Dray! Gun! Fist! Dray! Gun! Fist! Dray! Gun! Fist!

[MacBin]

Who's not excited about this? Come here so I can beat you.

[Michael Heacock]

Sounds interesting. But need more info.

[MacBin]

This is from the Wizards site:

BEGIN/

Welcome to Dragon Fist!

Dragon Fist™ is a game inspired by Hong Kong martial arts movies, especially those of the wuxia genre. This is a game of high-flying kung fu fighters, cackling eunuch sorcerers, weird hopping vampires, and awful demons who are dead only when they blow up. Realistic? Hell no! This is pure cinema. If you want a precise simulation of martial arts, look elsewhere. If you want to have a blast playing an action hero, Dragon Fist is for you.

What the Hell is Wuxia?

Wuxia [wu-jha] is the Hong Kong name for martial arts films that combine kung fu with magic and other fantastic elements. It translates literally as "flying people" for the way that characters routinely defy gravity with mind-boggling leaps and magical flights. The director and producer Tsui Hark [choy-hok] is the man most associated with the popularity of this genre, and he is responsible for many of its classics: A Chinese Ghost Story, Swordsman II, Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain, and New Dragon Inn. Other good wuxia films include: The Bride with White Hair, The East is Red, Deadful Melody, The New Legend of Shaolin, and the excellent Burning Paradise. These films create a fantastical reality populated by heroic swordfighters, seductive ghosts, foul demons, and gender-bending villains. Any of them offer one wild ride and are ripe with roleplaying possibilities.

If you've never seen a wuxia film, don't despair. You've probably played one of the current crop of arcade fighting games; if so, you've got the right idea. Check out some of the movies mentioned above, if you can find Hong Kong films in your local video store. Otherwise, try John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China. This was inspired by Tsui Hark's film Zu and does a credible and fun job of translating HK action to the American screen.

The Story

Dragon Fist takes place in Tianguo [tyan-gwo], a fictional land based on wuxia films and on Chinese folklore and legend. Jianmin [jeen-min], the emperor of Tianguo, became obsessed with immortality and went on a mad quest to ensure that he lived forever. Despite all his schemes, he failed to find the secret of immortality. Then he was approached by a peasant who offered him a wilted lotus flower and a promise. The emperor ate this flower and instantly became young. Overjoyed, he asked the peasant what he wanted in return. "Souls," said the peasant, "and you had best provide them if you want to retain your youth."

In the twenty years since, the empire has become an evil land, and its emperor, twisted by the tainted lotus, a brutal tyrant. Opposing him are nine secret societies, collectively known as the World of Martial Arts. These societies have recently banded together in a pact to overthrow Jianmin and put a new emperor on the throne. In Dragon Fist, you play a member of one of these outlawed societies, fighting for your land and the honor of the World of Martial Arts.

Your kung fu may be strong, but is it strong enough to change the world?

This is a time for heroes and a time for martyrs. Which will you be?

Dragon Fist, a new paper-based roleplaying game available only online, includes:
• Complete rules, including character creation, magic, combat, and campaigning.
• An innovative stunt system that brings cinematic action to AD&D.
• Details on the world of Tianguo, including history and religion.
• A full color map of the Heavenly Kingdom.
• Hong Kong movie monsters such as hopping vampires and seductive ghosts.
• Conversion notes for 2nd edition AD&D.

/END

Naturally GR will enhance, and convert to d20.

[MacBin]

Also I'd like to add that this was before Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and that yes, I did do some art for the "book".

What I'd be interested to know is, can I drop the Heavenly Kingdom into my home campaign? Is it completely compatible with 3rd ed D&D?

Because boy...do I ever want to!

[Michael Heacock]

Yes. I know what Wuxia is.

I'm more curious about the original game itself, game mechanics.

I take it this game is no longer available for download. So no checking it out.

[Michael Heacock]

Nevermind. It is available for download.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DF_Welcome.asp

I shall have to take a look at this.

[Nikchick]

Nevermind. It is available for download.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DF_Welcome.asp

I shall have to take a look at this.

Get it while you can. Wizards will undoubtedly be taking that file down soon, now that the sale is complete.

Nicole

[Erifnogard]

Get it while you can. Wizards will undoubtedly be taking that file down soon, now that the sale is complete.

Nicole

I've had it for a loooonnng time now. Won't stop me from buying a new improved version from you guys tho. Plus I'll be able to put my printer cartridge killing copy in the ol' archive.

[Dr. Nuncheon]

Hooray!

J
been waiting for this

[timemrick]

Somewhere in the dim foggy past, I seem to recall Chris-sama expressing his hope that he could get the rights to produce DF as more than just a PDF. Good to hear that he finally gets to realize that goal! About time GR did something a bit closer to their namesake's flavor.

[Nikchick]

Isn't *that* the truth!

We're talking about giving Dragon Fist "the M&M Treatment" by putting it out as a color hardback with appropriate style art and graphic treatment. Still must crunch the numbers on that, but I'd certianly love to see Chris get the chance to see his full vision for the game through to completion!

Nicole

[MacBin]

Isn't *that* the truth!

We're talking about giving Dragon Fist "the M&M Treatment" by putting it out as a color hardback with appropriate style art and graphic treatment. Still must crunch the numbers on that, but I'd certianly love to see Chris get the chance to see his full vision for the game through to completion!

Nicole

At the very LEAST you need that full colour poster map.

And as always my pencil and paints are at your disposal.

[Chairman Aeon]

We're talking about giving Dragon Fist "the M&M Treatment" by putting it out as a color hardback with appropriate style art and graphic treatment.

I'm not sure you'd have to do that. Print it in one or two colours like D20 L5R stuff and have a say ten pages in full glossy payer either at the buginning or for premade archetypes.

Keeps the price down and still is stylish.

So long as it's hardcover and Toren doesn't do any art for it I'm in.

Iain.

PS: Just kidding Toren. I'd love to pose for the interior art for this book.

[Kindred]

Isn't *that* the truth!

We're talking about giving Dragon Fist "the M&M Treatment" by putting it out as a color hardback with appropriate style art and graphic treatment. Still must crunch the numbers on that, but I'd certianly love to see Chris get the chance to see his full vision for the game through to completion!

Nicole

I'd love to see this. I think the M&M treatment is the way to go. M&M appears to have just raised the bar set by SAS. It would be fantastic to see Dragon Fist look as good.

I'd also love to see some of the M&M rules brought in as well. i.e., damage save

eagerly awaiting this...

[Wuxia]

This is from the Wizards site:

What the Hell is Wuxia?

Wuxia [wu-jha] is the Hong Kong name for martial arts films that combine kung fu with magic and other fantastic elements. It translates literally as "flying people" for the way that characters routinely defy gravity with mind-boggling leaps and magical flights.

Uh, no. Wuxia (wu3xia2) is pronounced more like "ooshia" and designates the Chinese equivalent of our knight-errant (wu3 = military, martial, valiant; xia2 = chivalrous, fearless). It also designates martial arts movies set in a more-or-less historical more-or-less legendary ancient China.

I know Chris and I know he knows that. So who wrote the blurb?