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View Full Version : 4e-Anyone else interested in Amethyst?



Asbestos
2010-04-27, 06:21 PM
Amethyst (http://www.goodman-games.com/4370preview.html) should be coming out soon, having apparently gone to the printers in March. The art for it looks pretty damn good for a 3rd party and the not-quite Shadowrun idea of magic meets the real world is always, IMO, fun. The pre-order offer is also pretty tempting, coming with the full 3.5 rules for the setting for free (for those that play in both 4e and 3.x games I guess).

Mulletmanalive
2010-04-27, 07:17 PM
If it has Joseph Goodman in the writing credits, it's going to be solid and involving. I'm less sure of the others under the Goodman Games logo.

I'm not that interested, but then, I don't like 4e.

Asbestos
2010-04-27, 07:53 PM
If it has Joseph Goodman in the writing credits, it's going to be solid and involving. I'm less sure of the others under the Goodman Games logo.

I'm not that interested, but then, I don't like 4e.
It wasn't originally part of Goodman Games I think, it seems to be something they acquired.

They have a chunk of Chapter 1 available for preview:
http://www.goodman-games.com/downloads/Preview-Amethyst-Chapter1.pdf

They also have a viral site that I can not link here because it has bible quotes in it. Its a satirical website called 'God Hates Elves' done up as if a real world religious organization were trying to drum up hate for Fae in an alternate Modern World meets High-Fantasy universe.

I think when they mention that the canon setting doesn't have Clerics or Paladins they should have just said 'No Divine Classes' as the setting is, canonically, without definite gods or even 'true' divine magic. Think Eberron but without Divine magic.

And some miscellaneous artwork:
http://www.diasexmachina.com/limshaufinal.jpg
http://www.diasexmachina.com/Cover.jpg
Big Ones for those that don't get enough crossover in their diet:
http://www.livingdice.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/amethyst-diasexmachina-front-cover.jpg
http://www.livingdice.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/amethyst-back-cover.jpg

DiasExMachina
2010-05-11, 10:05 PM
Goodman has been invaluable in his support of Amethyst.

I have since gone on record saying there ARE a FEW exceptions to the Divine rule depending on how badly a player wants to play the class. I couldn't go into details on which ones broke canon more in the sourcebook. I'll have a blog entry (http://www.diasexmachina.com/b2evolution/blogs/blog4.php/2010/04/20/psions-primals-and-tattoos) which discusses that very issue.

http://www.goodman-games.com/images/GMG4370CoverLarge.jpg

You can also see a lot more artwork here. (http://www.goodman-games.com/4370preview.html)

Reynard
2010-05-11, 10:23 PM
Oh god it's geocites.

My goddamn eyes.

Asbestos
2010-05-11, 11:35 PM
Oh god it's geocites.

My goddamn eyes.

I take it you are referring to the Goodman Games website. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of their choice in background.


@DiasExMachina-
I'm still waiting on my hard copy of 4E Amethyst, but because I pre-ordered I was sent a digital copy of the 3.x rules. Were any significant story changes made between the 3.x version and the 4E version? For instance, are Saints still in the game, and are they set up as a race choice? Also, have you folks seen any discrepancies in power level with parties composed of both Techan and Echan characters?

Kurald Galain
2010-05-12, 04:02 AM
"Open your spellbook, load your gun, make a choice"??? What kind of lame tagline is that?

DiasExMachina
2010-05-12, 03:57 PM
@DiasExMachina-
I'm still waiting on my hard copy of 4E Amethyst, but because I pre-ordered I was sent a digital copy of the 3.x rules. Were any significant story changes made between the 3.x version and the 4E version? For instance, are Saints still in the game, and are they set up as a race choice? Also, have you folks seen any discrepancies in power level with parties composed of both Techan and Echan characters?

So far, we've noticed no major discrepancies but this is really dependant on overall group character builds. A fantasy group without a good healer will be less effective than a techan group with an Operator class with a healer build, for example.

As for story changes, the general points of the setting are unchanged though you will notice more original content. The 3.5 game had monsters which were identical to their 3.5 counterparts, only with different names and different histories. In the 4E edition, they are completely unique monsters. So Goblins have been replaced with Boggs. They look like our Goblins from Amethyst 3.5 and occupy that same role, but they are now original 4E Amethyst monsters. Same goes for Dragons and such as well.

Races also follow this trend. Damaskans are not redressed High Elves--they are now completely original. As a consequence of this, and because the 4E version is slightly shorter, some cuts had to be made. We don't go into Southam or the Saints in this version. Demons have also been pushed back. We will deal with them in the next book. I can say the Saints will be given a slight alteration to their back-story when finally addressed.

As for the slogan, I like it. It's a point of philosophy. Determinism, free choice, chaos versus order, that sort of thing.

Asbestos
2010-05-13, 01:01 AM
Races also follow this trend. Damaskans are not redressed High Elves--they are now completely original. As a consequence of this, and because the 4E version is slightly shorter, some cuts had to be made. We don't go into Southam or the Saints in this version. Demons have also been pushed back. We will deal with them in the next book. I can say the Saints will be given a slight alteration to their back-story when finally addressed.
I finally got my hard copy and I noticed a distinct lack of Saints, Demons, and South America. And you've just answered my follow up question about there being another book in the works.



Edit: As an aside, I always try to champion 3rd party products and things like Amethyst are the exact reason why. I really doubt that WotC will produce products for 4e that are largely incompatible with the core setting, i.e no 4e Modern or the like and they don't seem too invested in making new settings, instead rehashing settings from previous editions. So, when a 3rd party comes around and makes something new and interesting that still meshes with the basic rules I tend to jump right on it. This also appears to be the most throughly edited and professionally put together 3rd party product I've seen for 4e yet.

DiasExMachina
2010-05-14, 12:40 PM
Aw, thanks, Asbestos. Please continue to Champion. We need all the help we can get.

As for the first book, if you get into specifics comparing its content with that of the 3.5, you'll notice a lot more original content in the 4E version. The 3.5 Edition had a lot of OGL copy work done with other elements borrowed from D20 Modern. The 4E version is all original despite being 100 pages smaller (300 from 400). More artwork in the 4E version to.

The Glyphstone
2010-05-14, 12:46 PM
Interesting setting idea...though I'm curious how or if they intend to make up for the likely dearth of controllers? I know 4E parties don't need a controller, but with no arcane or divine power sources aside from Wizard, that limits any party who wants a Controller to either the Wizard or Druid.

DiasExMachina
2010-05-14, 05:44 PM
Interesting setting idea...though I'm curious how or if they intend to make up for the likely dearth of controllers? I know 4E parties don't need a controller, but with no arcane or divine power sources aside from Wizard, that limits any party who wants a Controller to either the Wizard or Druid.


Amethyst does have a lack of controller classes. Wizard being the only real example. We do allow exceptions in canon rules and any DM is welcome to make exceptions in their personal games. I don't have all the classes in front of me so I can't go into details but you're probably right, Wizard and Druid are most likely the two notable examples of controllers you can take. With divine powers out, it would be difficult to populate your party with a controller if you don't want the aforementioned exceptions.

That being said, Amethyst does have a controller as part of its lineup of science fiction/modern inspired classes. The Grounder class can lay down area effects with autofire weapons. It's one of his builds.