Swords of the Serpentine is sword and sorcery perfection | RPG review
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
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Cant remember many other games you had so much praise for.
I have to mention: Gumshoe teached me how to GM Fantasy and Investigations after 12 years of active Roleplay. Before I only mastered Heist-Games like Shadowrun where I could build a City-sandbox, because these where the only ones i didnt railroad my players. Im still completely speechless...so little effort to turn an all time bad GM into a somehow good one!
Actually, Kev created Eversink. Emily contributed a multitude of details and genius on the economy and society, but ‘Sink was originally built for one of Kev’s D&D campaigns. As one of his players, yes, it was play-tested heavily.
Very good to know.
You and I have different definitions of 'problems'
Cool.
I'd love to hear more about this game. Thanks Dave!
No prob!
On my way to buy that game but no, I really hate the art. Doesn't look like S&S at all.
Co-author here. Dave, thank you for the review! If Emily or I can answer any questions, we’d be delighted to.
Thanks, Kevin! I’ll be sure to bother you when I get the chance!
Cool game, Kevin! Congrats on the release. Including Dave's review i have been hearing all good things about Swords of The Serpentine.
@@himurogentoku7117 Thanks! I feel really lucky by how the game is being received. We had a longer-than-usual development period (thanks, pandemic!), and the extra playtesting and writing time paid off.
@@KevinKulp It is really worth the wait! Wish me luck to convince my gaming groups so we can buy and play this, Kevin, Dave! Haha.
I was one of the playtesters. I LOVE this game. Ran a wonderful 15+ episode campaign. I never use settings verbatim, but I used Eversink. The only major change we made and it came up in the fiction, is that the Thieves Guild faction was really looked down upon, despised.... common folk hated them. Why? Because the goddess Denari is all about mercantilism, right? And a good deal is one where both sides get something that they want. Thieves take and they don't give anything in return. That is a bad deal in the goddess's eyes and therefore in the eyes of all the common folk.
It did make me think that Thieves Guild game, with the above set up, would be more like a rebellion, a resistance against a capitalistic society. Could be really interesting.
Good review! Nicely done, I will subscribe and like!
Wow, really astute interpretation of Denari and thieves. Thanks for the sub!
@@DaveThaumavore Thanks, I wuz kinda proud of that one myself!
I just played this for the first time a week or two ago and have to say that the fights were much more fun than I had expected from a Gumshoe RPG. Session one was mainly fighting off pirates, but we are about to dive into the intrigues of Eversink.
I would have emphasized The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch more prominently. Eversink is very much inspired by the Locke Lamora series, and I would go so far as to recommend the first novel as a primer for playing this game. Great tip to reduce the size of the PDF.
Hopefully people see this comment and pick up the first novel.
@@DaveThaumavore People who would like to play Swords of the Serpentine or Blades in the Dark RPGs should check out Lies of Locke Lamora for inspiration!
@@Glupinickname indeed
Thanks, I've not heard of Locke Lamour before.
@@euansmith3699 It is a great book series.
Thanks for this. The issue with key rules being hidden in blocks of text is something I've noticed in other GUMSHOE games. It's especially bad in Night's Black Agents. Good to hear that Pelgrane are learning a bit, even if the problem is still there to an extent. I really need to get this to the table, and your review is certainly a motivator!
Thanks! I hope you have a good run with this one.
Not using bullet points to detail Investigative spends is 100% on me. Good catch.
I really do like this system for a game that feels more like a classic sword and sorcery story than a traditional RPG delivers. This isn't because D&D and the like are bad, they have evolved into a particular style that can be quite fun, but this game is built to deliver something straight out of a fantasy short story or novel and I am really digging it.
Good point. It really does emulate the novella or short story.
This was a great review. I was enthralled with this game when I first saw it, and have been dying for someone to cover this extensively. I do have two notes that I'd like to preface, as they weren't mentioned in this review and I think they are vital to understanding some of the games strengths.
1. Sorcery can actually be used outside of combat, there is a section detailing that Sorcery can be used in lieu of other General Abilities to accomplish a task (i.e. using sorcery to scale a wall instead of Athletics).
2. Each General Ability can be used in combat with a creative enough suggestion. It's addressed in a sidebar detailing how one player used the Preparedness ability in combat to create a flashback where some friends of theirs set up an ambush to dump pig manure on any pursuers. It's a really creative system that allows non-combatants to contribute immensely to a fight.
Good points. Yeah, Preparedness played a huge and varied part in their playtesting, according to the several mentions in the book.
This game sounds really well done with a ton of lore. I would love for you to do videos on the setting! Also, could you do a video on the Gumshoe system?
Noted on the setting. As for Gumshoe, I covered Nights Black Agent and now this one. I think I’ll continue to cover the system on a game by game basis.
All the designer notes in this book look great. It is sometimes difficult to understand what a designer was aiming for with their rules.
Agreed. Really amazing insights included in this game.
Our goal was that if something got mentioned in the setting it had to be usable as a plot hook (and Dave noticed!), and that we'd give people insight into the design process and why we made the choices we did. I first saw this in 13th Age and I loved it. This iteration of the GUMSHOE rules is particularly hackable to other genres and settings, but people can't do that unless they understand designer intent.
Finally got my hands on this after ages hunting around for it in Canadian stores. Yes, I'm one of those stubborn dead tree people. This game is incredible. I knew it might be a gold mine when I saw a bunch of people keep recommending it on the RPG subreddit, and I can definitely see why. Alas, it does seem to be flying under the radar as there is really very little SOTS content on RUclips or anywhere else.
I'm curious, how did it turn out in play? Fun experience?
!000% it was the unthematic terminology coupled with the artwork that turned me off of this game when it came out.
Interesting that it uses the initiative system from Marvel Heroics Rpg/Popcorn initiative
Old problems. Lol. Modern puritans
This was a great review, thanks. It has definitely made me move this game from my “interested in” list into my “must have” list.
Glad I could help!
Your videos make me want to play games 😁
That’s awesome.
You can't really mention sexism and a genre that includes Red Sonja in the same sentence.
Honestly an amazing read. I'm going to run a game with it soon, and I imagine it'll be a blast! On a bit of a tangent note Robert E. Howard was actually a self-identified feminist (for what that meant at the time), and his female characters are often much more than just damsels in distress waiting to be rescued. They're often as competent as Conan himself, and every bit his match. Or they provide an interesting foil to his barbarous ways with more civilized insights. Howard's use of fey and sensual descriptions of them was in large part a function of how pulp magazines at the time published. If you got your story on the front page you got a bonus, and they almost always featured a front page story with a delicate damsel in need of some heroing, because, well, sex sells. So Howard made sure his female characters were described as being sexy (usually only once when we first meet them, or when their looks are important to the goings-on) because my man wanted that money! Really other than Frost Giant's Daughter I think most of Howard's works have aged pretty gracefully in regards to their depiction of the fairer sex.
I'd love to hear more about the setting of Eversink.
Noted.
DCC Lankhmar is great Sword and Sorcery as well and the setting is way better. Also DCC has his roots in real D&D (unlike 5E, rooted in WOW) a system y prefer over Gumshoe
I would love to know more about this game. I had never heard of it before and you put it on my radar. It does seem perfectly suited to play Lies of Locke Lamora (like it was designed to play that sort of game). Please do a dep dive on Eversink and if you ever do play the game, I would be interested in your thoughts.
Noted!
Question: are all the Gumshoe rules included in this game or do I have to get another book to play this one? How well does it teach how to run/play a Gumshoe system?
This is all you need.
GUMSHOE looks very interesting! I'd be interested to have a look at Esoterrorists or Mutan City Blues if you ever get around to them!
I wish there was an additional Bestiary for this awesome system, like for 13th Age (maybe with more example traps too). Over the years it's become easier to think up stories on my own, but I've come to appreciate pre-made foes. I'm currently pondering playing a more city-centered Paizo AP in this system, but a few more monsters/adversaries wouldn't hurt.
Awesome!
A year late but great review! I borrowed this book from a friend sight unseen and was blown away by it. Are you still planning a video on Eversink? Have you gotten a chance to play/run the game yet?
So stoked to see a video on this! Thanks for the upload.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love Swords of the Serpentine (and Gumshoe/Pelgrane Press in general) and it is great to have this overview. I have watched and recommended it multiple times, and will again.
Would love to hear more about this great game!
This video was excellent. I learned everything I needed to know about this game. Very cool one.
Do you have a tutorial on the Gumshoe dice mechanics?
I don’t but that’s a great idea.
@@DaveThaumavore, I will be looking forward to it.
Yeah, the full pdf is huge. But when I bought it I could download a file called "Swords_of_the_Serpentine_text_and_art_only" which removes the color plates (the borders and faux-wrinkled-paper texture) from behind the text, which brings the size down to 22 MB.
I'm so happy to see SOMEONE giving this game the love it deserves, it's so good and I say that someone who generally avoids fantasy RPGs.
Right on!
What is the name of the magic being used by that character on the front cover to ‘climb’ that sheer surface? 😮
Well this is my next roleplaying game purchase. Thanks for the video!
No prob!
This looks really fun. I think I'd rather be a player then a GM for this one though.
Thanks. Sounds like a fun game. I think I would start with the Conan movie as intro for S&S.
That’s a good start.
Great review. I'd love to see an even deeper dive into the City and actually even more on the mechanics. Definitely a book that's moved onto my "hmm I just might have to get this list".
Noted!
@@DaveThaumavore Awesome. Between you and Questing Beast, I really get the best breakdowns and reviews of rpg material. Very insightful and helpful for making a purchase decision. BTW I've always been kinda on the fence in regards to Gumshoe but this review might have pushed me over the edge.
@@Acmegamer I’m in very good company with Ben. Thanks!
@@DaveThaumavore For me, it's you, Questing Beast and Seth Skorkowsky. Thanks to you, I can hear about all kinds of different RPG adventures and systems. This helps me survive the times when I don't get to run or play in RPGs.
Oh, and I'd also like to hear more about the city of Eversink!
@@Glupinickname noted!
Dave! Get into the Eversink weeds, please!
A separate video on Eversink and world would be great!
Actually, I really do like a GUMSHOE system for detectives and now when WotC started to be a pain in the ass I thought about transferring an adventure games for gumshoe also. and wow they already have something for me.
SOOOO I have been gming swords of serpentine for a 6 month and its AWESOME. for now it is my favourite ttrpg and I am so happy with it)
Thank you so much for reviewing Swords of The Serpentine, Dave. I am intrigued by the game too.
I would love to hear your insight about the Eversink City.
Noted!
You had me opening my wallet by the 9 minute mark. While I am happy, my wallet is not. Carpe diem.
Haha! I hope you enjoy the game and get your money’s worth.
+1 for setting video please!
Love your videos Dave. I was wondering if you have Invisible Sun? Not asking for a review as, its massive and I already have it. Just curious.
I have the digital version. It’s so big and sprawling that I don’t even know where to start.
@@DaveThaumavore Yeah I totally get it. I want to play it, but I don't even know when to find time to run more than the one 2-3 hour D&D session 3-4 times per month next to a full time job and other hobbies.
And then there is if the group even wants to play a new system. Maybe in 3-5 months when we are done with Course of Strahd there will be time and space for something different. :)
I wonder how well this system would do with Eberron as the setting.
Probably just fine!
YESSSS! to more info on eversink, please.
Noted!
Looking at getting either Blades in the Dark or Swords of the Serpentine... any advise /tip as to which one to get?
300xp
Sounds like a really interesting game, and certainly different from dungeons & dragons. Would love to sync my teeth into that well fleshed out setting.
Dang this looks so cool. May ask for this for Christmas
Twould make a fine gift.
I did, and got it!
Yes, please do a video on Eversink 😊
Are you ever able to have any forest adventures and such outside the city?
I have this but haven't read it yet. Does it have rules for heists specifically, like Flashbacks in Blades in the Dark?
Could this do a campaign in the vein of the Six of Crows duology or the Gentlemen Bastards series books?