Other Games Let's talk about Jackals

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d(sqrt(-1))

Acolyte
#1
#1
Jackals: A few things I noticed on a read through. Not sure if there is a specific forum for questions?
  • Some general typos but not major ones e.g. "Encumbrance" vs "Encumberance"
  • p52 : Weapons "Light melee and ranged weapons", I assume this is Light melee and light ranged weapons"?
  • p52 : Light weapons gain +1 Clash point due to speed - this ought to be mentioned elsewhere either under Fighting Styles (p66) or Clash points (p69) as it's easy to miss here.
  • p53 : Armour says "Soft armours provide less Protection but are less fatiguing to wear (p 74). p74 doesn't seem to say anything about this, I think it should be p 55 Encumbrance
  • p57 : Is there a minimum chance of success? Modifiers could easily knock it down to 0%
  • p63 : Initiative example, 18 rolled for Oritakan and 15 for the Norakan. On p 244/255 Norakan and Oritakan have Init 15, so the minimum would be 16 for Norakan.
  • p65 : Attack. The section on Clash spending sounds like it applies to melee only but doesn't actually say so. So if someone shoots at me can I make it a Clash and shoot back, highest successful roll hits? What if I dodge, obviously I can't damage them then (p 70 sort of implies this)
  • p66 : Criticals/Fumbles Jackal can spend Clash points for Power Attack after a critical for +6 damage (see p 66). This should be see p 70. Also maybe explain it is +6 because damage is maximised on a critical?
  • p70 : Clash Point costs - Clash a charging enemy. Highest success deals the damage it would seem, but it doesn't stop the movement etc (there's no definition of charge?)
  • p79 : Rite Defence/Save Effect - do I have to spend clash to resist a rite or is it just a normal opposed roll? p70 doesn't mention it as something to spend Clash on.
  • p83 : Crack of Flame. Enemies suffer penalty to non-defence skills equal to twice Devotion. Is that maximum Devotion or current Devotion?
  • p107 : Advanced Skill Talents (AST). Is it at 100% or 120% you get your first AST? Text here makes it seem like 120%, but p 117 under Rite and Fate talents says 100%. p208 Nahunum have Combat 120% and it says they get a talent, which implies at 120%
  • p109 : Healing: Triage and Respite say limited to once per day. Is that 1/day total or 1/day/subject?
  • p109 : Healing Arcana specialist says use acalana resin for 1 Clash instead of 2 in combat. where does it say 2 Clash points to do this? p70 doesn't mention it.
  • p196 : Many creatures have a Corruption rating.Does this do anything or is it purely for the purposes of rites like Touch of Law (p82)?

On the whole looks like a good system.
 
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Newt

Newt

Rune Priest
#5
#5
I picked off a copy straight away and I'm happy to say it's a use of OQ OGL I fully endorse. The author took OQ (2nd edition) SRD and made it their own, changing stuff to fit their vision of what they wanted to do for their game. This could have easily been a lazy "take OQ, make it a RQ rip off with a lazy Bronze Age setting" and it's as far away from that as you can get. I breathed a big sigh of relief :)

I quickly chatted to John via Twitter, and he was genuinely complimentary about OQ, saying it got him back into D100 gaming and inspired him to write his own game :)
 
Guvnor

Guvnor

The Guvnor
Staff member
#6
#6
Just listened to the interview with him on the Iconic podcast and it sounds good.

I have been listening to him for a while about 13th Age (he usually runs the podcast) and I am very empathic with his style.
 
First Age

First Age

D&D h@ck3r and Hopepunk
#7
#7
I like the game a lot, so much so that I put together a character sheet for the Role VTT. I've watched some of the actual play on the Dungeon Musing Discord channel and a little being run by John himself. I'll pick up the campaign when it arrives.

I think it warrants a 'three-off' to get into the game, the unique mechanics, and the Bronze Age setting.
 
Astronocky

Astronocky

Initiate
#9
#9
Reading Jackals triggers the same sort of feeling that Runequest evoked back in the day when I first played that, which is a good thing(tm). Count me in among those excitedly looking forward to Fall of the Children of Bronze.

I think I need to reread the combat rules though, because the "hit points" hasn't properly lodged in my brain, and there are a few things with clash (as @d(sqrt(-1)) mentions) which could be clarified - in particular as you pay clash points to dodge just as you would to strike back, what is the benefit of dodging over striking back?
 
Leketh

Leketh

Novice
#10
#10
Hey everyone. I am J-M, the author of Jackals. I was excited to hear about the Tavern and appreciate all of the kind words for Jackals. I would be glad to chat about the game and answer any questions you may have.

Speaking of - Dodge costs clash points as well, and it typically only used in response to a ranged attack or a environmental effect. In melee combat, it is always better to react with your own Melee Combat skill than to dodge. Although against creatures like the Gadakan or the Yamim, you may just want to get out of the way.
 
Guvnor

Guvnor

The Guvnor
Staff member
#11
#11
I understand that the game roughly approximates to the Levant in the Bronze Age, does it have cultures that map to Babylon, the Israelites or Egypt?
 
Astronocky

Astronocky

Initiate
#13
#13
Leketh said:
Hey everyone. I am J-M, the author of Jackals. I was excited to hear about the Tavern and appreciate all of the kind words for Jackals. I would be glad to chat about the game and answer any questions you may have.

Speaking of - Dodge costs clash points as well, and it typically only used in response to a ranged attack or a environmental effect. In melee combat, it is always better to react with your own Melee Combat skill than to dodge. Although against creatures like the Gadakan or the Yamim, you may just want to get out of the way.
Click to expand...
Welcome! And thanks for the answer. I haven’t come across the Gadakan or Yammim yet so all is good.
 
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