7th Sea...is BACK~!!!!

[Lady Grace]

And now, to make Muffin officially canon...

http://www.alderac.com/blog/2015/11/03/ ... o-7th-sea/

[Black Jack Rackham]

Important new update. Just to keep folks in the know.

Two promises:

1) No aliens.
2) No twenty-sided dice.

[kckrupp]

Two promises:

1) No aliens.
2) No twenty-sided dice.

Thank goodness! I mean the Syrneth as archaeological novelties were a good idea and all, but they became unnecessarily all-consuming with the metaplot.

Also, there is a mailing list you can sign up for future details: http://sailthe7thsea.com/

[Black Jack Rackham]

Well, it does kill the purpose of my very favorite secret society, DK...

[kckrupp]

I'm sure DK could get re-purposed for something else and still be creepy sorcery-using occultist knights fighting in the shadows.

Also, John released a fun little video on his youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qJqrSH9keI

It's funny though, I haven't really had a chance to play in years and yet the wave of nostalgia has me way too excited at the moment. I guess we'll see what 2016 has to offer.

[Lady Grace]

Guess that means whatever is in the Montaigne sewers isn't a Stargate.

[Kormak]

Any news on whether Rob Vaux and other writers are also returning?

[Black Jack Rackham]

So far it's just John. But we can always hope...

[kckrupp]

Was it Vaux or Wilson who let in the aliens?

[Black Jack Rackham]

Was it Vaux or Wilson who let in the aliens?

You know, I have no idea. But I bet Dave knows.

[Black Jack Rackham]

Pics from Mr. Wick's FB page.

12186593_10207896768235750_111368481000241031_o.jpg (227.88 KiB) Viewed 340863 times

11163289_10207896943840140_5641739265495526497_o.jpg (218.82 KiB) Viewed 340863 times

[kckrupp]

Those character sheets with the skills listed looks similar to several attempts I've seen people go down to streamline the Skills/Knack system.

I'm surprised, though. He has a big article about how he doesn't care about dice anymore, but I'm seeing what looks like a rather typical-style dice-needed character sheet.

[Kormak]

If I had to guess, I'd say he's worried that if he rocks the boat too much, he risks losing the old fans without attracting any new ones to compensate. Plus, the more radical changes introduced to the system, the less compatible it will be with the old sourcebooks.

[Kormak]

Was it Vaux or Wilson who let in the aliens?

It might not mean much - especially considering the Syrneth were already noted as "aliens", so to speak, all the way back in the core books -, but Kevin Wilson is listed as the author of the "Dee Kreuzritter" sourcebook.

[kckrupp]

It makes sense that he's trying not to "rock the boat," although with a game that's been off shelves for 10 years, he has a chance to really re-think things, so hopefully the existing format doesn't water down the approach.

Then again, I don't really think 7th Sea's rules are all that broken. When I first started playing I frequently got frustrated with the rules, but over time, with the exception of a few tweaks here and there (I personally got rid of Passive Defense a long time ago - which made combat a lot more fun - and used a two reputation system,) but the rules overall are really solid. It looks like Wick is tackling the areas that have always had the most scrutiny (Reputation and superfluous Knacks.)

Also, it doesn't really matter who "expanded" the Syrneth influence. As you said, it was always sort of there from the start, and always got the feeling that it was a "sub-metaplot" that became a convenient way to "explain" things, so over time the entirety of the metaplot got more and more consumed by it.

[Black Jack Rackham]

Mr. Wick added this pic today on FB with the caption, "Research." Consider me pleased.

[Black Jack Rackham]

Some more pics from Mr. Wick's FB page...

I am intrigued by the new cost of the ships. But unsurprised about Fate Witches using Sorte in combat.

[kckrupp]

And I'm sad, because Ship combat in 7th Sea is something I've always hated...welp...I may be sticking to my custom sailing rules when this comes out after all.

I AM looking forward to re-written Sorte rules though. Sorte was always delicious, but never felt well executed. I am a little uncomfortable with Sorcery become too combat front and center. I always loved that Sorcery in 7th Sea was (in most cases) just slightly subtle and required more out of the box thinking to really make the most of it.

[Kormak]

Oh, nice, we might get an "Africa" for the game! Add some "America", even if only the equivalent of the Antilles, the Caribbean Islands and things like that, and I'll be very pleased, indeed. (Preferably not Aztecs, Incans or anything of the sort, at least not as a main part of the game. I would prefer if its focus remained on romantic piracy and swashbuckling, not full-blown pulp.)

Using Sorte in combat can mean a lot of things, though. Maybe now PCs will finally be able to do what characters in the fiction did, using Sorte lashes to attack people? Or maybe it will stick to Fate Witches being able to attract good luck for themselves and their allies and bad luck for their enemies. I prefer the latter, to be honest, but I've never really liked NPCs having exclusive access to goodies.

And I'm sad, because Ship combat in 7th Sea is something I've always hated...

Yeah, it needs to have more participation from the entire party than just "Gunner, roll the dice for the cannon attack".

[Lady Grace]

I remember Rapier's Edge teased what appeared to be a North America equivalent, what with that Blue Heron character.

[Black Jack Rackham]

Another pic from Mr. Wick

[kckrupp]

Necromancy instead of Zersto-whatever? I'm okay with this.

[Kormak]

...It should be "Totenbeschwörung".
(I probably will never let go of just how little they care for linguistics.)

[Black Jack Rackham]

...It should be "Totenbeschwörung".
(I probably will never let go of just how little they care for linguistics.)

Two of the folks posted to that pic that they thought it should be, "Totenbeschwoerung" (unless you were referring to the person, in which case it should have been, "Totenbeschwörer")

[Black Jack Rackham]

Seen in a discussion about John Wick's playtest for the new 7th Sea...

Ted LeBeau: I so cannot wait for this revision.
John Wick: January.