Author Topic: Initial Thoughts and Impressions on The Strange Corebook  (Read 344 times)

LexStarwalker

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Initial Thoughts and Impressions on The Strange Corebook
« on: August 07, 2014, 09:41:16 am »
I am still waiting on the hardcopy of my Strange corebook. I have the pdf, but haven't had a lot of time to go through it.

For those of you who've had some time to spend with the book, what do you think?

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AgentNiehl

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As you know, I have been eagerly awaiting the book.  I have poured over the playtest material, ran one playtest group, and played in another group (briefly).  After all of this, I was actually prepared to be let down with the actual book.  My fear was that the book would include little new material (except gorgeous art).

I was totally wrong.  There is a great deal of new material, the material from the playtest is tighter and more compelling, and I am thrilled by final product. 

I am still working through the setting material (I have to also prep for running Strange games at Gencon), but I love what I have seen so far. 

LexStarwalker

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I'm still waiting on the physical copy. I have the pdf, but would much rather read a physical book (that's why I bought it!), so still waiting. :/

hellrazoromega

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I too have am still waiting on my core but I was so excited I read right through the PDF. It lived up to my expectations. [Possible spoilers--you are warned]

I have to admit up from I was even more hyped about this than Numenera, the concept of hopping "worlds" and changing to suit that world is just appeals to me in way I can't describe.

The concept of fictional leakage is a beautiful "rule" for something most GMs do anyway and that is "steal" or borrow ideas from our favorite properties. Here is "license" to send your players to all those "worlds" you and they have wanted to visit.

I was a bit taken aback by how different the stats on the classes were. I had liked in Numenrea how the stats did not all total to 28 points and thought this was a great departure from the trend in RPG's that all classes have t be numerically the same to be balanced (a trend I despise btw). So I was shocked a bit to see that all of the classes have their pools at 28 points, once I read further and saw that their starting edge counts are not numerically balanced I was happily surprised. It shows the depth of how you can play with the types in the Cypher system.

The new Foci are very nice and I never had any doubt that the setting stuff would be great. One thing you can always count on from Monte Cook and this is awesome settings, the man knows how to weave a world.

All in all I see Mr Cook back at the Eninies again next year.


LexStarwalker

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I'm still waiting on my corebook unfortunately. :/

Yeah, fictional leakage is an idea straight out of Changeling the Dreaming, and was probably the thing I liked best about that game.

hellrazoromega

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Just got my Hardcopy today--sadly my book plate was missing >:(

LexStarwalker

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Mine would be waiting for me when I get home from GenCon, so I can finally stay talking more about The Strange on the show!

Jetpack

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In case it's helpful, my book plate came well before the core rulebook and special edition.

The bookplate came with my Strange stickers, folder, signed art, that stuff.  Did you get that earlier - if so, might still be in there.....

hellrazoromega

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No all I got in a physical copy was the main book and the plate--but MCG got me all fixed up.

Gray Detrick

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Gah! Still waiting on my PDFs, despite my gently nagging them...

LexStarwalker

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Oh no!

I think they desperately need to hire some more customer service people. It's way too much for one person to do.