My ZeFRS resolution

[The Evil DM]

ZeFRS really is a cool system.
I think it captures the flavor of Sword and Sorcery better than most systems out there.
In its original inception as the engine for the TSR Conan RPG, it was one of the first games that asked questions like; where did you come from? What did your father do? What is your story? Right after your characters name and your name, is the word STORY in big bold caps. The character sheet doesn’t even deal with stats until after you have written a bit about your character. The stats had their place, but right off the top the game wanted you to start thinking of a background and a concept for your character. In a way, it was a story telling game before “story telling” games were cool.

Mark K and a bunch of the guys over at the ZeFRS board put a lot of hard work in taking the game, dusting it off and making it available for everyone (all this with the blessing of the author Dave “Zeb” Cook, no less).

Alas, the forum has gone a bit cold (my fault as much as anyone’s). But despite the lack of posts, I’ve noticed that whenever someone on any of the various RPG boards I haunt mentions a need for a good S&S game, ZeFRS is right up there at the top of the list of recommendations.

I keep telling myself that I have to do something with this game- Create a world, write an adventure, try to add something to the efforts of the ZeFRS crew. But there is always something pressing at my free time- Legends of Steel, Broadsword expansions, a hard drive crash, the list goes on. But I’m resolved to do something this year with it.

Is there a book or series that would benefit from a ZeFRS treatment? Conan’s been done, Thongor’s been done, Lankhmar? Done. What else? Sinbad (Harryhausen’s style Sinbad)? “Jack of all Trades”? Gor? I’m not sure, but ZeFRS definitely deserves some more love.

Any ideas out there?

[thegoodassyrian]

I am a big fan of ZeFRS, too and try to spread the good S&S love when I can. I just read a message from Mark K (which I didn't notice until now, doh! Sorry Mark!) mentioning the possibility of a ZeFRS Companion. I know that there was a newsletter planned, but perhaps it would be good to start with helping him put together a Companion with optional rules, maybe a setting, an adventure, etc.


TGA

[The Evil DM]

So, of the various settings I’ve considered, I like a Fantasy Earth “Dark Ages” setting the best (with a Thundarr setting running a very close second).
I say fantasy Earth, not in the way of elves and faeries (god no) but in the way that -Low magic is present, diabolical forces can and do manifest, and history is altered somewhat to give more opportunity for adventure and expression.
Primarily, Berber traders would have “discovered” the southeastern side of the Americas, Norsemen would colonize the northern half, and over on the west coast, Chinese traders would have mapped out Polynesia and begun colonies on the western side of the Americas.
That would open the whole world up with still plenty of mysterious places to explore. You could stay in the old world or take your chances in the new one. And this will be without the advantage of gunpowder. And of course magic will work, with a lot of effort and sacrifice, but it will work.

I’m looking at several sources such as TSR’s AD&D sourcebook “Charlemagne’s Paladins” and possibly some other Dark ages RPG sources.

And lest we forget it’s a S&S game world we are trying to invoke, I’m also looking at gathering some issues of DC Comics; “Arak-Son of Thunder” which was a great series that dealt with the Carolingian empire as a backdrop to the heroes adventures.

[thegreyelf]

Rather than a companion, I'll likely just expand the PDF with appendices containing optional and house rules. I want to add some nonhuman monsters into the Rogue's Gallery section at some point...

[markkrawec]

Hi guys

I'm working right now on a page that's called "the companion" but is really just a spot to provide easy access to all the rules that people have suggested on these boards. So far it's got: Artikid's smorgasbord of creature abilities; TGA's adapted monsters from "The Lost City", plus his traps rules; Dr. Samsara's nar-ish all-attributes damage system; plus some rules I've knocked together for a damage save system, firearms, & vehicles. The vehicle rules are concerned almost entirely with racing, maneuvering & fighting between & from vehicles. I figured that in a swashbuckling game travel from point A to point B should be mostly offscreen, unless trouble arises.

[rumcove]

Evil DM,

Your idea is eerily similar to the setting I use for D&D, but my players insist on keeping the Dwarves and Elves. Since they were in the Eddas, I don't mind.

I'm curious to see your spin on it.

[wulfgar]

If you're looking for ideas for your fantasy earth setting, get ahold of the Prince Valiant RPG and just crank up the darkness and brutality as appropriate.

[trollhammer]

I think something like Dark Sun meets Frank Frezzeta with a badass sound track from Amon Amarth and the excess violence of a Tarantino movie would make a great campaign setting.

[markkrawec]

I'm next up to run something in my gaming group. Inspired by some new NASA photos, I've decided to inflict - er, present "Highlanders of Mars", a crazed hybrid of John Carter & Rob Roy in which the blue men of the highlands fight for freedom against the red men from beyond the southern wall who have annexed their land through a combination of military might & political maneuvering. Who knows what mysterious artifacts are to be found in the lost mountaintop cities of the ancients?

All right, maybe they won't be color-coded, but otherwise that's the premise.