You may have noticed some small changes in the setting material and in the latest version of the rulebook. Here’s an explanation as to what has happened.
From Nobility to Tiarnaí and High Families
We have made a change to how we describe people of high social standing and influence in the Five Realms.The following changes are not intended to function as a retcon or to change anything about the setting of the game, rather they are intended to clarify the language we use to describe it, so that we can better present and more easily discuss Tirneach. You can read about how things stand now on the page about Tiarnaí and High Families.
Up to now the broad labels of “noble” or “nobility” have been used to describe several quite separate concepts in the setting. What all of these things have in common is that they grant a character eligibility to join the gallóglaigh based on who their parents are. To clarify these categories, the criteria for entry to the gallóglaigh that previously read:
- The children of Five Realms nobility are always allowed to join.
Has been changed to say:
- Members of the High Families, the Leasiar species, and the children of the Tiarnaí are allowed to join by birthright.
All of these categories were previously eligible to become gallóglaigh, they are just now being listed using more specific language.
The term Tiarnaí (teer-nee) will now be used to refer collectively to the Riders, Iarlas, and Réig of Tirneach.
The term High Families will now be used to refer collectively to:
- The Ruby Families of Siabhal
- The Chieftains of Uasa
- The Courtly Clanns of Baol
- The Drakeblooded Houses
The terms “noble” and “nobility” will no longer be used to describe a category of person. Setting documents have been updated to reflect this change. In the unlikely event that this change in terminology creates an outright contradiction in existing setting material that we haven’t spotted, please alert the Event Team.
Rules Clarifications
We have carried out a review of the rules and have made some clarifications throughout the rulebook. These clarifications do not change anything major, they are intended to ensure that the rules are read as intended by us.
You can consult the version history of the updated Players’ Handbook, to see what parts of the rules have changed. The rules pages on this website have all been updated, and the Player Database will be updated over the coming days.
For clarity, the following sections of the rulebook have had changed. These are highlighted in red in the pdf version of the Players Handbook:
- Death and Dying
- Searching & IC Theft
- Generating Effects
- Weapon Blows
- Spells
- Default Effects and Effects requiring Feats
- Effect List
- Execute
- Fumble
- Notice Bleeding
- Repair
- Other Items
- Poisons and Potions
- Species Feats
- Creidhe: Golden Touch
- The Way of Leather and Steel
- Heavy Armour
- The Way of the Sorcerous Schools
- Be The Change You Want To See
- Crafting Recipes
If you have any questions about any of the changes please get in touch with us via email.