For AutoHARP it was more about recognizing that Version 3.1 will have a major database change and I would not force that on people and rather just put the database changes in now and get it out of the way. The database changes were the complete elimination of two xml tables. This was recognized by one of my beta testers who asked the hard question of why I do things the way I do. Because of him I recognized that two of my XML tables can be merged into my items table. Unfortunately that required a lot of testing to ensure that change worked.

I'm just waiting on confirmation that it installs. The reason this is important is because my machine is not a good testing site for a general public field test. Beta testers do not have the applications I have installed on my machine. AutoHARP3 does install fine on my computer but I really want to know if it installs on a few more machines.

Welcome

To the one hundred-and-fifty-third Briefing and fourth scheduled Briefing of 2024.

Dragonmeet 2024

In the last briefing, I mentioned that I had placed our order for tables at Dragonmeet within ten minutes of the bookings opening. And an incredibly good thing I did so. Every single table at Dragonmeet was sold out within a week. Fastest ever. The organisers are now trying to see if they can find a bigger location for the 2025 show, which is likely to be no easier than it was last year or the year before.

To remind you, Dragonmeet 2024 will be at Novotel Hammersmith in London on Saturday 30th November. GMs wanted to run Rolemaster and HARP demo games.

Rolemaster

Nick has been implementing residual fixes to Treasure Law. An interim update of the pdf is likely. Please report any residual issues as we will soon need to proceed towards the print masters.

Nick has also circulated a new Creature Law layout draft version. It’s not yet ready for the formal series of iterative passes but that will come.

Software – ERA, Roll20 and AutoHARP

Every so often various antivirus software packages report false positive alerts on the ERA software. At least one of the reasons for this is that antivirus software is sensitive to software that is packaged as a self-extracting executable. From now on, ERA in its Windows version will be packaged as a .zip file - hence you will need to use the Windows built-in unzip facility or a third-party software to uncompress the file. We hope that this reassures the antivirus packages.

Our RMU incarnation for the Roll20 virtual tabletop continues to make progress.

AutoHARP was ready in February, I held off uploading it to ensure a correct listing, and then David had a “Columbo” moment of “just one last thing”. This “one last thing” morphed into sorting out a new HARP Bestiary dataset at the same time. As soon as David has reassured himself that everything is as he and his beta testers expect it to behave, then I will upload the new AutoHARP edition.

HARP

Not finished yet on HARP Steampunk, but still no need to nudge Phil Masters for him to make any corrections.

I will be doing a round of checking on how other authors are getting on with their respective adventure module drafts.

Until next time

Please stay safe and keep gaming.
Best wishes,
Nicholas

How important is religion & is it wise for PCs to make deals with people of faith in your TTRPG?

Our new Rolemaster Actual Play episode is out now, for your entertainment: Rolemaster Actual Play: Twilight (E134) & Hero (E111) “Fast talking vs. Faith”

https://youtu.be/a9VwtPZXrio?si=hWbsBtDqDxrrobF4

May the dice roll in your favor!

#rolemaster #twilightoftheoldorder #rolemasteractualplay

Here is a peek into the interaction between an unknown NPC entity and the character in the Void.
Fleck is the PC that is trapped in the Void.

EVENT

Fleck hears a voice from the Void! The voice is soft and commanding, weaving through the air like tendrils of mist, carrying with it an irresistible allure.

Voice from the Void "Ah, lost soul, ensnared in the intricate web of fate's folly, you've stumbled into the abyss with such exquisite timing! Tell me, do you revel in the chaos, or tremble at its touch? Fear not, for in this void, where reality dances on the edge of oblivion, there are secrets untold, power unchained. Embrace the madness, dear traveler, for here, even the laws of magic bend to the will of the unpredictable. Let us weave our destinies together amidst the chaos, for in the void, there are infinite possibilities waiting to be unraveled."

GM: What is your reply?

Fleck: " Greetings whispering voice, I maybe ensnared in this prison of yours .. " " I may also have danced on the edge of Chaos for the past year or so also ... " "Most of that being due to the desires of evil elements that seek ultimate power to rule all." "Currently the world is a blaze of war and destruction ... to what end ... we can only guess!" "This magic you speck of seems unlike any that I have been taught. I have been taught extensively by talented Mages, Seers, Mentalists, and Elementalist's." "All magic has a source ... so I posse to you dear voice of the void, 1. What pray tell is the source of this magical conundrum other than chaos." "2. What are the costs of this weaving of our destinies?" "3. What control if any may I impose on the magics that will be unleashed?" 

Voice from the Void

Ah, a student of magic! This is a wonderful stroke of luck! I see that Chaos has touched you even before arriving here in this prison. A tortured soul. We have this in common. I also was an apprentice like yourself, in the beginning. War and destruction you say. So not much has changed since I last walked the Known World. Although I do not know how long ago that was. Time passes here unmeasured. Your questions reveal much about you. I will answer them honestly.

1. What pray tell is the source of this magical conundrum other than chaos? "The High Council of Azehur".

2. What are the costs of this weaving of our destinies? "We will become Soulbound. If one life is lost, both of us will perish".

3. What control if any may I impose on the magics that will be unleashed? "That is an intriguing question. Magics unleashed? I will be unleashed of course and I will seek revenge on those who imprisoned me, if they still live, and my wrath will be glorious to behold!".

Suddenly you are struck by a bolt of eldritch energy. The air around you seems to shimmer and distort, charged with arcane magic. The Voice from the Void takes on an otherworldly tone, commanding and authoritative. The sensation is unsettling, as if your mind is being pulled in different directions at once as you struggle to remain in control and try to make sense of the chaos within your own mind.

Voice from the Void
"Listen closely, my new apprentice, for chaos bends to my will. I offer power beyond your wildest dreams, but know this: defiance invites chaos's cruel embrace. Serve me, and thrive in its chaotic dance. Cross me, and drown in its merciless tide."

I really want RM2 to be "reprinted" it good PDFs to be sold on whatever site.
I sadly just dont see it happening if there is no end date to the rights of the authors!

My solution would be to update it all like the RoCo I and then give whoever come claiming a part they money of the sale.