User Generated Translations ...

[Gully]

Hi everyone,

I've been using Google translate to make a rough English version of Loch Varn (scenario 1, in the Prologue) from the French PDF. I love the concept behind the scenario and look forward to running it for my group (I will without a doubt be a big Kickstarter supporter). I've gotten a fair amount done, but I wanted to get a sense of what the official word is on something like this ...

There will be a PDF and a printed English version out soon, so I would assume sharing my rough translation with the community would be frowned upon (obviously without art or any graphics of any sort). I wouldn't want to cause anyone headaches or hard feelings, so I'm curious what the rules/guidelines are for this kind of thing ... I suspect more rough translations will be created from time to time and it would be nice to know the official line.

Thanks!

Gully

[JohnK]

Hullo, Gully,

I've got a question for you on this...

What's the point in translating "Loch Varn" from the Book 0 - Prologue, when this material is already available as a PDF for those who Kickstarted the English version of the game, and the Book 0 - Prologue material is the next Kickstarter project for the English game?

I had considered doing the translation of this material myself, but knew that it was going to be Kickstarted. It would be better to do some translation of fan-created scenarios and canvases, to be honest.

In that regard, I've already translated two scenarios myself, "Un Feond dans le Chenil" (A Feond in the Kennel) and "Un Magientiste qui Aurait pu être Demorthèn" (The Magientist Who Might be Demorthèn; lousy title, but it is what it is), and have started in on a scenario called "Rouge Vermillion" (Vermillion Red). I'm also working on translating a canvas called "En Altitude" (At Altitude), and have finished translating Patrick Cialf's village of Miayin, and a couple of other things, not to mention have written up four new beasties for the game that are threats for starting characters. The ones that are finished are in Dain's hands awaiting formatting and final PDFing (it's easier for me to translate stuff from straight text documents or Word or OpenOffice documents, as I don't have a full version of Adobe).

Anyway, just my 2 Daols on the topic.

[Dragoslav]

John, it sounds like you've been busy!

[Gully]

Hey John,

I first heard of Shadows of Esteren at Gen Con, so I missed out on the first Kickstarter and so don't have access to the Prologue 0 PDF. I'm hoping to get it as soon as possible, but my gaming group is in the rare position to try out a new system now. I like the psychological organization of Loch Varn (I'm trying to avoid spoilers), so I really wanted to kick off our session with that particular scenario. I had read enough of the French version to know that I'd like it. So thats how its come about ... I'm sure the other scenarios are also strong, but this one had captured my imagination.

[JohnK]

Hullo, Dragoslav,

John, it sounds like you've been busy!

Yep, quite busy with the translations, creating the beasties, and also getting ready to run a campaign (which has just gotten under way with both my Friday night and Sunday afternoon gaming groups). And I've got about five more French fan-made scenarios ready to translate.

Busy is an understatement!

[JohnK]

Hullo, Gully,

I first heard of Shadows of Esteren at Gen Con, so I missed out on the first Kickstarter and so don't have access to the Prologue 0 PDF.

I knew about Shadows of Esteren before GenCon, but missed out on the Kickstarter by two (2) hours! So I know what you mean. Fortunately, I was able to find the French PDF version of Livre 0 - Prologue, but want a copy of the English version as much as you do!

I'm hoping to get it as soon as possible, but my gaming group is in the rare position to try out a new system now. I like the psychological organization of Loch Varn (I'm trying to avoid spoilers), so I really wanted to kick off our session with that particular scenario.

To be honest, "Loch Varn" is an excellent scenario but one that can be highly confusing, and I don't know whether it really is a beginning scenario in many ways. (And I agree, no spoiler warnings here.) I prefer to create a simple scenario for the game that allows the players to gradually get their (and their characters') feet wet gradually in the world of rpgs, and Shadows of Esteren is no exception to that rule. That said, I'm getting impatient for the Book 0 - Prologue Kickstarter to begin...

[Gully]

To be honest, "Loch Varn" is an excellent scenario but one that can be highly confusing, and I don't know whether it really is a beginning scenario in many ways. (And I agree, no spoiler warnings here.) I prefer to create a simple scenario for the game that allows the players to gradually get their (and their characters') feet wet gradually in the world of rpgs, and Shadows of Esteren is no exception to that rule. That said, I'm getting impatient for the Book 0 - Prologue Kickstarter to begin...

The group I'm playing with are veterans of many gaming systems and I'm looking for something new to throw at them ... Granted a new system and complex scenario might be too much, but I'm willing to take the chance in order surprise them a bit. I'll let you know how it goes. (though its still a few weeks off ... the translation lets me prepare ahead of time).

BTW I'd be happy to help translate some of the other fan works once I get Loch Varn rounded out. Which of the ones that you've translated do yo find the strongest?

[Dragoslav]

I think Loch Varn would be a fine first adventure as long as the GL were able to handle its complexities. The adventure would make a powerful and memorable opening to a campaign for the players!

[JohnK]

Hullo, Gully,

To be honest, "Loch Varn" is an excellent scenario but one that can be highly confusing, and I don't know whether it really is a beginning scenario in many ways. (And I agree, no spoiler warnings here.) I prefer to create a simple scenario for the game that allows the players to gradually get their (and their characters') feet wet gradually in the world of rpgs, and Shadows of Esteren is no exception to that rule. That said, I'm getting impatient for the Book 0 - Prologue Kickstarter to begin...

The group I'm playing with are veterans of many gaming systems and I'm looking for something new to throw at them ... Granted a new system and complex scenario might be too much, but I'm willing to take the chance in order surprise them a bit. I'll let you know how it goes. (though its still a few weeks off ... the translation lets me prepare ahead of time).

To be honest, I like the "Loch Varn" scenario, but the real difficulty with it is that it's confusing not for the players (well, maybe for them too), but primarily for the Game Leader! Which is not something commonly found in gaming scenarios at all. And when it comes down to it, this game is very much about playing the psychology of the characters, as much as it is about the game world and rules, and thus I wouldn't subject my players, experienced or not, to this scenario first.

That said, if you run "Loch Varn" first, which as you said may surprise your players given they're all veterans of many gaming systems, how do you top it in future scenarios?

BTW I'd be happy to help translate some of the other fan works once I get Loch Varn rounded out. Which of the ones that you've translated do yo find the strongest?

The problem is that each of the scenarios that I've translated so far, and the ones I'm considering translating at the moment, have their own strengths and weaknesses. As you may have guessed, fan scenarios tend to be of varying quality, and there's no consistency in the formatting of the adventures and the like. It depends on what you're looking for adventure-wise for your gaming group.

[JohnK]

Hullo, Dragoslav,

I think Loch Varn would be a fine first adventure as long as the GL were able to handle its complexities. The adventure would make a powerful and memorable opening to a campaign for the players!

Yes, it would, no denying that. The question is: How do you follow up with such a memorable opening adventure?