Just got the books!

Discussion of GMing 1879. Warning: Here there be spoilers!
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Slimcreeper
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Joined:Mon Nov 28, 2016 11:44 pm
Just got the books!

Post by Slimcreeper » Tue Aug 08, 2017 4:33 pm

And I'm pretty excited. My first impression is that it seems perfect for a sandbox campaign. My second is that I really probably do need some pre-written adventures. It is dense! The variety of professions alone is pretty impressive, and that's before I've even gotten really into the world and the various sources of opposition. It'll be interesting to see how the presence of firearms plays out in terms of dynamics, and how the analytical engines function in-game. Listening to some Shadowrun actual podcasts sometimes you hear the players for non-hacker types grumble that they just don't have anything to do during matrix sequences. (I've never actually played Shadowrun, so can't speak to it.)

Graymayne
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Re: Just got the books!

Post by Graymayne » Fri Aug 11, 2017 7:32 pm

Gratz, Slim, while I'm a bit interested, the timing isn't so good to support anything atm. So do me a favor, Take 1879 and compare it between both systems, Earthdawn and Shadowrun and show me not the "core" technical differences, but all the areas that have the same flavors, then take the differences and show me the core differences, but how Earthdawn leads into them or how they match Shadowrun.

Slimcreeper
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Re: Just got the books!

Post by Slimcreeper » Fri Aug 11, 2017 8:47 pm

Well, in quick (I haven't finished reading all of the material), 1879 supports a _lot_ of different games. You can essentially go on steampunk shadowruns, do high-level political/social intrigue, run a scrappy muck-raking newspaper, go on a safari on an alien world, play on the frontlines of a war, explore ancient ruins, etc. And you can bounce back and forth between them with most characters. It carefully models the social stratification of Victorian England, which I think imposes some limits, although it aggressively breaks down the historical gender barriers. The biggest theme is World in Flux.

I've never actually played Shadowrun, although I've listened to some actual play podcasts. It's got a similar flavor to the magic, at first blush. Potentially powerful, but with a high cost. There are hackers (Byrons) for the Analytical Engines and there is a system for Engine combat, but it's not as divorced from regular play as it is in Shadowrun. The Boojuns (trolls, dwarves, orks) only made the transition 2 years ago, so they are in a weird place. Trolls can carry heavy machine guns, and I'm sorry, but that is sick as hell. In general, though, I don't think it is nearly as combat oriented.

As compared to Earthdawn, the magic level is way lower. Overall, I think the game is probably much deadlier. Wounds can get infected, which can straight-up kill you if you leave them untreated. Adepts in ED can feel somewhat apart from the general population, and I don't think that'll be the case in 1879. There aren't many teasers that connect the worlds that I've come across so far, except for a really neat possible explanation as to why t'skrang are so different from the other Namegivers and why their birthrate is declining. But, I have only just started the GMG, so there may be a lot more of that sort of thing.

The books are dense - probably a bit overloaded, to be honest. My 40-yo eyes would have appreciated a larger font. Some of the smaller artwork is kind of forgettable, but nearly all of the big pieces are amazing. There's this one of a troll being swarmed by the bobbies as his confederates get away that just kills me.

Graymayne
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Joined:Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:12 pm

Re: Just got the books!

Post by Graymayne » Sun Aug 13, 2017 4:46 pm

Nothing that screams, must get. :-/ But it does sound interesting. I'll stay with Earthdawn for now then, but keep an eye and ear out on this one. As for eyes, my doctor just gave me bifocals and I'm only 46, I was thinking already, when she told me, lol.

Thanks Slim.

Buliesson
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Re: Just got the books!

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mariah9x
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Re: Just got the books!

Post by mariah9x » Thu Jan 11, 2024 8:46 am

The richness of the setting, the variety of professions, and the complexity of the world provide a fantastic backdrop for a sandbox campaign. mapquest driving directions

lemodoj343
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Re: Just got the books!

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Re: Just got the books!

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Re: Just got the books!

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