[Kickstarter Vote] CHoose the next book of the series

[Nelyhann]

This is the thread if you have any question about this vote or want to discuss the factions.

here is a recapitulation of the series:

• - Book 0 – Prologue: Three scenarios, an abridged version of the system, a summary of the background, and premade characters spanning 80 pages, published in French and English.
  - Book 1 – Universe: The Core book describing the background and the system over 288 pages. Published in French and English.
  - Book 2 – Travels: 200 pages of Game Leader material (scenarios, game aids, additional rules, bestiary). Out of stock in France, release in the US planned for October. Reprint in France in 2014.
  - Monastery of Tuath: A large scenario paying homage to the Name of the Rose, and the album “Of Men and Obscurities” included. Released in France in June 2011, planned for the US in the beginning of 2014 with a Kickstarter this fall.
  - Book 3 – Dearg: The great official campaign in the universe of Shadows of Esteren, spanning more than 250 pages. The publication is currently ongoing in France, episode by episode. The English translation will begin very soon.
  - Book 4 – Secrets: The Game Leader's Bible, unveiling the mysteries of the world of Esteren. Should be released in France in 2014. This book, whose realization was initiated several years ago, represents a tremendous amount of work, requiring much time and energy.
  - Book 5 – Faction: The first of a series of books detailing factions in detail. Hardcover, between 120 and 200 pages. You will get to decide which faction we should start with!

Here are the choices that we offer:

1/ Demorthèn. One of the major factions, the Demorthèn are the spiritual guides, the intermediaries between man and nature. They worship the spirits of nature and consider that man must remain humble. Stereotypically put, they represent a certain form of ecology and can be obscurantist in some respects.

2/ Magience. Also a major faction, Magience is a science based on extracting and utilizing Flux, a powerful fuel. Magientists are humanists, they embody progress and the promise of a better future. On the other hand, they run the risk of plaguing the world with irreversible pollution.

3/ Temple. The third major faction, and the most mystical one. The Temple is a monotheistic religion believing in a one god: the Creator. Faith can protect men from despair by giving meaning to their lives, but it can also plunge them in fanatic madness.

4/ Bards & Varigals. Bards in Shadows of Esteren can basically be of two types: the artist, and the power behind the throne. As for Varigals, they embody a traditional figure in the peninsula of Tri-Kazel: they are messengers, bearing letters beyond the mountains.

5/ Clans & Families. The purpose of such a book would be to describe in detail the areas of influence of traditional clans, of major noble families, but also of some chivalric orders, in a Game of Thrones-like perspective. Indeed, each of these clans and families are many small factions.

6/ Peoples. “Peoples” would not be about a faction per se, but we have been discussing the possibility of such a book among ourselves for some time, and it seems interesting to us to offer it. The aim of the book would to provide in-depth descriptions of the four cultures living and interacting in the peninsula of Tri-Kazel: Osags, Tri-Kazelians, Continentals, and Tarish. For your information, the woman pictured in the banner of this Kickstarter page is a Tarish.

7/ Sorcerers & Occultists. Two more minor factions that yet have an important part to play. They embody the more supernatural, esoteric part of the universe of Shadows of Esteren.

[Mark Sweetman]

Demorthen for me all the way, though I can see a definite benefit from the Clans & Families or Peoples books for a general fleshing out of the world.

[tamsyn]

You know there are 7 books but only 6 number choices?

[Blackstone]

Sorcerers & Occultists...

As a Game Leader, I see this a serious benefit to my game. Adding some bestiary elements, this book would be gold.

Two books I would like to see at some point.....

The land that borders Tri-Kazel. What's beyond the Mountains... hmmmm

and a Cover to Cover book of Beasts... ecology... history... the works...

[Clovis]

You know there are 7 books but only 6 number choices?

Really? As far as I'm concerned, I can see all 7 of them. If the problem persists, could you take a screenshot to show us?

Sorcerers & Occultists...

As a Game Leader, I see this a serious benefit to my game. Adding some bestiary elements, this book would be gold.

Two books I would like to see at some point.....

The land that borders Tri-Kazel. What's beyond the Mountains... hmmmm

and a Cover to Cover book of Beasts... ecology... history... the works...

All in due time, friend, all in due time...

[Blackstone]

All in due time, friend, all in due time...

Why do I get the feeling you are about to laugh maniacally? lol....

[Clovis]

I was more going for the mysterious-stranger-with-a-hood-covering-part-of-his-face-(you-know-the-kind). Oh well...

[Blackstone]

I was more going for the mysterious-stranger-with-a-hood-covering-part-of-his-face-(you-know-the-kind). Oh well...

Both apply... ROFL...

[tamsyn]

I meant the radio buttons - 0-5 when there are 7 choices.

[Clovis]

Radio buttons? Err... I'm not sure I understand