I just thought I'd mention that I am nearly done with updating the Talisman4R extension for Strange Eons, though I need to tidy a little bit more up yet.

I have been working on adding a new type of token to the extension which is in the same vein as the ones now used in other FFG games, such as WFRP-

You can see then in the middle of the picture. I like these as they are roughly the same size as the minis supplied with Talisman and they are different to the older style tokens from 4th Edition.

You can either use a transparent image, like you might have in a Character card, or any image in the style of WFRP -

I think adding a name is not really necessary as you can recognise the picture easier than reading a title, so they should work out okay.

I have some other ideas too... more later!!

This is great. I am new to Strange Eons, where can I get it and all the latest plugins for Talisman?

Strange Eons is based here -

http://www.sfu.ca/~cjenning/eons/

The Talisman Extensions (not updated just yet) are here -

http://www.talismanisland.com/strange_eons.htm

You can have a look through them and get aquainted with them in the mean time though!

I'm not sure I follow here. Are we proposing changing the standee format to something outside of Talisman?

Not really. I have just decided to start using the new style of token.

Technically, Revised 4th Edition doesn't really have a standard for tokens, but I thought I would use the new WFRP ones as a template.

I will be leaving the other style in the extension also, I just find these a little nicer.

It started out as I was trying to find an alternative for tournament play to using my own painted miniatures. At the price I have paid to have them painted, I am a bit loathed to let people actually touch them!! As it turns out, the images I have from Steve will make nice proxies -

Oh my... sorry Jon, did I hear you right? All that to add more visual spice to the game, and now you're hesitant to use them?

Well, the standees are certainly cheaper to make, or remake, that's for sure. But I'll stick to the ones with labels. I need that extra bit when the board gets crowded with characters and cards. As the expansion boards keep coming, the other end of the board gets farther away, even for my reading glasses.

Some of the custom home brew characters (and their standees) with fancier artwork I'm finding don't stand out quite as well as the commercial ones.

Just out of curiosity, does WFRP have any options for GM-Less play? I know that's a rarity in FRPG, and mostly doesn't work well, but I thought I'd ask.

Heh, yes I know it sounds a bit daft, but the painting of the minis was a little treat for me.

I understand why you might prefer the older style of token, but it's just a matter of what you fancy. It may of course all end badly after further testing, but we shall see!

As to information about WFRP, I have to say I don't have a clue. The addition of cards and dice to the mix may lend itself to less GM intervention, but you would have to ask over at the WFRP forum.

Yeah, I nose around the internet about WFRP. Mixed reviews that were strange. People either loved it or hated... then again, people who are inbetween rarely write reviews. And most of them didn't really talk about the actual playing of it. Guess I'll wander over the other way, as you say, and see what's up. But I do think the alternative tokens look good just the same.

JCHendee said:

Aloha

Now, roleplaying is pretty much a passion of mine (I've been gaming since I was 11 and its my 34th birthday in May!). Between my various friends, I think we've played/owned/read all the major RPG releases over the past 20 years.

Its a right of passage for most gaming nerds in the UK to at least dabble in Games Workshop stuff in their youth (I live about 40 minutes away from the huge Games Workshop gaming centre, which is complete with lifesize statues of Space Marines, I kid you not). I was more into Warhammer 40K but dabbled in some of the fantasy stuff (Fantasy Battle, Man O War). The Warhammer Fantasy universe is an interesting, very different take on fantasy (I call it fantasy punk, in that, its gritty and hard-nosed fantasy) and I like that.

From what I've read of your fiction, JC, if you haven't come across the Warhammer fantasy universe, I think you'd like probably like that more than most of the D&D stuff out there.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition is actually a really different, really interesting entry-level game, creating a bridge between fantasy war gaming/board gaming and fantasy roleplaying. In that fashion, it does a very good job. The mechanics are interesting and might have broader appeal to board gamers than roleplayers but, to me, as a long time roleplayer, they initially seem interesting but like most novelty mechanics, I am uncertain of the longevity.

Warhammer is a good, solid game and I particularly think it is great for gamers who want to introduce board gamers to RPGs. As you would expect from an FFG game, it has high production values and the price tag is certainly justified, given all the gumpf you get in the box Believe me, you get a LOT of gumpf.

There are also some really interesting adventuring-specific mechanics which have partially inspired a currently-forming idea for a Talisman expansion based around playing a group of adventurers, rather than a single character. But that's an idea for another time.

As to solo game playing. You want to look at two products:

http://www.mythic.wordpr.com/page14/page9/page9.html

http://www.alderac.com/ultimatetoolbox/

Between those two products, you should be able to game a session for yourself.

Very cool, D! I haven't actually RPGed in 25 years. The reason I asked was because I was looking at Descent a little while back... and the reaction from the group was not positive. I guess we all have such busy lives, me included, that no one wants to GM... its hard work to do it right! So I got curious as to whether there really are any self generating systems out there that perhaps come with a scenario starting point and can proceed semi mechanically. Granted, its a rather tall order and not very realistic in expectations

I did run across Mythic in my searchs. I'm still not certain about it. We have writers in the group who would have to be reined in too much on that question and answer system. It think it's very a good system perhaps for those who are challenged in coming up with scenarios for a group of players. I'm not so sure about it for actually in the moment play.

Ultimate Toolbox is one I haven't heard of, so I'll have to look at the a bit and see what I find. Overall it was just a notion, and I don't hold an expectations for it working out.