Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan – Stormbringer!

As a companion piece to the interview with Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan, Stormbringer is happy to present an extended and critical look at Hawkmoon: The Roleplaying Game. Released by Mongoose Publishing in 2007, this was their second (and final) setting released in their Eternal Champion series (the other being Elric of Melniboné).

Those who dare swear by the Runestaff must then benefit or suffer from the consequences of the fixed pattern of destiny that they set in motion. Some several such oaths have been sworn in the history of the Runestaff’s existence, but none with such vast and terrible results as the mighty oath of vengeance sworn by the Baron Meliadus of Kroiden the year before Dorian Hawkmoon van Koln set foot into the pages of this ancient narrative.

AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE HIGH HISTORY OF THE RUNESTAFF

About Hawkmoon

Hawkmoon (or to quote its full title from the book’s cover Michael Moorcock’s Hawkmoon: The Roleplaying Game) was released in 2007 by Mongoose Publishing and arrived the same year (although slightly later) than their only other Eternal Champion game, Elric of Melniboné. Like its more familiar cousin, Hawkmoon utilises the enerable and well-respected Runequest ruleset – then licensed from Greg Stafford – but moves even further away from its parent mechanics as it attempts to reflect gaming in the strange and techno-magical world of the Tragic Millennium.

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!

Tag: Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan

[Review] Hawkmoon: The Roleplaying Game – Mongoose Publishing – 2007

About Hawkmoon

Interview with Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan