uburoi
4th Level Troll
Rarr 'n' stuff.
Posts: 486
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Post by uburoi on Jan 24, 2008 11:31:27 GMT -5
My copy of "Mage's Blood and Old Bones" is on its way (yippee! but I'd like to know - what would folks recommend as far as other fiction goes for T&T inspiration, either for yoinking ideas out of or just for getting the proper T&T vibe?
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Fenris
5th Level Troll
Weapon Hand Severed!
Posts: 614
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Post by Fenris on Jan 24, 2008 12:28:30 GMT -5
You know, I've always felt like Original T&T (OT&T?), with it's very psionic-y magic, felt inspired more by science-fantasy than S&S. I do understand that you're talking about books, and I'm sure many around here will have good suggestions. And old literature (Homer, Beowulf (original)) would likely fit the bill... and, of course, Fritz Leiber's Lahnkmar series has much of that same T&T feel (the Grey Mouser is given as an example of a T&T Rogue in 5e). However, even though you're talking about fantasy novels, I'd like to take a moment to turn your attention to a 1979 Filmation animated series called "The New Adventures of Flash Gordon." I can't stop watching these things on YouTube, and I just ordered it from Best Buy. If you're looking for something that can get you into a T&T state of mind, every time I watch another segment, all I can think of, "Awesome World! I need to convert that to T&T!" Here's a link to an episode that has a little bit of everything but the kitchen sink in it (Amazon Women on Bird Mounts, Man-Eating Plants, Spooky Swamps, Small Hissy Dragon Critters, Half-Nekkid Princesses, Mountain Worlds, Cat-Men, Large Beautiful Cities and even an Evil Warlord!). As a fan of the genre now referred to as Sword & Planet, I'm in heaven! And T&T is ideally suited to this kind of world-setting. Flash Gordon Animated Series Segment on YouTube
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uburoi
4th Level Troll
Rarr 'n' stuff.
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Post by uburoi on Jan 24, 2008 15:35:39 GMT -5
"New Adventures of Flash Gordon" is on YouTube? ... Welp, there goes MY weekend.
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Fenris
5th Level Troll
Weapon Hand Severed!
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Post by Fenris on Jan 24, 2008 15:46:00 GMT -5
"New Adventures of Flash Gordon" is on YouTube? ... Welp, there goes MY weekend. Ah. You are already familiar with the series, then. It's amazing, to be sure. It's not without it's faults (re-using the same segments over and over; the sound effects that were old even then), but in terms of sheer imaginative goodness, it's what I would have considered to be leaps and bounds beyond what I would have expected. (And then I read Burroughs' "A Princess of Mars" and realize how wrong I am). Anyway, there's not much of them on there, unfortunately. However, GOOD NEWS, the entire series is available at Best Buy.com for less than $20 (Total charge to my card, including taxes and s/h was $15.92).
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uburoi
4th Level Troll
Rarr 'n' stuff.
Posts: 486
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Post by uburoi on Jan 24, 2008 16:29:32 GMT -5
Ah. You are already familiar with the series, then. It's amazing, to be sure. It's not without it's faults (re-using the same segments over and over; the sound effects that were old even then), but in terms of sheer imaginative goodness, it's what I would have considered to be leaps and bounds beyond what I would have expected. (And then I read Burroughs' "A Princess of Mars" and realize how wrong I am). I had the issue of "Starlog" where they first announced it was being produced. Never saw an episode though (I have no idea why, mind you, just one of those things). It's from Filmation so no, I'm not expecting Kurosawa but if it's as entertaining as the Star Trek animated series it's worth the time. By the way, I'm about halfway at the moment through a lil' hunk of Cheddar called "Brak The Barbarian" by John Jakes. Kind of like Conan with the serial numbers filed off. Not too bad, actually, though anyone with lactose intolerance should probably avoid it.
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Fenris
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Post by Fenris on Jan 24, 2008 16:53:04 GMT -5
I had the issue of "Starlog" where they first announced it was being produced. but if it's as entertaining as the Star Trek animated series it's worth the time. By the way, I'm about halfway at the moment through a lil' hunk of Cheddar called "Brak The Barbarian" by John Jakes. Starlog. There's another reason I love coming here... talking to people who remember some of the wonders of yesteryear. Starlog and Fangoria... man, that was love. I don't think I've ever seen Star Trek Animated. I might have seen the Tribbles episode, but I'm not sure. It's available, also, but it's just way too rich for my blood. It's not as overpriced as the series, but it's still too hard on my pocket. I think I remember Brak the Barbarian being mentioned in Bruce Galloway's Fantasy Wargaming, but I haven't been lucky enough to actually read any of it. It sounds just like my kind of reading, though.
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Post by mahrundl on Jan 24, 2008 17:00:48 GMT -5
Star Trek Animated was fun. Not good, as such, but fun. Quite a lot like the live version, actually.
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rlotze
2nd Level Troll
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Post by rlotze on Jan 25, 2008 0:57:33 GMT -5
DRAGON CHILD - JUST A THIEF FROM KHAZAN is a great story. The first couple chapters were slow, but after that it really sucked me in. Quite enjoyable and I'm *very much* hoping for the sequel.
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order99
7th Level Troll
Coffee-fueled Carrion That Walks Like a Man
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Post by order99 on Jan 25, 2008 3:56:45 GMT -5
Well, the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett hasn't been mentioned yet-odd considering that not only is the mix of humor and action right up there with the Trollworld, but Hobbit Hole did several articles on converting Discworld material to 7th edition! I also recommend anything by Andre Norton, especially the Witchworld series, an interesting blend of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The stories feature strange hi-tech Artifacts from the Ancients and what seems to be a race of hi-tech Invaders from the North Continent! The Liavek series by Emma Bull and Others is a must read as well-stories of Magic, Flintlocks and Fate in a desert environment with an Arabian Nights undercurrent. Beware of the Demon Camel, and try not to get involved with the affairs of a certain Blue Chipmunk, who is a God after all... The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs-the story of two lazy, irascable and powerful Wizards who must leave thier comfortable lives and track down an unspeakable menace who may or may not be an old Classmate! Sadly, I think this one is out of print and may take some tracking down...
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uburoi
4th Level Troll
Rarr 'n' stuff.
Posts: 486
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Post by uburoi on Jan 25, 2008 9:27:19 GMT -5
Well, the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett hasn't been mentioned yet-odd considering that not only is the mix of humor and action right up there with the Trollworld, but Hobbit Hole did several articles on converting Discworld material to 7th edition! The Liavek series by Emma Bull and Others is a must read as well-stories of Magic, Flintlocks and Fate in a desert environment with an Arabian Nights undercurrent. Beware of the Demon Camel, and try not to get involved with the affairs of a certain Blue Chipmunk, who is a God after all... The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs-the story of two lazy, irascable and powerful Wizards who must leave thier comfortable lives and track down an unspeakable menace who may or may not be an old Classmate! Sadly, I think this one is out of print and may take some tracking down... It's been awhile since I've read any Discworld... now that you mention it it DOES sound very T&T-ish, what with multiple kindreds, routine use of magic and so forth. I may have to get that back issue of Hobbit Hole with the T&T conversion after all. Never read Liavek but I'm famialiar with the title... now I suppose I'll have to check it out. (Emma Bull is a very good writer, as I recall.) And Face In The Frost? No tracking down needed - it's right there on the second shelf of my paperbacks. (Thank god for used bookstores and library sales!) You know, now that I'm thinking about it Robert Aspirin's Skeeve & Aahz series might fit as well... and I'd have to recommend to anyone here the "Gentlemen Bastard" series by Scott Lynch (home page here). A pair of pseudo-Renaissance Era conmen and thieves; a low-magic world so they're not really T&T-type Rogues, but a fun read!
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Post by apeloverage on Jan 25, 2008 10:17:24 GMT -5
Well, the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett hasn't been mentioned yet-odd considering that not only is the mix of humor and action right up there with the Trollworld, but Hobbit Hole did several articles on converting Discworld material to 7th edition! Also, thanks to Josh Kirby they look alike...
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Fenris
5th Level Troll
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Post by Fenris on Jan 25, 2008 10:43:30 GMT -5
and I'd have to recommend to anyone here the "Gentlemen Bastard" series by Scott Lynch (home page here). Got it! Now I, too, can imbed the link into conversations! Thanks for the example!!! Look like I'll be spending some time modifying some old posts this evening! A hearty Exalted Thank You for teaching me a little more about the world we live in! How did you learn how to do that, anyway?
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uburoi
4th Level Troll
Rarr 'n' stuff.
Posts: 486
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Post by uburoi on Jan 25, 2008 11:32:35 GMT -5
A hearty Exalted Thank You for teaching me a little more about the world we live in! How did you learn how to do that, anyway? Thanks again! I think I finally figured it out from looking at quoted text - when you quote it translates any html in the quoted text to html code.
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Fenris
5th Level Troll
Weapon Hand Severed!
Posts: 614
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Post by Fenris on Jan 25, 2008 15:43:19 GMT -5
The Liavek series by Emma Bull and Others is a must read as well-stories of Magic, Flintlocks and Fate in a desert environment with an Arabian Nights undercurrent. Beware of the Demon Camel, and try not to get involved with the affairs of a certain Blue Chipmunk, who is a God after all... Because I'm trying to learn about Arabic worlds and Arabic culture for personal reasons, and because I love T&T so much, I've been very interested in the idea of creating a T&T-style Arabian world. Unfortunately, that's not a particularly popular setting, and examples are hard to come by (at least, harder to come by than Medieval Europe and Roman). That makes this Liavek series interesting to me, also. However, I like my fantasy grim. I hate it when it's humorous... give me a dour Conan any day! And, try as I might, I've never been able to finish a Lahnkmar novel... they always get too goofy. So, before I strike out to find a copy of this book for myself, I gotta know: What's the tone of the series? How serious or lighthearted is it? Any kind of run-down someone can give? In the meantime, I'll google it, too. Thanks in advance!
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Post by mahrundl on Jan 25, 2008 16:16:21 GMT -5
The Trollgod is in the process of finishing a book of short stories, including one on the origin of the Death Goddess. Not sure when it's due to see publication, but since he's still in the writing phase (I think), it won't be for a while...
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