designing
Chris asked about how to spec characters.
When I create an NPC who will need stats, if they aren't going to be a major, complex character I really just do a few numbers. Here are some examples:
Rubble Broo 5W
"Broo" is a keyword that gives a rating for all broo-related skills: primitive weapons, ambush, infectious, stinky, hiding, strong, tough.
Gang Leader Broo 13W, Stupid but Cunning 5W, Chaotic Feature: Ear-piercing Shout 15W
Of course all these can be modified, or modify each other: Rubble Broos may augment the Gang Leader's Stupid but Cunning ambush, Gang Leader can augment his followers, and so on. Then there are possible situational modifiers: Those not-very-tough broos can be a real danger when attacking from cover (+10) behind (+10) with complete surprise (+20) !
There are also modifiers for things like Knows the Area--doesn't come up for bad guys in Pavis because YOU all know the area better than they do, but Westhill invaders would get a minus, while natives would get a plus, and vice versa when Varu & co travel to another clan's lands.
Now, a MONSTER can be different, because a keyword may have to be defined. I feel comfortable running a Dream Dragon 4W5 and leaving it at that if need be, but you might want more.
So here's how I would create a new monster, a relatively complicated example:
Ancient Damaged Mostali Mountain Defense Automaton
Made by the Bronze Dwarfs before the creation of Iron to guard their citadels, none of these survived the Godswar intact. Unearthed a few years ago by a landslide, this summer it became active after being discovered by 5 repair Nilmergs lost from the back of an Iron Dwarf's pack when he fell to his death on patrol. Lacking orders, the MDA wanders its old patrol range which is now outside of Mostali lands, killing everything and pulling up trees to fuel its furnace.
Mountain Defense Automaton
Obey Orders from Bronze Dwarfs 10W2
Huge Metal Thing 10W3 <--- See how this is a rating that it can use to solve (or BE) a problem?
Damaged Top Panels 10W2
Desperately Requires Orders 10W2
Huge Crushing Arm Missing its firing hand 12W2
Poorly Repaired Multi-function Arms 5W
Climb Mountains 10W
Lumber Around 5W
5 Repair Nilmergs (Repair Mostaly Machinery 10W3, Panic in Combat 15)
The main thing to get your head around is that the old Hero Wars model of "10W is this big/heavy/much gold" is superseded.
Stats are ratings of the ability to solve a problem and nothing more. Conversely, it is a rating of a problem's difficulty. Once you get your head around this as a ref, it helps you use ratings to shape the narrative. By making something equal to the characters' appropriate skills, you are saying "normal people like the Heroes would likely overcome this, but the heroes always will" (because of HP.)
When you make something a little tougher (1-9 points) you are saying "normals would have to be lucky or really work together"
When you make something 10-19 points higher, you're saying "the heroes show their mettle here, and normals have to be lucky AND good and work together.
And so on.
When you make something 3 masteries better than the Heroes' best appropriate skills, you're saying "Without extensive pre-planning and mustering all the support of all the important groups they're part of, this problem is un-solveable by the Heroes."
Notice I use the phrase "appropriate skills" several times. Varu would fail "find and memorize the poem on page 3 of Hazek's Collected Works in the Arkat Hold Library" but might have a chance at "Bring me Hazek's Collected Works from the Arkat Hold Library." But only because, without help, he would have to carry ALL the books from there, since he can't read.
random encounters?
depends on whether we're going through the mountains or the lowlands.
elves. broo (but never near each other.) Cloud Leopards. Wind Children. Bandits. Mountain Goats. The area is not known for trolls (mainly because of the elves.) Hunters. Clan patrols.
http://glorantha.wikia.com/wiki/Skyreach_Mountains
it's your game dude.
glorantha is full of unique creatures, as well as awe-inspiring known ones. Things similar to most earth mythology exist, but often with a twist, like elves being made out of wood, or dwarfs being part of the World Machine.
Here's the thing: if the Heroes have NO chance of an idea what something is, there should be a reason why. Has it just moved here from far away? OK. Has it just awoken from its ages-long slumber? Fine. A new experiment by the Mostali? Great.
But the heroes have hunted these hills (even though none of us are Hunters,) scouted these deep gors and crags. There's probably a cloud leopard hide on the chief's seat. Gloranthan cloud leopards live in the clouds.
Chaos makes new things, yes. But almost everyone runs from chaos given the chance, consults with the tribal leaders, and comes back in force. Maybe with help from the neighboring tribe. Because Chaos is an existential threat to everyone.
