Comrades!

The limited edition hardcover version of MR is now almost entirely sold
out: I am down to my last box of 12. Thank you to all those who bought
and enthused about this version!

So, buy now or be disappointed. As you'll see from the Ordering page
(http://www.firebird-productions.com/ordering.htm), remaining hardbacks
are all in the UK, so if you are in North America, then I'm afraid you
will have to pay for international shipping.

I would also add that with regret I have had to increase the US price
for the book, given the continuing weakness of the dollar.

All the best

Mark

Comrades!

The main shipment of Mythic Russia books -- both hard- and softback --
has cleared customs and is due to be delivered to me tomorrow or
Wednesday. Preordered books will go out in the next few days, as will
those copies ordered directly by shops (in the UK, for example,
Leisure Games and Spirit Games will both be stocking the game).
Esdevium now have their consignment, so those shops which buy from
them can also order it.

All I can do is thank everyone for their patience and hope that you
enjoy the book when it does reach you.

(And perhaps it is worth quoting another Russian proverb: "Patience
and hard work will get through anything eventually.")

All the best

Mark

Comrades!

Just a quick update. Given that the book was launched at the end of
July, people may well be wondering where the book is (there was a
small number of books available at the launch, but they were advance
copies physically carried over in a suitcase).

If you pre-ordered and are based in North America, then your book
should have been mailed out by now.

Otherwise, on the whole, the answer is that the books are somewhere
in transit. Being a small publisher, with a small print run, I have
had to ship the books as part of a consignment load, shared with
other shippers and not in a designated (and trackable) separate
container. Most of the books are being shipped from the Atlantic to
the UK, where they must then clear customs (and sadly this is
apparently taking rather longer since the imposition of extra
security checks in the past few weeks). As soon as they come through
the shipping system, I'll be mailing out all the remaining pre-
orders out, but alas at this stage I still have no idea when that
will be.

At the same time, shops which have pre-ordered will get their
copies, as well as Esdevium distributors, so any other shops dealing
with them can also order Mythic Russia.

Sorry about this delay, but that is part of life as a small
publisher. It certainly is frustrating me. However, be reassured
that they are on the way -- and for those of you who have pre-
ordered, I think you'll find it worth the wait.

All the best

Mark

Comrades!

As previously posted, MYTHIC RUSSIA will be being launched at the
splendid Continuum gaming convention in the UK at the end of this
month (www.continuum.uk.net) -- there will be a great Russian vibe
at this friendly and busy con, so if anyone is interested, they are
strongly encouraged to sign up (there are only a few days left to
register).

The MYTHIC RUSSIA LAUNCH PARTY will take place on Friday evening --
there will be the CRITICAL HIT contest draw, prizes, a soupcon of
vodka, music and a Russian magician!

Then there will be several MYTHIC RUSSIA game sessions throughout
the con:

IN THE DARK FOREST

By Newt Newport

You are travelling through the dark forest and you come across a
peasant village where all the children have gone missing? Who is
responsible and where are the children?

A very simple 1-2 hour demo game for up to six players, characters
provided. A chance to try the new Mythic Russia game. Just jump in
and play!

CLAWS OF THE WOLF

By Newt Newport

Godspeed, you Knights of the Teutonic Order in your crusade against
the Lithuanian pagans. May the Blessed Virgin Mary protect you in
your journey to Castle Insterburg, on the very frontier of our
lands, where the cultivated fields of God-fearing folk give way to
the dark forests of the devil himself!

A 4-hour game for up to 6 players from the perspective of the
Teutonic Knights.

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY

by Neil Smith

All is not well in the Siberian fur-trading town of Solikamsk.
Prince Porfiri has seen the gold that flows with the furs: why have
his loyal vassals stopped paying taxes?  Nothing has been heard of
the Orthodox monastery set up there recently: have they been
corrupted by pagan spirits?  The Sibryaks have noticed a disturbance
in the Quiet Lands: are these newcomers to blame? How are these
questions connected, and who has the right of it?  (Oh, and it's got
a dancing bear...)

Although not technically a MYTHIC RUSSIA event, Saturday's keynote
freeform (LARP) game, RISING TSAR, also builds on this theme, being
set in Moscow as a collection of princes, commoners, heroes and
opportunists gather to see in the new year 1382 and plan their
response to the approaching Mongol invasion…

Best wishes,

Mark

Comrades!

PREVIEWS

Just a quick note that the Firebird website has been updated, with a
peek at the cover. In addition, those who downloaded the sample draft
chapter, on the Lithuanians, may want to take another look, as the
final version of the chapter has taken its place, showing the actual
layout of the book, revised text, extra art and other improvements.
And those of you who didn't take a look the first time around, well
you can see it with fresh eyes!

http://www.firebird-productions.com/

PREORDERS

Preorders continue to come in, which is welcome for me, and also a
sign that you are canny and discriminating buyers who appreciate the
opportunity to save money! There is still lots of time, but why not
beat the rush and pre-order now? In particular, the limited edition
hardback is proving very popular, outselling the softback among
individual buyers, so if you want to be sure of getting one, please do
make sure you pre-order.

http://www.firebird-productions.com/ordering.htm

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"An hour is precious, not because it is long, but because it is short."

All the best

Mark

Comrades!

I am delighted to announce that Mythic Russia is close to going to
the printers and -- all being well -- will be launched at the
excellent Continuum gaming convention in Leicester, 29-31 July
(www.continuum.uk.net).

It has turned out to be a truly epic book, fully 320 pages long, and
will be published both as a standard softback and a limited-edition
hardback. It is fully standalone, with no need for the HeroQuest
rules on which it is based, packed with background information,
keywords and cults (not just for the Russians but also Lithuanians,
Siberian tribesfolk, Mongols, Byzantine Greeks, Western Europeans,
Teutonic Knights and Cossacks), optional variant rules and much
more! (The table of contents is @ http://www.firebird-
productions.com/table_of_contents.htm)

So, the Firebird is now taking pre-orders. All orders placed before
the game's launch at the end of July will get a 10% discount and
also be protected against any possible price rise.

These discounted rates are:

US sales:

$36 + $5 S&H (softback)

$54 + $7 S&H (hardback)

UK sales:

£26.99 + £4 P&P (softback)

£35.99 + £6 P&P (hardback)

Euro-zone sales:

€41 + €8 P&P (softback)

€56 + €12 P&P (hardback)

(Ask about pre-order rates elsewhere in the world, through webform @
http://www.firebird-productions.com/contact.htm)

There is an additional bonus for anyone attending Continuum, who can
pre-order and collect their copies there, with no P&P costs. In
addition, they will automatically be enrolled in the CRITICAL HIT
contest. In the HeroQuest/Mythic Russia game system, a roll of 1 on
a 20-sided die is a critical success, so 1 in 20 of all orders by
Continuum attendees (at least one, in any case) will be randomly
selected for a full refund!

How to Order
After the game is released, you will be able to buy Mythic Russia
from a variety of internet and bricks-and-mortal shops.

At present, to pre-order, you

1. Use PayPal (www.PayPal.com) with either an existing PayPal
account or a credit/debit card: send the appropriate sum to the
account mark AT galeotti.fsbusiness.co.uk (replace AT with @) --
please make sure you include your address.

2. Send a personal cheque in UK£ or US$ -- contact me via the
webform @ http://www.firebird-productions.com/contact.htm for the
appropriate address to use.

All the best,

Mark

Comrades!

A very quick update.

THE GAME

Continues well, and thanks to those of you posting kind words about
the preview chapter (see http://www.firebird-productions.com/news%20&%
20previews.htm).

I'm delighted to be able to say that as well as a freeform 'mix and
match' guide to adventures, Neil Smith's excellent scenario 'Wood,
Blood and Snow' will be in the book so that narrators can pick it up
and play straight away.

WEBSITE

A few very minor changes to the website, largely adding a few pieces
of art and updating the Artists page:

http://www.firebird-productions.com/artists.htm

PRINCE VLADIMIR: THE MOVIE

I have mentioned this Russian animated film before, but it seems that
its release is imminent. The website has may images from the film, and
trailers, which give a lovely impression of the Russian countryside
and cities. It is set several hundred years before Mythic Russia's
default area, but in many ways the scenes are still very similar.

http://www.knyazvladimir.ru/en/index.htm

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"Beware of a quiet dog and still water."

All the best

Mark

Comrades!

The Firebird hopes you enjoyed the Russian Orthodox Christmas
yesterday! I'd add this cautionary note from RFE/RL
(http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/01/FE2D5BF1-782A-4D06-9881-
C5977A7B3D04.html)

"For most Russians, though, the real cause for celebration is not
Christmas itself but the fact that official recognition of the
Orthodox Christmas extends the holiday break to 10 days – which, for
many, means 10 days of heavy drinking. Last year, Moscow's ambulance
service received 7500 calls every day during the January break, most
of them alcohol related."

On an entirely separate note (honest!), the Milton Keynes RPG Club
(http://www.mk-rpg.org.uk) is holding its first games day on 25
Febuary 2006. Mythic Russia playester Neil Smith will be running his
excellent 'Blood, Wood & Snow' game there, as previously run at
Tentacles in Germany (see http://www.firebird-
productions.com/playtest_notes.htm), so if you are in range and fancy
a great game, do go along to CONcrete Cow '06.

More details of the event and updates @ http://wiki.mk-
rpg.org.uk/index.php/CONcreteCow06

All the best

Mark

Comrades!

A Christmas gift from the Firebird...

SAMPLE CHAPTER

At long last, a sample draft chapter from Mythic Russia is now up on
the Firebird Productions site: the Lithuanians. More news to follow.

http://www.firebird-productions.com

NOVGOROD AND BALTIMORE

Incidentally, if any of you live in or near Baltimore, do bear in
mind that for a limited period in January and February, the Walters
Art Museum there is hosting an exclusive and quite sumptuous
exhibition, 'The Sacred Arts and City Life: the Glory of Medieval
Novgorod'

http://www.thewalters.org/html/exhibit_current_detail_simp.asp?ID=134

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"A lone man in a field is not a warrior"

Seasonal best wishes,

Mark

Comrades!

Moving from the UK to the USA proved rather more... interesting... than
anticipated, hence a long hiatus in work on Mythic Russia and updates.
However, this is just a quick note to say that matters are now back in
hand and there will shortly be a proper update and also the long-
promised sample chapter.

In the mean time, those of you in New York can feast your eyes on some
sumptuous Russian art at the Guggenheim's 'Russia!' exhibition, and
here is yet another improving Russian proverb:

"Stormy weather cannot last for ever; the red sun will come out, too."

All the best,

Mark

Comrades!

I'd also like to draw your attention to CONTINUUM 2006, the next
iteration of a great series of roleplaying, freeform and board game
cons in the UK. The next one will be held at Leicester University's
Beaumont Hall, 28-31 July 2006.

http://www.continuum.uk.net/

The organisers are beginning to firm up their programme and promise
updates soon, but it is well worth putting this is your diary now
and signing up to their news list

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/continuum2006/

Details to follow, but expect a good dose of Mythic Russia there, as
well as all kinds of other games and settings, from classic
Glorantha and Call of Cthulhu to awe-inspiring miniatures games and
displays.

Mark

Comrades!

The Firebird spreads its wings and heads west for the winter. As
mentioned in my last update, I'm taking up a new post in the States,
which has meant a summer of dislocations, disruptions and
distractions, which has sadly thrown my schedule completely off.

This is a Bad Thing in that it has delayed and continues to delay
completing Mythic Russia. However, there are also Good Things about
it: not only is the game getting more playtest time, but new ideas
have occurred which have been incorporated into the text and, as
noted below, a new artist has been added to the team. I won't guess
at a release date now, as we'll have to see how smoothly the
physical move takes place. It will be done this year, though!

Likewise, no website update this time, but expect to see a major
overhaul once I'm settled.

NEW ARTIST

One of the upsides of the delay in completion has been finding new
artists. I'm delighted to say that the book will also be illustrated
by Nikolai Fomin, a Russian artist whose background is as a game-
biologist in the Sosnovskoe State Forestry-Hunting Area on the
Karelian Isthmus, and whose work is especially evocative of the ways
and symbolism of the Siberian tribes and the fauna of the Russian
north and east:

http://www.inrussia.org/harmony/index_english.htm

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"If you're afraid of wolves, don't go into the forest."

And speaking of which, I happened to come across a splendid
selection of Russian proverbs online:

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Russian_proverbs

All the best

Mark

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
Mythic_Russia group:

Which one of these chapters of Mythic Russia would you like
to see as an advance preview?

   o The Teutonic Ordenstaat: militant Catholic crusaders from the Wes
   o Lithuania: the last Pagan kingdom
   o Russian Saints: magical keywords for the Orthodox Russian Faith
   o Lands of the Rus': an overview of the Russias


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mythic_Russia/surveys?id=1885157

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Comrades!

Ironically, the website update (which takes time) was done days ago,
but sending out this little email (which takes very little) has had
to wait until two days into July. Ah well...

PROGRESS

The manuscript continues to proceed well. Approximately a third is
laid out and essentially complete, a third is written but needs
editing and layout, and a third is incomplete. In a couple of weeks'
time, a full sample chapter will be placed on the site, of which
more below.

I had hoped to be able to announce a provisional release date by
now, but I have taken up an invitation to a visiting professorship
at Rutgers University and my wife and I are thus is the midst of all
the joys of transatlantic relocation to New Jersey. It is very
difficult to know how this will impinge on the time I have
available, but it certainly will. Trying to be realistic, I don't
see myself being likely to have the book at the printers before I
go, so instead I shall probably aim to have the book essentially
ready so that once settled, I can then source a US printer.

This would mean the book would be at the printers in September for,
all being well, an October release. It's later in the year than I
hoped or planned, but such is life when one has also to earn a
living! However, treat all this is highly provisional and I'll keep
everyone updated.

WEBSITE UPDATE

There's been a general update, with new art added to some pages, so
it's worth having a little click about, as well as the usual
previews, including a Sibiryak spirit and also two separate cultural
perspectives on the magical Otherworlds.

http://www.firebird-productions.com

SAMPLE CHAPTER

I would be interested to hear what sample chapter you would like to
see, so I will run a poll over the next couple of weeks; do vote!

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"Who is silent, is guilty."

All the best

Mark

Comrades!

Slightly earlier in the month than usual, but here is the latest
news on Mythic Russia.

PROGRESS

The manuscript is proceeding well, with some chapters now being put
into a mocked-up form to finalise layout and similar practical
questions. Next month will probably see some random sample pages
being made available on the website. Speaking of which...

WEBSITE UPDATE

The usual additions to the site, including this time a Mongol
magical keyword: Tsaghan Ebugen, the practical joker with mastery of
life and death...

http://www.firebird-productions.com

ART

Kathleen Jennings joins the art team, with two more artists due to
be added to the gallery shortly. Next month will also see more art
previews added to the site.

http://www.firebird-productions.com/artists.htm

PLAYTESTING

Neil Smith's 'Wood, Blood and Snow' scenario ran at this year's
Tentacles convention to great success, and other games will be under
way shortly. We hope soon to have a Playtesters' Notes page on the
website with their impressions and experiences.

RUSSIAN NIGHT

Fancy watching combat displays and torch dances in a reconstruction
of a 12th century Russian castle? This month's unsoliciated plug is
for Russian Night, whose website I came across by chance, but which
I'll probably look up next time in in Moscow:

http://www.russiannight.net/index.html

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"God comes with leaden feet, but strikes with iron hands."

All the best

Mark

Comrades!

Lots more to report on Mythic Russia

WEBSITE UPDATE

The website now has another preview: this time a worked-through example
of character creation, the Novgorodian militia captain Oleg Birch-Tall,
his feckless friend Sasha, his tuneful horse and his yearnings to see
Tsar-Grad, that wonderful and distant city some call Constantinople...

http://www.firebird-productions.com

DESIGNER'S BLOG

Thanks to Newt Newport, I now also have a blog, on which I can give
rather more discursive musings and updates on progress as well as ask
questions of the potential players. There's nothing much there yet, but
do visit from time to time:

http://www.newtus.co.uk/arkat/plog/index.php?blogId=3

PLAYTESTING

Speaking of playtesting, Newt will be running a couple of playtest
games and posting his own thoughts on the process on his own Mythic
Russia blog:

http://www.newtus.co.uk/arkat/plog/index.php?blogId=2

Also, Neil Smith will be running a playtest game at the thoroughly
excellent Tentacles convention, held next month in a splendid German
castle:

http://www.tentacles-convention.de/

MOLNIYA MINIATURES

Can I give unsolicited plaudits to Molniya Miniatures, a small figure
manufacturers I can across by chance? They already produce some
wonderful 25-28mm Mongols of the Golden Horde, with Russians to follow
later this year, which I am looking forward to seeing:

http://members.aol.com/molniyafigs/

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"What soberness conceals, drunkenness reveals."

All the best

Mark

Just after sending out the last update, the Firebird webpage went
down as a result of problems while by host migrated it onto a new
server. As a temporary measure, the old, saved version is now up --
but this obviously lacks the most recent additions. I have been
assured that the problem will be fixed and the most recent version
of the site will be in place within 24 hours, and on the whole I
have found them very efficient, so I am sure that it will be so. But
I'm still leaving out some milk, bread and vodka to the domovoy
(house spirit) to bring me luck.

All the best

Mark

The devil 'grans' your foot? Grandmothers are influential in the
Russian family but they have hardly become verbs. This is, of
course, a typo for 'grabs'...

Mark

Comrades!

March? Where was the February update? Alas, a disastrous computer
crash left me with no machine for almost two weeks and while all
files were safely backed up, what was lost was time, not least in
catching up, and the update had to wait.

WEBSITE UPDATES

Still, as a chunky big preview the website now has an overview of
Moscow, a city thriving for the moment thanks to its princes' canny
and cynical policies, where ambition and danger go hand in hand.

http://www.firebird-productions.com

Next month, as well as another text preview, some more art!

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"You go up the hill and the devil grans your foot."

All the best,

Mark

Comrades!

There will be those pettifogging pedants who will point out that
this is being posted on 1 February, but if the Russians can
celebrate Christmas on 7 January, I see no reason to limit myself to
such mundane chronological exactitudes.

WEBSITE UPDATES

I'm delighted to have been able to add a thumbnail shot of the
wonderful colour cover by Jeremy Mohler to the site. In addition,
the minor updates include a short extract on the Kolduny, the hedge
wizards, witches and warlocks of Russian folklore.

http://www.firebird-productions.com

BAEG TOBAR

Speaking of Jeremy's art, I would also like to note that he's the
artistic director of the Baeg Tobar Project, "a shared-world
creative community whose artists and authors join together to tell
you the stories of the people of Baeg Tobar. Adventure, romance,
comedy, tragedy; prose, comics, original artwork - you'll find it
all here." It really is well worth a visit.

http://www.baegtobar.com

ROLEMANCER

And while on a tangeant, I trust everyone on this list knows that
roleplaying games are also alive and well in Russia -- as the
(Russian-language) Rolemancer site attests!

http://www.rolemancer.ru/

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"Following the hare's tracks may lead you to the bear's den."

All the best (and expect a more substantial update soon)

Mark

Comrades!

A second December update, just to round off the year.

WEBSITE UPDATES

The usual preview, this time a Russian Christian magical keyword: St
Ioann the Long-Suffering: at this time of festivity and merriment,
it seemed appropriate to offer up the kind of priggish saint whose
followers even have the ability Disapproving Glower!

There has also been the usual round of minor updates and tweaks
throughout the site.

http://www.firebird-productions.com

DEVELOPMENT INTERVIEW

Back in the summer 'Newt' Newport of the Ring of HeroQuest Narrators
interviewed me about various issues concerning 'Mythic Russia.' The
RHQN website which hosted this interview is closing, so it is now on
the Firebird site.

http://www.firebird-productions.com/interview.htm

ONE POLL CLOSES...

Thanks to those of you who voted in the previous poll. The results
were:

POLL QUESTION: How interested would you be in seeing a harback
edition of Mythic Russia, even though -- given that this is a
small company with a similarly modest production run -- it would
increase the price quite substantially?

CHOICES AND RESULTS
- I'd go for the cheaper softback option regardless., 17 votes,
34.00%
- I might go for the hadback, but I'd wait to see how much it cost
and what I get for it., 22 votes, 44.00%
- I love hardbacks, and don't mind paying more for them., 11 votes,
22.00%

...AND ANOTHER OPENS

The presence of introductory scenarios in new games appears often to
be an article of faith, but I was curious as to how important people
really felt they were. Hence a new poll:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mythic_Russia/surveys?id=1559600

(SECOND) RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"The fool will cook a feast; the wise man will eat it for him."

All the best for the holiday season and 2005!

Mark

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
Mythic_Russia group:

Including full adventures in the
Mythic Russia book will increase the
size (and hence price) and possibly
slow release. So...

   o Nonetheless, it is vital if the book is to be complete
   o So long as an introductory scenario is available on the website, this would
suffice
   o I have nothing against them, but scenarios are not a great priority:
background, keywords, etc are what really interest me
   o Scenarios? Useless!


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mythic_Russia/surveys?id=1559600

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Comrades!

WEBSITE UPDATES

Two additional magical keywords have been added, to give people a
sense of pagan deities' write-ups. For contrast, one is a brutal
Russian war-god, Rugyevit of the Eight Swords, while the other is a
spoilt and wilful Lithuanian goddess, Ausrine. There has also been a
little general updating of various pages, including the Artists'
page - and a thumbnail picture added to the front page of the hero
Ilya Muromets (by Alex Sheikman) as a preview of some of the
interior art.

http://www.firebird-productions.com

PROGRESS

Bad news: the production date has been pushed back into 2005. When
to? Before summer, but whether early sping or later, I can't yet
say, and won't until I can be more sure.

The good news? The more I write, the more certain I am that I want
this book to be self-contained. While it is possible that there may
be supplements or expansions (albeit probably as PDFs or simply free
extras on the wsbite), I have no plans to use this just to launch a
series of splatbooks and revisions. To this end, I am looking to fit
more information into the core book. In part, this will mean that
the book will be larger, but in part that I'm revising the planned
layout to make it more condensed, while still attractive and
readable. The end result will, I think, be a much better book,
certainly more value for money, but the inevitable result is that
there is more to be written and playtested.

Ultimately, though, I want this book to be as good as it can be.
We've all seen books rushed out to hit deadlines that really weren't
yet ready and needed longer properly to be finished. Well, I don't
want 'Mythic Russia' to be one of those...

POLL

Just a quick reminder that people only have ten days left to vote in
this poll; I would appreciate as wide a range of votes as possible,
on whether you'd genuiely want (and buy!) a hardback or would rather
a softback.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mythic_Russia/surveys?id=1506044

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"If you call yourself a mushroom, get into the basket."

All the best

Mark

Comrades!

WEBSITE UPDATES

Two substantive additions this time: a preview introduction to the
various Otherworlds beyond mortal ken and also a page on the various
artists currently working on the project.

http://www.firebird-productions.com

POLL

I'm very tempted to print at least some of the books as hardbacks,
just for the personal satisfaction and gloriously tactile pleasure
of it. But, for short print runs, it can be expensive. I could just
set the idea wistfully aside, print them all hardback (which I think
really would make it a loss-making vanity product) or print perhaps
10% hardback and the rest softback. What I would appreciate is some
sense of the market, and so there is a poll open on the yahoogroup
page. Please, be as honest as you can: if you don't think you'd buy
a hardback, do say.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mythic_Russia/surveys?id=1506044

RUSSIAN WEIRDNESS

I'm indebted to Nick Brooke for this one: STALIN VS. HITLER - THE
COMIC. In superhero style. Yes, I kid you not, so follow the link
below for such priceless exchanges as

Hitler: "The Power of the whole German Race is in these hands! This
power will wipe you off the face of the Earth! Muahahahahaha!!!"

Stalin: "My marshal's baton is the personification of unbending will
power for victory of the multinational Soviet people!"

http://www.comics.aha.ru/rus/stalin/1.html

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"The beauty of a house lies not in its walls, but its pies."

All the best

Mark

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
Mythic_Russia group:

How interested would you be in seeing
a harback edition of Mythic Russia,
even though -- given that this is a
small company with a similarly modest
production run -- it would increase
the price quite substantially?

   o I'd go for the cheaper softback option regardless.
   o I might go for the hadback, but I'd wait to see how much it cost and what I
get for it.
   o I love hardbacks, and don't mind paying more for them.


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mythic_Russia/surveys?id=1506044

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Comrades!

As the weather in the UK begins to become rather more wintery, and
the pool opposite fills with geese honking and preening as they stop
over on their way to warmer southern climes, a Russian vibe is
certainly building up, here...

WEBSITE UPDATES

The usual round of updates. A new preview section has been added
(the Lithuanian homeland keyword), as well as other minor tweaks.

http://www.firebird-productions.com

ART

The talented Jeremy Mohler has been commissioned to produce the
cover art for the book -- you can see more of his art by following
the link below.

http://www.jeremymohler.com/

I should mention that the interior art is looking good, too, with
Jeremy, Peter Town and Simon Bray (of whom more below) also enlisted
to the cause.

MAPS OF RUSSIA AND MORE

To support the release of Mythic Russia next year, sibling company
The Unspoken Word will be releasing a set of glossy, colour A5 maps,
in the same format as their popular range of Gloranthan
representations.

The maps, by Simon Bray, will include the lands of the Rus', a map
of the otherworld (showing, for example, where the lands of
Christendom meet the various pagan otherworlds, and such major sites
as the god-mountain of the Lithuanians and Baba Yaga's woods) and
maps of one or two Russian cities. More news on this in due course.

http://www.celtic-webs.com/theunspokenword/maps/maps.html

RUSSIAN PROVERB OF THE MONTH

"It never troubles the wolf, how many the sheep may be."

All the best

Mark

Comrades!

Another month, another Mythic Russia update.

INTERVIEW WITH THE RHQN

This was covered in a previous note, but just as a reminder that not
only is the Ring of HeroQuest Narrators (www.rhqn.com) a fine
organisation devoted to spreading awareness of HeroQuest, but that
my interview with 'Newt' Newport on Mythic Russia is available on
their website:

http://www.rhqn.com/display_article.php?art_id=38

WEBSITE UPDATE AND THE FIRST PREVIEW

There has been a general, low-key update of the website, with a few
new links added but above all the first of the promised previews: St
George of the Teutons, one of the more ferocious and intolerant
aspects of St George and, unsurprisingly, beloved of the ferocious
and intolerant Teutonic Knights.

http://www.firebird-productions.com/news%20&%20previews.htm

PROGRESS

I had hoped to have more of an update, but it was not to be. In
part, this was a result of the disruptions day-job wise caused by
the horrific terrorist incident in Russia. However, it is also
because I have actually been working on the game! Playtesters and
readers (sorry: at present I have no more need for either, but this
may change and if so I'll put out an announcement) will probably
start recieving materials around the end of the month.

HOUSE RULES

The game will be entirely compatible with 'straight' HeroQuest, but
there will also be a number of optional rules reflecting both the
needs and opportunities of the setting and also tweaks which I use
or which others find useful. If you have a particular house rule, I
would be interested to hear of it, so do drop me a line through the
contact page:

http://www.firebird-productions.com/contact.htm

Please note, that these are relatively minor tweaks, fixes and the
like -- I am not looking for complete rewrites or major changes to
what is, in my opinion, a very powerful and flexible game engine as
is.

All the best

Mark

The Ring of HeroQuest Narrators are a fine collection of gamers,
devoted to popularising HeroQuest through running games at cons,
shops, and the drop of a hat. They have also kindly and
enthusiastically shown their support for the Mythic Russia project
and their website @ http://www.rhqn.com/ now includes an interview
with me about progress.

All the best

Mark

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
Mythic_Russia group:

What kind of support material for
Mythic Russia would you like to see
available on the net? You can vote for
as many as you want, but please don't
vote for everything or it becomes
rather meaningless!

   o In-depth background material for narrators
   o Player hand-outs and overviews
   o Additional keywords, cults, occupations, etc
   o Full scenarios
   o Scenario outlines
   o Locations
   o Game aids (character sheets, key tables, etc)
   o Narrator advice


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mythic_Russia/surveys?id=1338175

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Comrades!

Welcome to the first update through the Mythic Russia newslist --
and thanks for the interest!

WEBSITE UPDATE

The Firebird website -- http://www.firebird-productions.com -- has
been updated, with more text and links, the new Firebird logo
(thanks to Simon Bray) and, as a taster, a small version of one of
the great new pictures drawn by Peter Town. Given that I am
distinctly new to this whole web-creation palaver, any comments are
very welcome (and thanks to Tim Grey for such advice).

The next update, probably in September, should include a sample
homeland and perhaps an example of a religious order. The academic
in me requires that I look seriously at the book
recommendations, too (http://www.firebird-productions.com/books.htm).

PROGRESS

As some of you may know, my professional life may be changing
shortly, with the possibility that I'll be taking on a new role or
even changing employer. This may well have an impact on progress
with the book, but at present it is still possible that Mythic
Russia may appear by the end of this year, although early 2005 is
more likely.

CONTINUUM 2004

Thanks to everyone who attended my Mythic Russia seminar at this
fine gaming con, and for all the enthusiasm, support and good ideas
that were generated. For those of you who did not, the flier/promo
booklet which went to everyone attending is up as a PDF in the Files
section of this site.

SUPPORT MATERIAL

I want to ensure that when Mythic Russia is released, there is at
least some support material available on the net to supplement what
will be in the book, ranging from background to scenarios. In due
course, I will be soliciting further assistance with this, but for
the moment I would be interested in canvassing opinions as to what
kind of appeal different kind of material and formats would have. Do
vote, and feel free also to email me with any further comments you
make have -- you can use the form @ http://www.firebird-
productions.com/contact.htm

MAPS

Speaking of support, those of you who also know me as half of the
Unspoken Word team may also know about the very fine A3 colour maps
of Glorantha we produce -- http://www.celtic-
webs.com/theunspokenword/maps/maps.html -- so I should add that I
have been talking to my UW co-conspirator Simon Bray about the
possibility that UW will also produce maps to support Mythic Russia.
These could range from regional ones (alas, the Mythic Russia book
will be black & white, so it would be great to have colour
counterparts of the maps in the book available) to maps of some of
the main cities. More on this is due course.

SPREADING THE WORD

Finally, this is very much a small-press venture, with an
advertising budget of...well, nothing. Thus, I would be very
grateful if, were any of you to come across some opportunity to
spread the word, whether posting to a web forum or mentioning it to
a friend, you would either take it or let me know about it. Many
thanks.

All the best

Mark