Stormbringer talks to. . .
If you know, or have contact with, someone who was involved in this game line ~ no matter how fleeting ~ please contact us so we can learn more about the history of Stormbringer, ELRIC! or Mongoose’s line of the Eternal Champion games.
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Interview with Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan
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For many long-time fans it came as somewhat of a shock when – in the mid-2000s and seemingly out of the blue – Chaosium ‘handed’ their Eternal Champion gaming licenses over to Mongoose Publishing. For myself personally, as a big fan of the Elric, Hawkmoon and Corum games, I never really expected Chaosium would willingly give up their control these properties, despite their somewhat ‘love-hate’ relationship with these worlds over the previous quarter of a century. Of course, the reaction to this shift was typical of what one sees when any big changes occur with anything we love; a mixed of anger, excitement and not a little trepidation. What would come of my favourite game? Would we get to explore new aspects of the Eternal Champion? And – hang on – just who are these Mongoose guys, anyway?While history speaks for itself, it is undeniable that Mongoose Publishing’s stewardship of the Eternal Champion was another high point for the licence, not only bringing in new players and fans into the Multiverse, but also creating games that reflected more closely the actual worlds Moorcock had laid out all those years before. More importantly, Mongoose had a new way of working, one that ensured that the lines would be actively supported and would see regular releases. And to do that you needed talent.
It is fortunate, then, that our guest today was the very person shoulder tapped to bring Mongoose’s vision of Hawkmoon’s Tragic Millennium to life. An author young and raw enough to hold no fear leaping into a new property that had a long and complex history, and which therefore brought with it much expectation. None other than the now well-known and immensely respected, Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan!
Interview with Fred John Behrendt
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The early to mid 1990s was an undeniably golden age for the Stormbringer Role Playing Game. Under the leadership of the likes of Keith Herber, Richard Watts and Greg Stafford, it finally reached the creative heights it always aspired to, delivering a run of supplements that would become beloved by fans worldwide.Yet this period of creativity would’ve never been possible without the individual writers who would take the raw concepts of Moorcock’s Multiverse and transform them into the scenarios and support material that has done do so much to define this great RPG. In this regard, few names stand out as much as Fred John Behrendt, the author behind many of the game’s best and most interesting adventures… and a true Champion of the Young Kingdoms
Interview with John R. White
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The transition of the Eternal Champion license from Chaosium to Mongoose Publishing was a sudden one, although, given the lack of interest in the line at the time by its long term owners, one that I suppose, in hindsight, was not to be unexpected. By the mid 2000s, Chaosium was a shadow of its former self, surviving for the most part, on their loose schedule of new Call of Cthulhu products and its impressive back catalogue; to be successful, the Moorcock’s roleplaying Multiverse needed a new Champion!This opened the way for Mongoose Publishing, who under the leadership of Mathew Sprange, and the dedication of such authors Pete Nash, Loz Whitaker and Gareth Hanrahan (amongst others) revived both the Elric and Hawkmoon lines. But, like many of Moorcock’s own stories, history was destined to repeat itself. The lines, although popular, suffered from the very aspects that had made Mongoose a rising star in the early 2000s, and in the end only one author remained – John R. White – The Last Defender!
Interview with Malcolm Wolter
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As with many such creative endeavours it is often those behind the scenes that make the biggest difference to a project. So it was with Malcolm Wolter, editor, graphic designer and writer of Stormbringer’s one and only fanzine – Herald of Doom.A while ago, Stormbringer! had the opportunity to chat with Malcolm about his efforts in producing this well-received, but short-lived zine, and his other contributions the game line and other Chaosium RPGs (the result of which sees him today, once more working with Chaosium’s founder, Greg Stafford).
Interview with Ben Monroe
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Ben Monroe was the creator of the Stormbringer 4th edition Magic system and is the author of the forthcoming Magic World RPG. Ben is a former Chaosium employee with close ties to the company, a master of layout (and the sacrifices given to such a task), and an all-round great guy. Earlier this year Stormbringer! took the time to talk about his input into our favourite RPG and his upcoming release (which as a lot more in common with Stormbringer than you could have ever have guessed!).Over the years many individuals would come to guide the direction and future of the Stormbringer RPG, crafting it into the game we all remember so fondly. One such contributor is Ben Monroe, a one time employee, and long time supporter of Chaosium. Ben has been a contributor to numerous incarnations of the Basic Role Play system (BRP), including Call of Cthulhu, but perhaps of most interest to the followers of Stormbringerrpg.com was his involvement with the 4th edition rule set. More specifically it was his redesign of the magic system that better reflected how demons, elementals and objects of Law should be dealt with in game – a vision that continued right up to the last printing of Stormbringer.
Interview with Jason Durall
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An interview with Jason Durall – Stormbringer and Moorcockian stalwart. Jason has a long history with Chaosium and the Stormbringer line, in a story that has as many ‘misses’ as hits. A (long) while back, Stormbringer! took the time to have a chat with Jason and discuss what could have been.Please note that this interview took place in 2009 but didn’t see publication until 2011!
Interview with Lawrence Whitaker
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An interview with Lawrence Whitaker ~ Line Developer of Mongoose Publishing’s Eternal Champion line and full time author. With a long and proud history writing for Chaosium and now Mongoose, Lawrence (Loz to his friends) talks to Stormbringer! about the past, present and future of the property!Update 2017 – Just so you know, Loz and his writing partner from their Mongoose Publishing days, Pete Nash, are now the principals behind The Design Mechanism, a roleplaying company dedicated to great gaming. Go check them out!
Interview with Charles Green
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One of the few authors to work on both Chaosium’s Stormbringer, as well as contributing to the later Elric of Melnibone series.Charles not only wrote the two Young Kingdoms’ monographs Gods of Law in the Young Kingdoms and Chaos Cults of the Young Kingdoms (both of which we proudly have reproduced on this site), but also Mongoose Publishing’s Bright Shadows setting book (which explores the far reaching influence of the Melnibonéan people and their rulers).
Interview with Richard Watts
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Few authors or line developers have done as much to define an future of a roleplaying game as Richard Watts. With the late Lynn Willis as a steadying hand, Richard re-imagined the Stormbringer ruleset into ELRIC!, the edition we all love today. While he was never able to complete his journey, even today his influence on the game and setting continues.Note, this interview was originally prepared for an Eternal Champion fanzine that was never published, and is presented here in full.
