Dias Ex Machina Games

Hi,

I always loved the original Amethyst campaign setting, and I am very interested in seeing what will come out of this rewamp. It looks like Amethyst will have some Shadowrun flair too, now, but I hope in doing so it doesn't lose too much of what it originally was.

Anyway, I am greatly interested in buying the book, but... Well, it seems that the book will emphasize mostly on rules, rather than on setting description. And for rules, I don't use D20 anymore, having turned to other games, namely True20, Savage Worlds, and C&C. So, here I just put my suggestion that the setting would probably find additional people interested in it, if there was a version for True20. True20 comes to mind, as the system allows for both modern-future and fantasy genres, and thus would fit very well with this setting. Now there is many people playing True20, and thus Amethyst could get a lot of interest if a version could be made for it, and then the setting be advertised/promoted on appropriate forums (such as official Green Ronin True20 forum).

Another idea would be of making two books (easy when it comes to PDFs): one book for the setting only (devoid of game stats and rules), and another book for the additional d20 rules. Like Green Ronin did for the last Freeport. I would certainly buy the PDF (setting only) if it was done so, while I hesitate if it includes so much additional d20 mechanics I won't use anyway.

Amethyst is being initially released as 3.5. We will then be researching 4.0 upon its release and evaluating its potential.

I have very little experience with Shadowrun but Amethyst has not changed its original pitch since it went online so many years ago. It is still a fantasy / science fiction story on Earth where the two worlds don't mix and actively disrupt each other's existence. There are not as many rules as you might think. I would gather that maybe 50% of the book in comprised of rules. The setting chapter, on its own, is almost 100 pages. We didn't want to bog down the system with a whole bunch of rules. With exception of a slight modification to the magic system and the inclusion of disruption rules, we changed very little from D20, so new rules are infrequent. We have a handful of prestige classes, our new class focus, and many pages of equipment and magic, but the later are not really considered "rules." Even our monster section is more fluff than actual rules.

As for other systems, none of us here have any experience with True20 or C&C (I never even heard of C&C until yesterday). Since we already plan on developing it for 4.0, running a third variant rules system doesn't make a lot of sense. I don't know if these systems you mention are OGL or not but we won't be creating Amethyst for any other systems other than basic D20 3.5 and 4.0.

Have faith, check out the site. You may be surprised at the level of quality to come.

_________________
“I despise stallions. I ride them as I ride an ugly noble women--smiles for appearances and politics only. Stallions. All personality with no depth. They prance like ponies and trot with arrogance. I always say, respect your mules most of all. A stallion may lead with the king and gather the eyes, but a mule will follow behind…and carry your kingdom.”
Tsarevick Kazaan
Amethyst D20

http://www.diasexmachina.com

I will try to have faith too...
Even if I won't use D20 system (I cannot stand it for over things that errrr... I cannot stand it anymore... True 20 is a good alternative. I will go for a C&C and Torg mix , my new way of having fun with a D20)

50 % rules... It seems fair enough to buy it for the 50 % background then

_________________
Have you ever seen a non naked guy ?

Here is a question Ange maybe you can answer. Can you tell me (and I know this is not an easy question) what the heck C&C and True 20 IS? Who makes it? Why is it so good? What makes it so different? I am honestly curious. I wonder what changes they made because Amethyst layers onto rules without changing so many so I wonder how easy someone who buys the game could adapt it.

_________________
“I despise stallions. I ride them as I ride an ugly noble women--smiles for appearances and politics only. Stallions. All personality with no depth. They prance like ponies and trot with arrogance. I always say, respect your mules most of all. A stallion may lead with the king and gather the eyes, but a mule will follow behind…and carry your kingdom.”
Tsarevick Kazaan
Amethyst D20

http://www.diasexmachina.com

I think you could make a little tour to rpg.net
It will be difficult to explain this in my non native language

True 20has three Classes : Experts, Adepts and Warriors...
Characters gain one feat per level.
Magic is viewed a bit like feats... You have acces to one power per feat...

C&C is a way of getting rid of feats, skills (yup skills too) and all the tacticals stuff many players (like me) don't like.
C&Chas to do with an ADD1 like game but with a D20 core engine

But don't bother...
It's not very difficult to convert DD3.5 to C&C or True 20

Well, I have to go to bed : 3.30 AM here in France

_________________
Have you ever seen a non naked guy ?

Yeah I agree with Ange. People that own True20 or C&C (like me) can make their own adaptations.
I can't wait to see the 4th edition version of it though. If the new set of rules 'click' with you, do you plan to have a rule-only book so that we won't have to buy it twice?

You could look also towards paizo.com, they plan on releasing a 3.5 compatible new version of the core rules... It could be useful in case you don't like 4th edition but still want people to play with your game and be able to buy core rules.

But anyway, the universe of Amethyst is great. I bought the PDF earlier this week, and I just got the hardcover ordered. For a nice book like that, HC is the best!

Hyb'

As long as someone doesn't use closed content and creates a conversion for True 20 or C&C for Amethyst, we'll be happy to post them here. I can see doing that. Our lawyers insist (okay, we don't have lawyers, we have a guy named...whatever) he who makes such a conversion understand that said conversion falls under the IP of Dias Ex Machina. I have experience with those hurdles (Alien-FUZION, Ghost in the Shell).

To answer the rest of the note:

IF 4.0 is compatible with our universe, we will plan on a 4.0 edition, both a complete set and a rules-update with no setting or descriptions. So yes, we do plan on that.

We are looking forward to 4.0 but are becoming increasing worried of the result. Their insistence on this MMO-style RPG may not be as compatible as we hoped to our setting. This brings up another concern. Paizo purchased the 4.0 rules early. They have been rather tight-lipped so maybe you can clarify. Why are they creating their own 3.5 rules system if they have the 4.0 rules? In fact, I have not read much from these few companies since they acquired the 4.0 rules. I don't have my ear to the street as much as others so I am curious what the word is?

To say there will not be an updated (second edition) Amethyst 3.5 is lying. All games have errata and Second Editions. Midnight and D&D 3.0 are prime examples. The sales of this edition will pay for such further editions. Assured, further editions will have even more artwork.

_________________
“I despise stallions. I ride them as I ride an ugly noble women--smiles for appearances and politics only. Stallions. All personality with no depth. They prance like ponies and trot with arrogance. I always say, respect your mules most of all. A stallion may lead with the king and gather the eyes, but a mule will follow behind…and carry your kingdom.”
Tsarevick Kazaan
Amethyst D20

http://www.diasexmachina.com