multiple campaigns with the same players (with new or old PCs) or is it such that once all the secrets of Potter's Lake are revealed, you have pretty much mined all you can out of the game?
To look at it a different way, can someone run H&E and not have experienced players, who have played or read the entire thing, spoil things?
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