If you want listening recommendations, here is a list: Hammers of Misfortune, Virgin Steele, Cauldron Born, Slough Feg, Dio, Iron Maiden, (early) Manowar, Manilla Road, Hawkwind, Bathory, Candlemass, Cirith Ungol, Mercyful Fate, Richie Blackmoor's Rainbow, Scanner, Voivod. (Bolded come highly recommended for personal reasons)
To start, lets start this first entry with a game from the 80's...
STORMBRINGER
In 1981, Chaosium unleashed a most epic roleplaying game based on Micheal Moorcock's Elric Saga --- Stormbringer! The game was released in a box set (which I am proud to own, it even has the dice!) with a fantastic painting by Frank Brunner on the lid. Frank Brunner's art is gorgeous, and evocative of the epic melodrama of the Elric stories. Brunner provides a majority of the art for the roleplaying game. I am especially found of the cover (to my right), and the Empress of Dawn picture (NSFW there are boobs. Remember when boobs weren't a big deal in gaming? I don't because I'm a younging and grew up in more puritanical times for the hobby).
Elric and heavy metal have a long history together, you got some Blue Oyster Cult songs written by Micheal Moorcock not to mentions Hawkwind's concept album "Chronicles of the Black Sword". So it is no surprise that this game screams out and raises the devil horns mightly above its theoretical head.
From my one session of play (I'd love to play more), I have to say it is the game feels like the art and the songs inspired by the Elric Saga. Stormbringer uses a stripped down form of Basic Roleplaying System, which is found in Call of Cthulhu and Runequest. It features a highly random chargen system which produces some very powerful characters (and the occasional diseased beggar), a gore-soaked combat system (limbs will be lost, weapons lodged into foes), and a sorcerous magic which involves trafficking with demons and the elemental of the world.
Stormbringer is suited for short campaigns, or epic one-shots, which makes it unique for its time. Back then, games were primarily focused on long campaigns with a focus on character advancement. Stormbringer, not so much, more-likely-than-not you'd start out fairly powerful, and if you had the ability to summon demons...well no task would be insurmountable, if you were willing to pay the price. On top of this, the game master advice focuses on an episodic structure to mimic the books. A game master was advised look at the characters involved and create an adventure to highlight each character, as well as to challenge their abilities.
I have the first edition, and the fourth edition of the game. To be frank, I like the more freewheeling feel of the first edition versus the more "complete" fourth edition. If you can find a copy of Stormbringer, I recommend you pick it up.
STORMBRINGER
In 1981, Chaosium unleashed a most epic roleplaying game based on Micheal Moorcock's Elric Saga --- Stormbringer! The game was released in a box set (which I am proud to own, it even has the dice!) with a fantastic painting by Frank Brunner on the lid. Frank Brunner's art is gorgeous, and evocative of the epic melodrama of the Elric stories. Brunner provides a majority of the art for the roleplaying game. I am especially found of the cover (to my right), and the Empress of Dawn picture (NSFW there are boobs. Remember when boobs weren't a big deal in gaming? I don't because I'm a younging and grew up in more puritanical times for the hobby).
Elric and heavy metal have a long history together, you got some Blue Oyster Cult songs written by Micheal Moorcock not to mentions Hawkwind's concept album "Chronicles of the Black Sword". So it is no surprise that this game screams out and raises the devil horns mightly above its theoretical head.
From my one session of play (I'd love to play more), I have to say it is the game feels like the art and the songs inspired by the Elric Saga. Stormbringer uses a stripped down form of Basic Roleplaying System, which is found in Call of Cthulhu and Runequest. It features a highly random chargen system which produces some very powerful characters (and the occasional diseased beggar), a gore-soaked combat system (limbs will be lost, weapons lodged into foes), and a sorcerous magic which involves trafficking with demons and the elemental of the world.
Stormbringer is suited for short campaigns, or epic one-shots, which makes it unique for its time. Back then, games were primarily focused on long campaigns with a focus on character advancement. Stormbringer, not so much, more-likely-than-not you'd start out fairly powerful, and if you had the ability to summon demons...well no task would be insurmountable, if you were willing to pay the price. On top of this, the game master advice focuses on an episodic structure to mimic the books. A game master was advised look at the characters involved and create an adventure to highlight each character, as well as to challenge their abilities.
I have the first edition, and the fourth edition of the game. To be frank, I like the more freewheeling feel of the first edition versus the more "complete" fourth edition. If you can find a copy of Stormbringer, I recommend you pick it up.
