I'm thrilled, I just hope there'll be some oficial news out soon. Scion is such a good idea, that in it's raw version is soooo badly executed that it neeeeeeeeeeeds a new edition, and soon!
This sort of rewrite is bound to throw a big wrench into the works of anybody who houserules.
Here is my forecast:
Scion obviously needs a huge overhaul. Onyx Path is going to provide a huge overhaul, and the second version will not be compatible with the first at all.
This will not stop any of us from tinkering, because we're not going to suddenly quit being fastidious, detail-obsessed control freaks.
Most of us have pretty extensive sets of houserules and changes, whether we're doing our own thing, following JSR's lead, or (like me) a little of both.
A huge, structural rewrite (like I think Scion 2.0 will be, and indeed needs to be) is going to create a boatload of extra work for us. Especially if we like the changes, and end up having to rewrite our own stuff to bring it into compliance with the new format.
Ah well, I've been meaning to go through my Scion material and give it an overhaul for a while, now. Guess I'll finally have a good excuse to do so.
Oh, yeah. We don't know when Scion Revised will come out, but it'll probably be at least a year or two, and in the meantime we fully intend to keep making Scion the First as awesome as possible.
When it does come out, there's going to be quite the crazy circus of buying, reading and revamping. Oh, man, it's going to be nuts.
Yeah, Ragnarok is actually a seriously awesome setting book. It's all Aesir, so if you're not into them it's not a great investment, but it's the most solid book in the line, I think.
I still plan on getting Companion, because I think it could be useful to me, but I wish they could have made a 'Ragnarok' for every Pantheon. Maybe that was the original intention, but lack of sales?
So I imagine John and Anne walking into the Onyx Path corporate headquarters with this huge briefcase. They tell some peon their names and his eyes grow wide. He picks up a phone, hands trembling, and calls the Editor-in-Chief.
Mere moments later, they are in a huge office, and a very important-looking business man sits across from them at a solid mahogany table. John nods and slides the briefcase to the editor, who cautiously licks his lips and looks over the rim of his glasses at Anne as he unlocks it.
He leafs through a few of the notebooks and printouts contained within, and as a single tear slides down his cheek, he whispers, "take our money. Just...just take it all."
Can this happen, please? I would love to see John and Anne get work on Scion, Second Ed. (If they want to, of course.) If they were behind it, I'd be the one shouting 'take my money, take it all.' (Not that I won't be anyway, but it'd be a dream purchase.)
Can the John and Anne fans petition Onyx Path? It's not the first time something like that happened.
At the very least, post in the "Is Scion Going Anywhere" thread and recommend Gotham By Night. Don't forget to thank everyone who has already recommended them. Lots of thanks probably make the devs pay a little attention.
We are definitely nice, but there is something more to it than that! We can debate about mechanics all day long, but that does not take years of research to get right.
Learning all the myths does take years. There is no chance in heaven that an Onyx writing team is going to be able to do a great job in the limited time they will have. They need to consult with experts, and I think you guys are willing to help out?
What's the harm, anyway? Anne's proven she can write, John's a mechanical genius, they both know more stuff on mythology than a writing team would know in a year, and they have years of roleplaying experience under their belts. They're also Scion celebrities and this site is proof they can get the job done. Again, let's petition!
And Anne, we are not too nice. The other day someone came into "your house" and told you you suck and you calmly explained to him why you disagreed. I think you guys are too nice to US.
I'm trying to figure out what kind of thing to send them as a query or sample, but their submission guidelines aren't up yet. I'm pretty sure they already have a plan and probably a team, but hey, I can dream!
The mechanics are not the big selling point for this website, imho. Those are no better or worse than some other websites. The real selling point is the hardline on mythology, tons of research, great production values, and great writing.
I wrote to White-Wolf a few months ago about the huge gaps in the system wondering if there was at least a PDF with corrections (you can't play a serious campaign with the fundemental flaws in the game). I got this response from Rich Thomas:
«I can safely say that yes, we are looking at an edition of Scion with improved rules. When is a lot harder to pin down. But within the next few years.
Words.
ReplyDeleteI do not have them.
Except.
YES.
SUCCESS.
DeleteI'm pretty jazzed, myself! Holding out some hope they tap some of the fan-contributors like y'all, Brent, GriffinGuy. Me. That'd be awesomest.
ReplyDeleteThat would be awesome, but I expect they probably already have a plan. :) Nevertheless, I'm excited!
DeleteI'm thrilled, I just hope there'll be some oficial news out soon. Scion is such a good idea, that in it's raw version is soooo badly executed that it neeeeeeeeeeeds a new edition, and soon!
ReplyDeleteMan, it's like if we just say things loudly for years, they sometimes happen!
DeleteWill work on JSR continue, or will you be waiting to see what the next edition of Scion brings out so you can start the process anew?
ReplyDeleteTotally. We arent even sure if we'll like 2nd ed. And we wouldnt want to have nothing to work on for over a year.
DeleteThis sort of rewrite is bound to throw a big wrench into the works of anybody who houserules.
DeleteHere is my forecast:
Scion obviously needs a huge overhaul. Onyx Path is going to provide a huge overhaul, and the second version will not be compatible with the first at all.
This will not stop any of us from tinkering, because we're not going to suddenly quit being fastidious, detail-obsessed control freaks.
Most of us have pretty extensive sets of houserules and changes, whether we're doing our own thing, following JSR's lead, or (like me) a little of both.
A huge, structural rewrite (like I think Scion 2.0 will be, and indeed needs to be) is going to create a boatload of extra work for us. Especially if we like the changes, and end up having to rewrite our own stuff to bring it into compliance with the new format.
Ah well, I've been meaning to go through my Scion material and give it an overhaul for a while, now. Guess I'll finally have a good excuse to do so.
Oh, yeah. We don't know when Scion Revised will come out, but it'll probably be at least a year or two, and in the meantime we fully intend to keep making Scion the First as awesome as possible.
DeleteWhen it does come out, there's going to be quite the crazy circus of buying, reading and revamping. Oh, man, it's going to be nuts.
Well, it's not on their list through August 2013, so you've got over a year to convince them JSR is better than whatever they could come up with.
DeleteI...was just about to buy Companion as a late birthday present to myself.
ReplyDeleteNow I am wondering whether to save my money for Scion, Second Ed?
Only if you like saving money for over a year.
DeleteAlthough companion sucks anyway so 6 of one half dozen of another.
It's true, new Scion will probably be quite a while yet.
DeleteAnd hey, Companion has a lot of problems, but it's still trying a lot of cool things. (It ain't Ragnarok, but then, what is?)
It ain't Ragnarok...? I take it then that the Ragnarok book is, surprisingly, good enough to also warrant purchase?
DeleteIt's better than Companion.
DeleteIf you like that all-Aesir, all-the-time sort of thing.
Yeah, Ragnarok is actually a seriously awesome setting book. It's all Aesir, so if you're not into them it's not a great investment, but it's the most solid book in the line, I think.
DeleteI still plan on getting Companion, because I think it could be useful to me, but I wish they could have made a 'Ragnarok' for every Pantheon. Maybe that was the original intention, but lack of sales?
DeleteHey, maybe now they will!
DeleteJust remember to shut the book when you get to the World War 2 setting...
DeleteOr at least assure yourself it is White Wolf being silly.
So I imagine John and Anne walking into the Onyx Path corporate headquarters with this huge briefcase. They tell some peon their names and his eyes grow wide. He picks up a phone, hands trembling, and calls the Editor-in-Chief.
ReplyDeleteMere moments later, they are in a huge office, and a very important-looking business man sits across from them at a solid mahogany table. John nods and slides the briefcase to the editor, who cautiously licks his lips and looks over the rim of his glasses at Anne as he unlocks it.
He leafs through a few of the notebooks and printouts contained within, and as a single tear slides down his cheek, he whispers, "take our money. Just...just take it all."
If they're going to revamp Scion then at the least, they need to come sniffing over here for all the work you two have done mythically.
DeleteCan this happen, please? I would love to see John and Anne get work on Scion, Second Ed. (If they want to, of course.) If they were behind it, I'd be the one shouting 'take my money, take it all.' (Not that I won't be anyway, but it'd be a dream purchase.)
DeleteCan the John and Anne fans petition Onyx Path? It's not the first time something like that happened.
At the very least, post in the "Is Scion Going Anywhere" thread and recommend Gotham By Night. Don't forget to thank everyone who has already recommended them. Lots of thanks probably make the devs pay a little attention.
DeleteYou guys are all too nice to us.
DeleteWe are definitely nice, but there is something more to it than that! We can debate about mechanics all day long, but that does not take years of research to get right.
DeleteLearning all the myths does take years. There is no chance in heaven that an Onyx writing team is going to be able to do a great job in the limited time they will have. They need to consult with experts, and I think you guys are willing to help out?
What's the harm, anyway? Anne's proven she can write, John's a mechanical genius, they both know more stuff on mythology than a writing team would know in a year, and they have years of roleplaying experience under their belts. They're also Scion celebrities and this site is proof they can get the job done. Again, let's petition!
DeleteAnd Anne, we are not too nice. The other day someone came into "your house" and told you you suck and you calmly explained to him why you disagreed. I think you guys are too nice to US.
And now you're just making us blush.
DeleteI'm trying to figure out what kind of thing to send them as a query or sample, but their submission guidelines aren't up yet. I'm pretty sure they already have a plan and probably a team, but hey, I can dream!
The mechanics are not the big selling point for this website, imho. Those are no better or worse than some other websites. The real selling point is the hardline on mythology, tons of research, great production values, and great writing.
DeleteI wrote to White-Wolf a few months ago about the huge gaps in the system wondering if there was at least a PDF with corrections (you can't play a serious campaign with the fundemental flaws in the game). I got this response from Rich Thomas:
ReplyDelete«I can safely say that yes, we are looking at an edition of Scion with improved rules. When is a lot harder to pin down. But within the next few years.
Thanks!
--richt»