Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
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- Blood Axe
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Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
I saw that GG will be making Empire of the East RPG from Fred Saberhagen's books of the same name. Awhile back I had sent GG a message suggesting approaching the Saberhagen estate on obtaining rights to a RPG based on Saberhagen's "Lost Swords" series. But I guess they decided this was a better fit. Ive never read that series, but I guess I will. The LOST SWORDs series is a favorite of mine. A bit slow in parts, but a lot of fun. Hopefully they get to the Lost Swords, it comes after The Empire of the East and is loosely connected.
Here is the Song of Swords, that gives clues to the swords powers.
THE SONG OF SWORDS
Who holds Coinspinner knows good odds
Whichever move he make
But the Sword of Chance, to please the gods
Slips from him like a snake.
The Sword of Justice balances the pans
Of right and wrong, and foul and fair.
Eye for an eye, Doomgiver scans
The fate of all folk everywhere.
Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, how d'you slay?
Reaching for the heart in behind the scales.
Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, where do you stay?
In the belly of the giant that my blade impales.
Farslayer howls across the world
For thy heart, for thy heart, who hast wronged me!
Vengeance is his who casts the blade
Yet he will in the end no triumph see.
Whose flesh the Sword of Mercy hurts has drawn no breath;
Whose soul it heals has wandered in the night,
Has paid the summing of all debts in death
Has turned to see returning light.
The Mindsword spun in the dawn's gray light
And men and demons knelt down before.
The Mindsword flashed in the midday bright
Gods joined the dance, and the march to war.
It spun in the twilight dim as well
And gods and men marched off to hell.
I shatter Swords and splinter spears;
None stands to Shieldbreaker.
My point's the fount of orphans' tears
My edge the widowmaker.
The Sword of Stealth is given to
One lonely and despised.
Sightblinder's gifts: his eyes are keen
His nature is disguised.
The Tyrant's Blade no blood hath spilled
But doth the spirit carve
Soulcutter hath no body killed
But many left to starve.
The Sword of Siege struck a hammer's blow
With a crash, and a smash, and a tumbled wall.
Stonecutter laid a castle low
With a groan, and a roar, and a tower's fall.
Long roads the Sword of Fury makes
Hard walls it builds around the soft
The fighter who Townsaver takes
Can bid farewell to home and croft.
Who holds Wayfinder finds good roads
Its master's step is brisk.
The Sword of Wisdom lightens loads
But adds unto their risk.
Here is the Song of Swords, that gives clues to the swords powers.
THE SONG OF SWORDS
Who holds Coinspinner knows good odds
Whichever move he make
But the Sword of Chance, to please the gods
Slips from him like a snake.
The Sword of Justice balances the pans
Of right and wrong, and foul and fair.
Eye for an eye, Doomgiver scans
The fate of all folk everywhere.
Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, how d'you slay?
Reaching for the heart in behind the scales.
Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, where do you stay?
In the belly of the giant that my blade impales.
Farslayer howls across the world
For thy heart, for thy heart, who hast wronged me!
Vengeance is his who casts the blade
Yet he will in the end no triumph see.
Whose flesh the Sword of Mercy hurts has drawn no breath;
Whose soul it heals has wandered in the night,
Has paid the summing of all debts in death
Has turned to see returning light.
The Mindsword spun in the dawn's gray light
And men and demons knelt down before.
The Mindsword flashed in the midday bright
Gods joined the dance, and the march to war.
It spun in the twilight dim as well
And gods and men marched off to hell.
I shatter Swords and splinter spears;
None stands to Shieldbreaker.
My point's the fount of orphans' tears
My edge the widowmaker.
The Sword of Stealth is given to
One lonely and despised.
Sightblinder's gifts: his eyes are keen
His nature is disguised.
The Tyrant's Blade no blood hath spilled
But doth the spirit carve
Soulcutter hath no body killed
But many left to starve.
The Sword of Siege struck a hammer's blow
With a crash, and a smash, and a tumbled wall.
Stonecutter laid a castle low
With a groan, and a roar, and a tower's fall.
Long roads the Sword of Fury makes
Hard walls it builds around the soft
The fighter who Townsaver takes
Can bid farewell to home and croft.
Who holds Wayfinder finds good roads
Its master's step is brisk.
The Sword of Wisdom lightens loads
But adds unto their risk.
To defend: This is the Pact.
But when life loses its value,
and is taken for naught -
then the Pact is to Avenge.
But when life loses its value,
and is taken for naught -
then the Pact is to Avenge.
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Re: Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
I am also eager to hear about this! EotE is one of my favorite Appendix N series (even though only the 3rd book actually 'made it'). I haven't heard much about it as of late ... I think there was an end of year-ish release date project back in March ...




- GnomeBoy
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Re: Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
Actually, Saberhagen is one of those et al writers, it's just that Changeling Earth gets specifically called out.
I wish I knew the planned order for releases -- but I imagine DCC Dying Earth and DCC 100 will be out before EotE. At least one of those first two will probably not be out until a GenCon 2020 preview release of limited quantities, since that's been the pattern the last few years (this past GenCon was the debut for the Annual and the new version of Chained Coffin).
I don't know the Swords books... are they more 'straight up' fantasy? GG might've chosen EotE since it's more unique, if that's the case... Or maybe it comes down to the publication dates -- maybe you can't play "as 1974 intended" in a setting from the 1980s...

...
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
Re: Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
In the initial announcement, the release date was "late 2019".
https://goodman-games.com/blog/2019/03/ ... -the-east/
Has a revised release date been announced?
https://goodman-games.com/blog/2019/03/ ... -the-east/
Has a revised release date been announced?
Re: Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
I'm really interested in this as well. For me it's the most interesting DCC title in the last couple years. I contacted Goodman Games several months ago about an updated release date, and was just given a "we're announcing it soon" response. As far as I can tell there hasn't been an update.
- catseye yellow
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Re: Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
check out what's new with GG event on GG twitch TV. i think it will be now boxed set and it should be kickstarted this year, if gods of pestilence ease their grip on hyboria... errr... world. i think that writing has been done. but go and check out the event, i was more concentrated on DCC dying earth.KJ Obrien wrote: ↑Thu Apr 23, 2020 4:24 amI'm really interested in this as well. For me it's the most interesting DCC title in the last couple years. I contacted Goodman Games several months ago about an updated release date, and was just given a "we're announcing it soon" response. As far as I can tell there hasn't been an update.
Re: Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
It's only mentioned for a brief moment (along with the 5e version) at the beginning of the video. No dates or timelines. Sad 

- catseye yellow
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Re: Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
GG newsletter from the table of the dark master himself





But I think the next Kickstarter might actually be a physical book. Our DCC rulebook for Fred Saberhagen’s Empire of the East series is nearly complete, and it looks fantastic. It’s nearly ready to unleash upon the world, and I think you guys should see it as soon as we can get it to you!
As any Appendix N fan knows, The Empire of the East is a trilogy set in a post-apocalyptic future. After the nuclear winter, magic returned. Demons and elementals walk the land, alongside the misunderstood technology of a bygone age. The fiction is a great read, and Jason Vey’s adaptation to DCC really captured the spirit of Saberhagen’s original work. Ian Miller agreed to paint the cover, and it looks fantastic. Fantastic! We announced this project more than a year ago and it’s finally ready to go.
This particular book is on my mind since I just reviewed the latest layout, so I thought I would share a few screen shots with you. Here are previews of several page spreads from within the book. You can see the graphic border treatment. Stefan drew the borders for most of the book, and Ian Miller contributed a different border design for the chapter of short adventures that will appear in the back. The book includes new spells for DCC, new monsters, a host of statted NPCs, technological items, and more. You may be asking, “Why is this for DCC instead of MCC?” - which is a good question. It can very easily be used in MCC as well (and the book includes Patron AIs) but there’s enough magic in this world that DCC makes more sense. Although you can easily use it for MCC as well.
But enough of this talk! Here are some sample page spreads. Enjoy!





Re: Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
Very exciting news!catseye yellow wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 3:30 pm GG newsletter from the table of the dark master himself
Re: Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
Kickstarter is up and already funded! Congrats Goodman games.
- catseye yellow
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Re: Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
i really love that it is no whistles and bells kickstarter. keeping it basic is great because i feel that most of us just want this and future dying earth box set as fast as possible in our hands.
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Re: Saberhagen- Empire of the East DCC RPG
Well I have received my copy of the "Proofreader Edition" of EotE and I'm really happy.
I'm only up to page 25 but already I like:
I also found what I believe is a Gygaxian term. Should I spoil it or let you guys find it?!?
I'm really happy to see that there's already two available adventures. Are there plans for more Goodman Games?
If not, I will definitely be replicating parts of the trilogy in order to create a campaign.
Anyways, looking forward to feedback from other Judges. Back to reading.
I'm only up to page 25 but already I like:
- the limited character classes/races.
- the "0-Level Occupation" table.
- the spell Enervation mechanic. It's not as "colorful" as corruption but it fits the setting well.
I also found what I believe is a Gygaxian term. Should I spoil it or let you guys find it?!?
I'm really happy to see that there's already two available adventures. Are there plans for more Goodman Games?
If not, I will definitely be replicating parts of the trilogy in order to create a campaign.
Anyways, looking forward to feedback from other Judges. Back to reading.