Compatibility with Ker Nethalas
Hey guys, I'm back with another poll. I think it's very important to hear directly from you, the people playing my games, when I'm in the process of evaluating how I move forwards with things, especially with a game like Ker Nethalas, which has a large and passionate fanbase! In any case, on to my question(s)!
So it's no secret I'm all the time thinking about what's next for Ker Nethalas. As I develop the setting post by post, I'm discovering corners of the setting that I'd like to explore, outside from the core Ker Nethalas experience we have now, which is pure dungeon crawling. Yes, I am going to keep releasing stuff for Ker Nethalas as it stands today (as a matter of fact the third Vaelorian Codex is almost done), and I have two proper expansions fleshed out already (Ker Nethalas: Dominion and Ker Nethalas: The Hollow Realm). But lots of you want a more expansive world, and ways to interact with it. I've always said that eventually I'd release a proper Ker Nethalas RPG, and that will happen, sooner or later.
But like I said there are corners of this setting I'd like to explore, outside of a full-blown official Ker Nethalas RPG set in Veldonia. I do have some stuff in the works, and as I move forward with it, I am left wondering: how compatible would people want me to make these offshoots? Think of Carnage & Aether, for example. It's largely compatible with Ker Nethalas, but not entirely, there are some systems that had to be changed to better work with the type of game I was writing (a skirmish arena battler). I am in a similar position now, and my initial idea was to keep it as close to Ker Nethalas as possible, to make them as compatible as possible. This comes with certain limitations, though, and there are ideas I'd like to test.
So my question today for you is: how important is it that any future games that I write in the world of Iskandria (the Ker Nethalas setting) remain as close to Ker Nethalas, rules-wise, as possible? Would it bother you if I suddenly release a 5e game set in this world (definitely not in the works, just asking)?
Comments (31)
I'm so used to doing conversions of stuff I love into other games language, that I don't mind of it's a different game in the same universe. It might be a novel experience and surprise me, so why not?
That's awesome to hear, thank you for your feedback!
Tweaks and improvements always great but keep the core game and especially the gritty world you are creating.
Yes, that's not going to change!
I’m actually ok with either but definitely want the Grimdark feel of KN. It was my first real grim type of game and I loved the vibe of the game.
Oh that's baked into the setting, that's never going away, haha.
Compatability is nice but I wouldn't want you to feel constrained by it. I know that limits can sometimes lead to new and interesting things but that has a time and a place. I would rather you you be allowed to explore this setting in whatever way seems the most interesting to you!
Thank you!
100% compatible, please. My OCD cannot abide anything less. :D
Maybe not compatible, per se. But I'd like them to be familiar. And if you play one, you feel at home playing the others. Even if they add new or unique mechanics. 🤷♂️ In the same way that Ironsworn, Starforge, and Sundered Isles are all built off the same core system. But do things a bit differently, so they work for the setting the rules are written for. But saying that. I think the rules need to fit the setting/style of game. Not the other way round. (Intentionally not using the Dark Souls 5e example here. 😈). Although, if games set in the KN would are based on the d100 system, it shouldn't be too hard to get them to fit...for the most part. 🤔 So if that means the games set in the KN world aren't always compatible with one and other, but we get a unique experience that is fun to play, so be it. People will just have to get used to learning new rules systems. So I think I've rambled my way into an "I don't know, but do what works best for the setting, and the feeling you want us to take away from whatever experience you craft 😁
Yes, this is the approach I'm taking right now. I just wanted to ask how far I can push it, haha. But my current plans are to iterate on the core KN rules, making other games in the same setting as compatible as possible. So essentially what I did with C&A.
Really liked C&E, it had some really cool new stuff in it made from the core KN, I would say new games don't need to be fully compatible, thats a creative strain that might limit gameplay a lot but some new mechanics could make their way back to KN, such as the damage type synergies from C&E.
Thank you! My current plan is to do the same I did with C&A, keep it as compatible with KN as possible.
No issues with you changing rules or expanding them (adding the tactical combat and extra rules from C&A as optional rules would be great too), yet a conversion guide would be very welcomed if the game ends up quite different. Anyway, I would prefer that a D20 ruleset is avoided. Long live the D100!
Oh yeah, I have no intention on using a D20 ruleset in any thing related to KN, haha. Thanks for the feedback!
I am not super familiar with Ker Nethalas yet. However, I think I read or heard in an interview that your way of creating games is to create mechanics that fit the vibe you are trying to create. Like mechanics to fit the game setting instead of working the setting around mechanics. I think if you gave insight for any big changes to mechanics in the notes when the product is released will help people feel comfortable with trying something new. I like your creative design decisions and enjoy reading about the "how" and "why" some of those decisions are made.
Thank you! And yes, I believe that rules must adapt to a setting, not the other way around!
I honestly signed up just to be able to make this comment, but I went for an annual membership anyway, wanted to show support for your products. So with that said, I think there are two distinct "product types" you're describing - the KN game and related titles is one and the wider world you've created is the other. I truly think that KN has become a popular title (often hear it mentioned in conversation with the other solo crawl bigger names (e.g. 2d6 Dungeon, D100 Dungeon, 4AD etc.). KN has a distinct and, for me addictive, style that reflects across the lore you share about the world. Which is long roundabout way of say I think you should cleave as closely to the core(?) rules as possible; both as a reflection of the in-game world and as it forms part of the brand recognition from a real world perspective.
Thank you for your support! and yes, it's two different "product lines": the core KN book and its supplements aren't going anywhere, I just want to release other sister games in the same setting using the same ruleset, but making whatever changes I deem necessary to adapt what I'm going for. So what I did with Carnage & Aether, basically!
I say develop the best ruleset as possible for the specific KN game or spin-off, and consider the compatibility as a nice-to-have, but not required. I'm other words, please don't limit what you want to achieve in the game, just to keep compatibility with previous KN games.
Thanks! This is all tied to my latest poll, where I asked about the damage dealt table and all that. I was considering trying a different damage system for future games set in the Ker Nethalas world.
I'd say keep them as close as you can rules wise. Do you see these new settings as places where KN and or C&A characters could be used in? It would be cool, unless you'd rather wait for the full RPG to deal with that. Also, I can't imagine you'd use the 5e rules for the RPG, but just in case, please don't. For me the 5e rules are something I'm not interested in using for any game system at all.
Haha yeah no worries, I just said 5e cause it's something i have zero desire to work with, just throwing outlandish stuff out there. What I have in mind right now is largely compatible with KN and C&A, but it goes on a different direction, and as such it needs new tools. I was just thinking that maybe, since I'm already changing a few things, I could take it a step further and try something else new. But we'll see!
For me it does not really matter . I feel that if you ask the question it means that you have great stuff coming up that might not be compatible so I don’t want to stop you lol
haha you read me like an open book. More exactly, I'm working on an idea but I think it would be more interesting if it deviates a bit from the KN rules, but I don't want to go against people's wishes.
The KN world is really awesome so far! If new rulesets would allow you to flesh out the world and the lore in cool ways that the current system can't, I'd say go for it! For me personally, knowing more about the world would add more weight to my KN campaigns as well
Thank you! I feel the same way, but we'll see, haha. Most seem to want everything I write in the setting to be compatible with KN (understandably so).
I think you have so many different games already, It wouldn't hurt to flesh out KN more as it is. Just look how many expansions exist for stuff like 2d6 or d10p dungeon. It really works well for them, making the game well known, and everyone can mix and match modules for the experience they want. I would really like that for KN.
Yes, but I'm not talking about expansions, those are going to happen regardless. I'm talking about new games set in the same setting. So the difference between The Book of Masteries (an expansion) or Carnage & Aether (a different game set in the same setting). My question is, these new games, should they also use the core KN rules, or it's fine if I explore different ideas?
I’d rater wait for a few months to polish and balance if the new material can be used with my KN characters.
It's not a matter of waiting, at all, it's actually easier for me to design games using the core KN rules. It's more about having the possibility to explore different rules that might benefit Ker Nethalas in the long run.