Re: Highlander: The PBM

From: claemor@aol.com (Claemor)

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000

Here are a few more details about the game to answer some of the questions
that have already popped up (both here and on our company area on America
Online):

1) The game will be based on the TV rules (which we feel also reflect the
spirit of the first film, our favorite.  Our official license under which
we are developing the game is for the TV show).

2) Players will control a team of five characters: One immortal (such as
Duncan Macleod), one immortal-to-be (such as Richie), one companion (can
be a love interest or a partner, such as Dr. Anne to Duncan or Robin to
Batman), and two mortal followers (could be thugs, friends, etc.).

3) Players will create their immortal character in general (statistics,
tendencies, portrait and era of birth from whence they draw their primary
skills).  The computer will round out the rest of the team based on the
immortal "leader."

4) Advantages such as: sword skill, regional knowledge, traps, allies, how
well you know your opponent, how well he knows you, and many other factors
will determine a fight's outcome.  We will allow players to pick their
combats wisely, if they are skillful.  However, a sneak attack against
one's character is never preferred.  Highlander: The PBM will allow for
research, training, hiring, coercion, and lots of other ways to ready your
immortal for victory.

5) There is an overarching story which is one of the primary routes for
winning the game (but certainly not the only route). It revolves around
the death of an immortal and the mystery he's left behind.  Though we are
not finalized on our story structure, the players will be grouped into
roughly even "teams" (not good vs. evil exactly, just different camps).
This will encourage team play, with the winning team being the one that
has dispatched all of the immortals on the other side.  Of course, there
will always be the rogue players who will depart to play on their own, and
while this is not the smartest way to play (there will be strengths and
weaknesses in all characters, making teamwork a BIG plus), we will not
discourage the option.

6) Regarding the question: "Will there be Non-Player Characters roaming
the game?"  A: Yes, most definitely.  Many of these NPCs will be drawn
from the shows.  As a player, you will not only be able to fight other
players' characters, but NPCs that cross your path during encounters (some
random, some not... you can do research to find these NPC immortals or
they may just find you).  We will not allow players to alter the history
that the TV show has laid down, hence you can not play Duncan or
Fitzcairn, but you may meet them.

7) Regarding the question: "What happens when my Immortal dies?  Wouldn't
players just be dropping out of the game like flies?" A: You play not just
an Immortal but a team of five, one immortal "leader" and four mortal
"followers."  One of these followers also carries "the immortal seed" and
will become an immortal upon their first "death" (as in the TV show).  You
will also be working as part of a grander Team with the other 9 players
(its a 10 vs. 10 scenerio as designed, at the moment), so even if both of
your Immortals pass on, you may still be able to play a support role with
the other players.  We are encouraging between-turn communication in this
PBM.

8) Regarding the question: "How will training work?"  A: You will be able
to train from NPC trainers, books (tactics research, etc.), and even your
fellow team members (perhaps one of your non-immortals is a sword master
while your Immortal has gotten through the ages by wit and deception).
Ditto with non-combat training.

9) While we want to stay away from requiring players have their characters
work for a living (hey, that's why we play games... to escape that very
thing!), there will be an income flow and a status system.  It will be
interruptable also which proves to be interesting and fun (especially when
playing against friends!).

10) The rules of Highlander: The TV Show allow for a mortal to take an
Immortal's head, so we will allow it as well.  The result is that the
quickening (the powerful "lightning storm" transfer of power) is lost
(unless an immortal is around as witness, in which case that immortal gets
the benefit of the kill).

11) Regarding the question: "Can't an immortal just be ambushed, knocked
unconcious, and then killed?"  A: Yes, an immortal can be beaten up and
then killed, kidnapped, transported or otherwise manipulated.  One of my
personal favorite scenarios is to hide my own Immortal in a hospital then
send out a thug to knock an enemy Immortal senseless.  The resulting
ambulance trip to the hospital delivers the unconcious Immortal right into
my hands (provided I camped out in the nearest hotel, otherwise my foe
travels away and the surprise is lost).  Scenarios like this avoid the
natural detection skills that immortals have when another of their kind is
near.

12) Regarding the question: "How will quickenings work?"  A: In the
mythology of the TV show, the quickening transfers the knowledge and power
of the dead immortal to the victorious one.  It is vague in that immortals
do not gain specific knowledge (i.e. the dead immortal's phone number and
things like that), but it makes the powerful or older immortals a juicier
prize because their power in a general sense is greater than weaker
immortals, hence more desirable.

13) In our game (as currently designed), an immortal's strength is
measured "quickening points" along with other attributes.  Each kill adds
to the number of quickening points relative to the power of the slain foe.
 Also, solving certain random situations admirably (a good immortal saving
children from disaster or helping old ladies accross the street) earns
"resolution points" which also add to an immortal's character.

14) We are looking to be out of beta and into full operation by November
of this year.

Thanks, by the way, to all of you who have emailed us for beta-test info.
If you would like to test and haven't e-mailed us, by all means do so!
Also, we would like to mail the start-up info via snail mail, so leave
your mailing address if you would like materials mailed to you.  Otherwise
we'll keep you in the information loop via e-mail, but we won't be able to
send rules and turns (just yet... the complete e-mail version of the game
is coming shortly after the snail mail version).

Until next time...
-The Claemor Staff

References

Highlander: The PBM
claemor@aol.com (Claemor)
Thu, 10 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000