[RPG]: Hawkmoon 1st Edition, reviewed by swinebread (2/3)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12138.phtml

Swinebread's Summary:

In this RPG, the astonishing post-apocalyptic world of the Tragic Millennium springs forth from Michael Moorcock’s Runestaff novels. Hawkmoon is an interesting but flawed BRP product from the 1980’s. While playable it is more useful as a supplement for Stormbringer rather than being a complete game in its own right.

Go to the full review for more information.

[Dan Davenport]

I've often wondered about this product, and I couldn't ask for a better review, SB. I daresay Chaosium could do worse than offering you a review copy of the 2nd edition monograph.

[Charles_Terrault]

I remerber playing the french translation, all those years ago. I always preferred Stormbringer, but Hawkmoon had such a unique feel that for years I had to go back to it again and again.

I believe that the french publisher (Oriflamme, if I remember well) had published a few original supplements, like they did for Stormbringer and Call of Chtulhu.

[Ranyart Finn]

Originally Posted by Dan Davenport

I've often wondered about this product, and I couldn't ask for a better review, SB. I daresay Chaosium could do worse than offering you a review copy of the 2nd edition monograph.

Hi, I'm Lawrence Whitaker...

I echo pretty much all the sentiments of this review. One of the things I wanted to address when writing the new version of Hawkmoon (which started life, some 10+ years ago as a FULL Elric! supplement, not a monograph) was the deficiency in the background. TM Europe is a rich place in which to adventure, and the original game never made the most of the setting. Too much time was wasted on providing rules instead of developing the setting as a place for adventure.

But, to be fair to Kerie Campbell, her original manuscript was lost or stolen, I believe, and she had to write the whole thing over in a short space of time. And this was pre-computers and word processors, so I have some sympathy for the task she faced, and this may explain why the game feels - as the reviewer says - like a Beta game.

One thing I would comment on about the review is Eire getting 'screwed'. Arguably every European nation gets screwed in the original game because so little time is spent on each area (with the exception of Granbretan). But, Eire is never mentioned in any of the novels - either in detail or in passing. And, even if it was, 'Shattered Isle' more than corrects that issue because it's focused completely on Eire, so Ireland actually ends-up being one of the MORE detailed areas of the game. Ironic for a land that Moorcock never mentions in the Hawkmoon saga!

[swinebread]

Originally Posted by Dan Davenport

I've often wondered about this product, and I couldn't ask for a better review, SB. I daresay Chaosium could do worse than offering you a review copy of the 2nd edition monograph.

Every time I did a web search for Chaosium games, I would always find loads of details about CoC, Stormbringer, Runequest, etc. and merely a quick mention that they made Hawkmoon. I figured I better post a review so at least there would be something on the web about it.

[swinebread]

Originally Posted by Ranyart Finn

Hi, I'm Lawrence Whitaker...

TM Europe is a rich place in which to adventure, and the original game never made the most of the setting. Too much time was wasted on providing rules instead of developing the setting as a place for adventure.

...But, Eire is never mentioned in any of the novels - either in detail or in passing. And, even if it was, 'Shattered Isle' more than corrects that issue because it's focused completely on Eire, so Ireland actually ends-up being one of the MORE detailed areas of the game. Ironic for a land that Moorcock never mentions in the Hawkmoon saga!

You got me Lawrence that was a plant of sorts. A tiny bit underhanded I admit. I wanted to see if there was any interest in a possible review of the Shattered Isle. The fact that that you zero right in on this point of my review and your comments about the need for more detail on Tragic Millennium Europe bode well for your version of the game.

[swinebread]

Originally Posted by Charles_Terrault

I remerber playing the french translation, all those years ago. I always preferred Stormbringer, but Hawkmoon had such a unique feel that for years I had to go back to it again and again.

I believe that the french publisher (Oriflamme, if I remember well) had published a few original supplements, like they did for Stormbringer and Call of Chtulhu.

Hmmmm… another monograph or two perhaps. Chaosium?

[Ranyart Finn]

Originally Posted by swinebread

You got me Lawrence that was a plant of sorts. A tiny bit underhanded I admit. I wanted to see if there was any interest in a possible review of the Shattered Isle. The fact that that you zero right in on this point of my review and your comments about the need for more detail on Tragic Millennium Europe bode well for your version of the game.

I wasn't meaning to catch you out, but thanks for your comments; I hope I've done the Hawkmoon saga justice in my version, but that's for others to judge.

All the best,

Lawrence

[smascrns]

Of course, Eire (Ireland) gets screwed, it is on the map but it’s not mentioned in the text at all

You think Eire gets screwed? Well, most any game screws Portugal (my country) the Low Countries and other smaller European country. Why should Eire have a better lot?

AFAIK the French version had improved rules for the fantasy science of Hawkmoon but I never saw it myself.

I bought Hawkmoon soon after it came out. I love the Hawkmoon novels a lot more than Elric's so I got the Hawkmoon rpg even before I got Stormbringer. Boy, was I deceived. An underdevelopped game with less than standard production values (by which I mean the standards of Chaosium in the middle 80s). I would give it a 2 for content.

[swinebread]

Originally Posted by smascrns

You think Eire gets screwed? Well, most any game screws Portugal (my country) the Low Countries and other smaller European country. Why should Eire have a better lot?

Yes your right, I put that Eire thing in to see if people might be interested in a review of The Shattered Isle. But yes there are many countries that got screwed.

Originally Posted by smascrns

I bought Hawkmoon soon after it came out. I love the Hawkmoon novels a lot more than Elric's so I got the Hawkmoon rpg even before I got Stormbringer. Boy, was I deceived. An underdevelopped game with less than standard production values (by which I mean the standards of Chaosium in the middle 80s). I would give it a 2 for content.

I thought about giving it a 2, but part of content is the fun of reading it. I found what little info on Moorcock’s writings there was so interesting that I went out and bought the Hawkmoon books right away. Also, if Hawkmoon was a supplement for Stormbringer (and maybe it was and maybe it wasn't), in my opinion, it would have been an average supplement for that game.

Have looked at the new Hawkmoon monograph?