Birthright Promotion

[DKEvermore@aol.co]

In a message dated 98-02-06 06:22:03 EST, you write:

> There have been several mentions for such a heraldric reference. We have
> seen heraldry on almost every product cover, most importantly the Player's
> Secrets. Perhaps we could bring those coats of arms together in one
> place, along with other neccesary arms, the Imperial arms, the arms
> provided in the rulebook for the gods, and maybe some basic heraldric
> advice for altering such arms.
>
How about the upcoming Book of Regency? Seems like an appropriate place for
heraldric devices. Maybe 2 pages at the back of the book depicted simple
"shield-only" representations of the devices. Then we could make our own
counters as we like and push them around if need be...
2 more cents. I'll get to a gold bar one day... ;)
- -DKE

[Geniver]

And now for something completely different: How about a promotional
CD-ROM?

I wonder what you could put on it? (Hint: the map, heraldic coat of
arms, gratuitous sex and violence, famous NPC's, all the stuff people
have been asking for...)

[Glenn Robb]

Dang, I didn't think that the idea would catch on so quickly and have so many
supporters.

Lets see what else they can dig up (FR had a lavish unicorn for a poster).

— Elton Robb

TOMMY.ASHTON@ASU.Edu wrote:

> On Thu, 5 Feb 1998, Bearcat wrote:
>
> > Color-
> >
> > How about a map with the coats of arms of the major ruling families of
> > Anuire and the locations where they rule.
> Great idea!
> To expand this how about the coats of the original tribes of Anuire.
> They supposedly was listed in a promotional item once at a convention.
> >
> > B&W-
> >
> > On the back you could breifly describe each of these families...
> Talk about these tribes. Some of these are fairly devoid of power and
> scattered......did they leave behind any treasures i.e. the prince of one
> families +3 sword lost when he battled (insert monster) in the five peaks
> etc.
>
> T
> ************************************************** *************************
> >

[Ed Stark]

At 05:14 PM 2/5/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Ok, well, my first thought was a nude of Justina the Bansheigh, but as
>you pointed out, such would not be overly useful.
>
Why whatever do you mean ? Of course
we dont have any pictures like that around the
office. Whew!

;-)


-- ->-- ->-- ->--@
Ed Stark
Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
(soon to be http://www.tsr.com)

[Ed Stark]

At 10:54 AM 2/6/98 -0500, you wrote:
>And now for something completely different: How about a promotional
>CD-ROM?
>

We've talked about this, but, right now, we're not equipped to get
something like that together in time for the relaunch. Maybe soon, though ...


-- ->-- ->-- ->--@
Ed Stark
Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
(soon to be http://www.tsr.com)

[gandalf]

>But a map with lots of Heraldic Blazons? I think It's got limited
>use...I'm sure I can think up a Blazon for the gorgon fairly easily. ( I'm
sure you lot >can as well...)



Yes i too think that a map of heraldry is not all that useful... I mean, I
see no particular use for it. It is certainly nice, but does not fit my
definition of useful. Of course, I have no particular pation with heralds. A
lot of you obviously do. I wonder if one may bother to tell me why? :-|

[Mark A Vandermeulen]

On Fri, 6 Feb 1998, Simon Graindorge wrote:

> * Colour side:
> How about a detailed map of Anuire (or all of Cerilia, though the scale
> might be too big for this) with lots of DETAIL. Things like roads, maojr
> trade routes (ocean as well), major cities (inlcuding all of the capitals
> at the very least, possibly ley lines, possible places for adventure (eg.
> Dragon Pass...etc), as well as all of the normal geographical features
> (which can basically come from the original poster map). Then, because I
> really like the suggestion of the family crests, you could use these as a
> border to the map, with each of the crests maybe a few cm square.

I have some trouble with having all of these things on one map,
particularly things like trade routes and ley lines that are likely to
change over time. As for roads, I would like to see something like the Old
Imperial Highway system that the Anuieans built to send their armies all
over the continent, perhaps with notations as to which are still used and
maintained, and which have fallen into disuse and disrepair. I think other
roads should be left up to the individual regents to decide where they
should go. Although I agree that important geographic information like
passes and battlesites and important river fords may be useful.

> * B&W side:
> I really liked the idea of the information (history, influence, adventure
> hooks) of the major houses. As well as this, some _basic_ information on
> those places I mentioned above as adventure hooks.

I agree that Heraldry would be very useful in a game as political and
potentially full of espionage and diplomacy as this is. Perhaps the
crest-bearing shields could form the border of the color map, and a
section of the B&W side could have a small B&W replica and notes on the
families whose crests they are, including relevant info like historical
alliances/oppositions between the families. If the Anuirean houses could
be arrainged according to which Tribe of Andu they are descended from I
would be ecstatic.

Mark VanderMeulen
vander+@pitt.edu

[c558382@showme.missouri.]

On Fri, 6 Feb 1998, gandalf wrote:

> Yes i too think that a map of heraldry is not all that useful... I mean, I
> see no particular use for it. It is certainly nice, but does not fit my
> definition of useful. Of course, I have no particular pation with heralds. A
> lot of you obviously do. I wonder if one may bother to tell me why? :-|

"The duke climbed upon his horse and surveyed the enemy troops as the
assembled. Lord Haenbrook and the herald Montjoy ;) rode up beside their
regent. They have many men upon the right, Haenbrook, are your
deployments correct?"

"Your Grace, tis true there is a large assembly on our right, but see the
standards of the Militant Order on the left. In their midst I see the
argent (white) bear on a field of azure (blue), a sure sign that Osmund,
the Skullspliter is among them with his band. Surely the fighting will be
fierce there. In the center I see the banners of baron Maesilar and his
men, all bearing the sable (black) lion on or (gold) in some mannor on
their arms. These good men must be met. Also see how the vidam d'Aern
hangs back by his tent, the blue and gold striped one. His men are not
prepared. Do they hang back from fear, from quarrel with another in that
host, I cannot say. On the right where the numbers are great, notice the
many banners with charges composed of tools and clothes and mundane items.
These are townsmen, and of little consequence. Such a levy will not
menace us."

"Here comes the enemy's herald, it would seem they are ready to come on.
Look he wears vert (green) with the argent (white) rose! Ah ha! Burghlae
commands. While a fine soldier, and keen with his archers, he never takes
proper account of horse. Montjoy, tell de Saraet to bring his horse up to
those trees, but keep behind the wood, for Burghlae will be taken
unawares! I am off, my lord to warn captain Albrecht that he must not
move till we have found Burghlae's bows, for could be a slaughter
otherwise."

Kenneth Gauck
c558382@showme.missouri.edu

[dragon]

Ed Stark wrote:

> *It's going to be the same size as the Cerilia map from the BR boxed set.
>
> *It's full color on one side, black and white on the other. We plan to
> print on both sides.
>
> *It has to appeal to new BR players and veterans alike.
>
> *It should be useful. I mean, color prints of Rhoubhe, the Gorgon, Michael
> Roele and all might be cool, but how useful is that in game terms (please,
> tell me if you disagree).
>
> We're thinking about a Poster Map of the continent or of Cerilia and
> Aduria. This could be the same poster map you get with the set, but with
> some new labels to correspond to info on the back. The info on the back
> would be adventure hooks, characters, magic items, or whatever.

Regarding the B/W side - I think the idea abotu adventure hooks, etc is really
cool but for added effect, this info could be presented like:

- a legendary location confusingly mentiond on a torn scrap of parchment
next to map showing a rough, possible location.

- a letter to a regent from one of his lesser leaders warning of increased
"_insert monster here_" raids and requesting help.

- marketplace talk describing a magical item that some intrepid adventurer
has recently uncovered.

- a copy of a letter detailing secret negotiations between two domains with
a specific aim in mind.

- and so on and so forth all surrounding a plain map of Cerilia, adorned
with only major terrain features (mountains, forests, large lakes, etc), realm
boundaries and realm names. In addition, some smaller, even less detailed maps
of Aduira and Djapar could be present as well. In this case, some of the
"adventure hooks" could relate to Aduira and Djapar (more Aduria than Djapar I
think).

Regarding the colour side, although it would not be as "useful" as you may be
looking for, I thought, a large "collage (sp?)" of pictures that could
represent many of aspects of life in Cerilia. And behind all this, like a faded
background (like the huge sahuagin on the poster that comes with the Sea Devils
accessory), could be the Gorgon, or even the trio of the Gorgon, the Raven, and
the Maigan. Some of the colour pictures could even relate to the adventure
hooks on the B/W side.

Dragon
- --
email: dragon@uq.net.au
Website: Dragon's Lair (http://www.uq.net.au/~zzphodge)
ICQ: 2863795

[James Ray]

I'm all in favor of a B&W map of Cerilia's provinces and Sea and Ocean
Zones.
For the color side - i dont know - give the "Pro-Heraldry" group their
coats of arms. That way we can all be happy :-)

- ----------
> From: Daniel McSorley
> To: birthright@MPGN.COM
> Subject: Re: [BIRTHRIGHT] - Birthright Promotion
> Date: Thursday, February 05, 1998 9:40 PM
>
> I've always been pretty proud of my own adventure ideas, I don't think
that
> part would be useful. What I would like to see:
> B/W: Province boundary _only_ map of Cerilia, none of that terrain
crap
> or writing to screw up a perfectly good map. And integrate the sea
movement
> blocks into this (their proper name escapes me).