Forum

Will there be a PDF that we can hand out to the players so they can get background and theme in advance?

Will there be a PDF that we can hand out to the players so they can get background and theme in advance?

You could probably make one... though why would you deprive yourself of introducing players to the universe yourself, with your own words and thoughts, plots and angles?

What I think Vanamoinen means is, "start your first batch of characters as backwater yokels that don't know much about anything".

You don't want to have a player create a well-educated aristocrat if that means he or she expects you to dump a huge load of info in his or her lap. That kind of character start should be reserved for a player you trust in his or her abilities to improvise and overcome information deficiency.

So if a player is new to the entire culture have him or her roll up a "Luke Skywalker".

If, on the other hand, you have a player in love with Middle Eastern themes, perhaps have touristed in Casablanca, Cairo, or Istanbul (or, frankly, certain vibrant districts of most big western cities), you could probably trust his or her powers of improvisation while still remaining in bounds of what the culture would allow.

Will there be a PDF that we can hand out to the players so they can get background and theme in advance?

The quickerstart pdf (yet to be released) would probably be something like that.

You could probably make one... though why would you deprive yourself of introducing players to the universe yourself, with your own words and thoughts, plots and angles?

Indeed. The personal recipes of a great chef (rulebook descriptions) are not the same as the meal itself (personal garnish).

What I think Vanamoinen means is, "start your first batch of characters as backwater yokels that don't know much about anything".

If, on the other hand, you have a player in love with Middle Eastern themes, perhaps have touristed in Casablanca, Cairo, or Istanbul (or, frankly, certain vibrant districts of most big western cities), you could probably trust his or her powers of improvisation while still remaining in bounds of what the culture would allow.

For a lot of Westerns, there are few cultural experiences that rival being awakened for the first time by Fajr (pre-dawn call to prayer).
I'd love to put something similar to that kind of discomfort/uncertainty/exotic Other-ness in the game for characters visiting somewhere for the first time.

What I think Vanamoinen means is, "start your first batch of characters as backwater yokels that don't know much about anything".

Well, there are infinite ways of exposition, and those can be mixed and matched.

And even though I love the most distinguished most of the time, the most direct is not always the worst.
Here, please imagine Virginia Madsen as your personal most creepy GM.

One if my favourite films ever

I wish the Jodorowsky '75 production had been allowed to be produced—Moebius, Chris Foss, Dalí, Orson Welles, Udo Kier, & Mick Jagger, as well as Dan O'Bannon & Giger (who went on to work together on Alien)...
The artistic standard of popular science fiction films would have probably been much higher. And far weirder.
The documentary is great for art, design, and showing how cultures clash and merge.

One if my favourite films ever

Well then, there's your answer.