tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71619331261487386602024-03-12T21:42:14.855-07:00The Campaign ExpanseSettings perilous and other gaming and genre sundry.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-59304364378529363572014-09-24T12:46:00.000-07:002014-09-24T12:55:13.676-07:00Orcs and Art<br />
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With the nod to inclusivity in the 5E Basic Rules, the art has come under additional examination to see if WotC could walk the walk now that they've talked the talk. So how does the art fare?</div>
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Numerous sites and blogs have done in-depth frequency and focus analysis and for the most part the numbers are good in terms of diversity and inclusivity. It's obvious with even a flip through of the 5E PHB, so much so some people stuck on a narrow mode of thinking actually comment on there being <i>too many</i> women or persons-of-color (POC)/minorities/non-whites in the art. Seriously.<br />
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This <a href="http://gomakemeasandwich.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/dd-5e-why-so-many-wimmenz/">post on the Go Make Me A Sandwich</a> blog documents one such exchange and does a good job of highlighting the positive and active depictions of women and POC in 5th edition art. I definitely agree with what the author has to say regarding the topic of inclusive art.<br />
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However, I did come across one statement that didn't sit right with me:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
CHECK IT OUT, A HALF-ORC PALADIN. This is something I never expected to
see! The treatment of race in the Forgotten Realms setting has always
been… problematic at best. Orcs and half-orcs have always been depicted
with traits that read as a very thinly veiled analogue for blackness. So
to see Paladins, who are the literal embodiment of good, being
represented by a righteous-as-fuck looking half-orc? That’s
revolutionary!</blockquote>
The image being commented on was of this half-orc paladin found in the 5E PHB:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-un5vDA4sVNM/VCIZg5YaB8I/AAAAAAAAAG0/gnC3j-dBBwQ/s1600/Half-orc-Paladin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-un5vDA4sVNM/VCIZg5YaB8I/AAAAAAAAAG0/gnC3j-dBBwQ/s1600/Half-orc-Paladin.jpg" height="400" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Half-orc paladin, D&D 5E Player's Handbook</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There are a number of hyperboles within the statement that could be interpreted as portraying D&D and the Realms as distinctly anti-inclusive (even downright unintentionally racist) throwbacks. While I will not say the game or setting are perfect in every way regarding this issue, I feel there is much more nuance and inclusivity to the game and setting than the statement gives them credit for. Things just aren't as bad as that one statement makes it out to be, though I understand it's exaggerated for the sake of expressing excitement for the recent art direction.<br />
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Half-orc paladin aren't revolutionary in D&D and the concept is not foreign in the Forgotten Realms. Whatever this concept may be, it's far from the first instance and not breaking any barriers that still exist.<br />
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One example of Forgotten Realms having already knocked down the barrier before 3E came to sweep away the restrictions of older editions was <a href="http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Shield_of_Innocence">Shield of Innocence</a> an orog* paladin of Torm from the <i>War in Tethyr</i> (1995) novel, the events of which are summarized for the game setting in the <i>Lands of Intrigue</i> (1997) boxed set. Shield of Innocence became the patron saint of the Loyal Order of the Innocents, suffice to say, to earn such an honor meant this orog paladin made the sacrifice needed to live up to his name.<br />
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*An orog is an orc/ogre offshoot in 2nd edition (if I recall correctly), later adapted into a type of Underdark-based 'uberorc' in 3E.<br />
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As it pertains to the art, let's set some limits at art pieces from the 3E era (or pre-4E) and from WotC and affiliates only. We'll keep things to D&D Core or FR only (as they share the same art trends and cross-pollinate). We'll exclude Eberron because it has a purposefully divergent take on orcs that is in part a reaction to this supposed problematic depiction of orcs in Core and FR. A quick Google search reveals the following:<br />
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- We have the half-orc paladin on the cover of Dragon #275, the September 2000 issue. This came on the premier of 3rd edition (released in the summer of the same year, during Gen Con, I assume) when the new edition opened up every class and race combination. So from the onset, the concept found purchase in the main periodical publication for the game for the issue immediately scheduled to follow the wide release of the 3rd edition game.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-co-RwW8xMDg/VCJBZaA-rXI/AAAAAAAAAHE/wcj8y-SePqU/s1600/Dragon_275%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-co-RwW8xMDg/VCJBZaA-rXI/AAAAAAAAAHE/wcj8y-SePqU/s1600/Dragon_275%2Bcover.jpg" height="400" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Dragon #275, September 2000</td></tr>
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- There was a half-orc paladin for the D&D miniatures line, released with the Underdark set in 2005.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_1NfD2noVbE/VCJFtjf2nZI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/r4OALPK9bcg/s1600/Hal-orc-Paladin-Mini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_1NfD2noVbE/VCJFtjf2nZI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/r4OALPK9bcg/s1600/Hal-orc-Paladin-Mini.jpg" height="355" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half-orc Paladin miniature, Underdark set</td></tr>
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- Bringing it back to the Forgotten Realms, in Player's Guide to Faerun, we have art showing line-ups of the different races and ethnicities. For the half-human line-up, shown below, we get a good look at a half-elf, a half-orc and a half-drow. Take a closer look at the half-orc with his sword and armor with the holy symbol of Tyr (scales on a hammer) emblazoned on his breastplate. This half-orc is very likely a paladin of Tyr (or arguably a cleric of Tyr with the War Domain, or maybe a Justiciar). Not that any order or subsect of Tyr's clergy have less stringent commandments, they're all paladin-like.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Nd-4jWoiHU/VCJHb6o23iI/AAAAAAAAAHc/f9OtjoXJVmw/s1600/Half-human.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Nd-4jWoiHU/VCJHb6o23iI/AAAAAAAAAHc/f9OtjoXJVmw/s1600/Half-human.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half-humans, Player's Guide to Faerun<br />
by Steve Prescott</td></tr>
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- Now paladins are most-righteous folk, but it doesn't mean other types of holy warriors are lesser in discipline and devotion.<br />
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Races of Destiny gave us a half-orc cleric on its cover.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nxUqZ8Vh7N0/VCJLtLfW2rI/AAAAAAAAAHo/qqKe9z1X4aY/s1600/HalfOrc-RoD-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nxUqZ8Vh7N0/VCJLtLfW2rI/AAAAAAAAAHo/qqKe9z1X4aY/s1600/HalfOrc-RoD-Cover.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Races of Destiny cover art<br />
by Adam Rex</td></tr>
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Complete Divine gave us the Pious Templar prestige class and the art and sample character provided us with Graaghya, a badass armored half-orc female. While she's still a worshiper of wily old Gruumsh, the Pious Templar is a less barbarian-esque take on one of his followers.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wi6aNZ1znzk/VCJMHJSbj2I/AAAAAAAAAHw/c99P82oNr3c/s1600/Pious%2BTemplar%2Bby%2BWayne%2BReynolds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wi6aNZ1znzk/VCJMHJSbj2I/AAAAAAAAAHw/c99P82oNr3c/s1600/Pious%2BTemplar%2Bby%2BWayne%2BReynolds.jpg" height="400" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pious Templar, Complete Divine<br />
by Wayne Reynolds</td></tr>
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- Then we have a few depictions of half-orcs in non-savage or less savage images. These characters may not all be good or even lawful, but they seem like honest, 'civilized' people going about their business. These pieces offer some respite from the raging, axe-wielding, berserker foaming at the mouth archetype we're so used to seeing with orc art.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4ZrWfc2ZK8/VCJZqBQ11ZI/AAAAAAAAAIA/UZ6x-yHBEtg/s1600/CW-classes-Kovacs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4ZrWfc2ZK8/VCJZqBQ11ZI/AAAAAAAAAIA/UZ6x-yHBEtg/s1600/CW-classes-Kovacs.jpg" height="400" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half-orc Samurai, Complete Warrior<br />
by Doug Kovacs<br />
(Now artists for much of the DCC RPG line) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHLodkBL36o/VCJZuMnSnSI/AAAAAAAAAII/C_LS9mdjbPM/s1600/Half-orc-Door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHLodkBL36o/VCJZuMnSnSI/AAAAAAAAAII/C_LS9mdjbPM/s1600/Half-orc-Door.jpg" height="400" width="327" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half-orc Bouncer, Races of Destiny<br />
by Jim Nelson</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7wQ2IrKvMU/VCJZ1CRQa4I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/t8yyaBIaOhE/s1600/Occult_slayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7wQ2IrKvMU/VCJZ1CRQa4I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/t8yyaBIaOhE/s1600/Occult_slayer.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Occult Slayer, Complete Warrior</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-au-Z6tKw0N8/VCJZ5gc0FlI/AAAAAAAAAIY/760bbUcqmtM/s1600/bloodhound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-au-Z6tKw0N8/VCJZ5gc0FlI/AAAAAAAAAIY/760bbUcqmtM/s1600/bloodhound.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloodhound, Complete Adventurer<br />
by Steve Belledin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: center;">In the early days of 3E, WotC offered an extensive series of character portrait sketches by many different artists, many of them TSR staples. Amongst them were these non-standard orcs by Sam Wood, one of the initial concept artists for 3E.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UcB3Furp1SA/VCMMZZfQOlI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/09x_yTf8yHw/s1600/half-orc-mage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UcB3Furp1SA/VCMMZZfQOlI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/09x_yTf8yHw/s1600/half-orc-mage.jpg" height="320" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Half-orc Wizard, DnD website<br />
by Sam Wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_xwFBGYVts/VCMMa-wkvVI/AAAAAAAAAJY/PFOhII9_dv0/s1600/half-orc-bard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_xwFBGYVts/VCMMa-wkvVI/AAAAAAAAAJY/PFOhII9_dv0/s1600/half-orc-bard.jpg" height="320" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Half-orc Bard, DnD Website<br />
by Sam Wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wdaigz75aZk/VCMMde66LwI/AAAAAAAAAJg/cotM94QsvUA/s1600/half-orc-dragonrider-sam-wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wdaigz75aZk/VCMMde66LwI/AAAAAAAAAJg/cotM94QsvUA/s1600/half-orc-dragonrider-sam-wood.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Half-orc Dragonrider, DnD website<br />
by Sam Wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lest we think all the non-standard orc depictions were found in the Core books, here are some more Forgotten Realms examples, beginning with the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book that started it all for 3E FR:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9XKMXYyztao/VCL9jfovGvI/AAAAAAAAAIw/-ZVjzRdE5EY/s1600/FRCG-Races-Lockwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9XKMXYyztao/VCL9jfovGvI/AAAAAAAAAIw/-ZVjzRdE5EY/s1600/FRCG-Races-Lockwood.jpg" height="295" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Racial Line-up, FRCS<br />
by Todd Lockwood<br />
(Note: Female half-orc warrior in sensible armor, more fighter than barbarian.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nJab_vkwAqQ/VCMMKMsRQMI/AAAAAAAAAJA/OmkhcQZ7bRA/s1600/TrademeedinNarfell-CarloArellano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nJab_vkwAqQ/VCMMKMsRQMI/AAAAAAAAAJA/OmkhcQZ7bRA/s1600/TrademeedinNarfell-CarloArellano.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trademeed in Narfell, FRCS<br />
by Carlo Arellano<br />
(Looks like a half-orc inspecting a weapon for purchase. <br />
A marauding orc would just raid the place for steel and goods.)</td></tr>
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Further continuing with other FR 3E/3.5E supplements:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q115XDzFWoQ/VCMMPOJQ6KI/AAAAAAAAAJI/D_fmn0vPKZo/s1600/ImperfectCompanions-RalphHorsley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q115XDzFWoQ/VCMMPOJQ6KI/AAAAAAAAAJI/D_fmn0vPKZo/s1600/ImperfectCompanions-RalphHorsley.jpg" height="395" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imperfect Companions, Champions of Valor<br />
by Ralph Horsley<br />
(A half-orc in armor with a mace, more cleric than barbarian.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8juHOFubkRU/VCMQ-pFMk0I/AAAAAAAAAJs/6GtewYruvD8/s1600/LifestyleRichAndFamous-WilliamOConnor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8juHOFubkRU/VCMQ-pFMk0I/AAAAAAAAAJs/6GtewYruvD8/s1600/LifestyleRichAndFamous-WilliamOConnor.jpg" height="640" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", Power of Faerun<br />
by William O'Connor<br />
(Bodyguard/Chaperon or former adventuring companion)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More civilized seeming orcs were also present in the video game side of the D&D and FR franchise.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkHCEx7igAw/VCJaAe-uqbI/AAAAAAAAAIg/zbo4gaD3FVg/s1600/Half-Orc-IWD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkHCEx7igAw/VCJaAe-uqbI/AAAAAAAAAIg/zbo4gaD3FVg/s1600/Half-Orc-IWD2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Half-orc portrait, Icewind Dale 2 CRPG<br />
(Plate armor, metal shield, and a serene pose and expression.)<br />
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<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we can see, the notion of righteous and/or civilized half-orcs has been an ongoing concept before 5th Edition was an inkling in Wizard's business plan (indeed before WotC brought out TSR). The recent illustration is another good addition to this trend.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4oBmpApG6M/VCMX4cqOEGI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/SS_QTBoAcaM/s1600/Half-orc_PHB5e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4oBmpApG6M/VCMX4cqOEGI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/SS_QTBoAcaM/s1600/Half-orc_PHB5e.jpg" height="400" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Half-orc paladin, D&D 5E Player's Handbook</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Let's just keep in mind it's a trend that was started at least 14 years ago, two D&D editions back (three editions (and almost 20 years) if you count the Shield of Innocence character).</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zr-e2Hk6C-A/VCMYZklDSII/AAAAAAAAAKE/RAwzNmvZ718/s1600/Half_Orc_Paladin-by_Mark_Zug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zr-e2Hk6C-A/VCMYZklDSII/AAAAAAAAAKE/RAwzNmvZ718/s1600/Half_Orc_Paladin-by_Mark_Zug.jpg" height="640" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half-orc Paladin<br />
by Mark Zug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Make that at least 15 years ago when it comes to illustrations.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JC5meS3CEG4/VCMYpcubO-I/AAAAAAAAAKM/4xlBrNVma7w/s1600/half-orc-paladin-lockwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JC5meS3CEG4/VCMYpcubO-I/AAAAAAAAAKM/4xlBrNVma7w/s1600/half-orc-paladin-lockwood.jpg" height="640" width="459" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half-orc Paladin<br />
by Todd Lockwood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Sure there are plenty of foaming-mad, barbarian-type 'primitive savage' orc and half-orc illustrations in D&D and FR, but to say that one 5E art piece is revolutionary while imply the setting has done a poor job at offering non-problematic depictions as a contrast is being unfair to the setting and the people who worked hard to inject inclusive and progressive art and lore into the game over the decades.</div>
Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-83989168308922470482014-06-10T18:10:00.000-07:002014-06-10T18:10:01.292-07:00Speak of the devil. Television that is. Television is the devil.This week while prowling the forlorn recesses of eBay for out-of-print games and books, as I often do, I thought to myself:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
*Self, I should track down a print copy of this.*</div>
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Coincidentally, not a day later, I saw the echoing announcements and reshares on G+ regarding something long awaited. This is now a Kickstarter and it already funded during its first hours:<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1801630747/primetime-adventures" target="_blank">Problem solved.</a></h3>
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Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-13381366918283108102014-05-19T21:59:00.000-07:002014-05-19T21:59:56.889-07:00Didn't see those Kobolds strike.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bfPOhjwC7MU/U3rglS6wblI/AAAAAAAAAr4/D_-8KQF4jq4/s1600/DnDHordeDragonQueen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bfPOhjwC7MU/U3rglS6wblI/AAAAAAAAAr4/D_-8KQF4jq4/s1600/DnDHordeDragonQueen.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a>By now everyone and their animal companion are lighting up the social media and blogging about the official announcement for the release date of D&D 5th Edition (5E, Next, etc.). In addition we get images of the cover art and design, the trade dress, page count, the staggered release dates, the presence of the starter set, the three core rule books, the deluxe DM screen, and the first adventures at release with the Tyranny of Dragon. Through it all, people are analyzing the released information with fine-tooth combs. That's all fun and distracting, but much of it was as expected.<br />
<br />
What really seemed to come out of no where was the reveal that the designers for the two Tyranny of Dragons adventures, Horde of the Dragon Queen and The Rise of Tiamat, were none other than Wolfgang Baur and Steven Winter, but it was actually Wolfgang's company Kobold Press that was hired as a third party developer for the adventures. The <a href="http://www.koboldpress.com/k/front-page18037.php#.U3rb0y-LFl8" target="_blank">press release and Q&A</a> on KoboldPress.com explains this arrangement was similar to the video game industry setup of having games developed by one company but published by another (and sometimes the publisher does own the IP of the game being developed). The Kobold blog post notes this is a one-time deal and does not mean KP has rights to write more official D&D adventures or if this is the model going forward for D&D adventures or even if this is a hint at the OGL equivalent for the upcoming edition.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hnj2pnFGD1k/U3rgsM23VKI/AAAAAAAAAsA/zF8ItIsqPdc/s1600/DnDRiseTiamat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hnj2pnFGD1k/U3rgsM23VKI/AAAAAAAAAsA/zF8ItIsqPdc/s1600/DnDRiseTiamat.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a>Kobold Press's involvement is significant because although both authors have written adventures for TSR/WotC previous, in the capacity of employees and as freelancers, this is the first time they've been included as part of a third party company. Not to say KP had free reign over this project as I'm sure WotC had guidelines and requirements they desired for these adventures, but inclusion of a third party company does seem to indicate the possibility of allowing KP more freedom in following through with the entire chain of design, from content creation to writing to art direction. Certainly this doesn't mean the designers will necessarily write differently, but there could be an alternate mentality going into this as another company versus as freelancers hired by the publisher. Either way, congratulations to Wolfgang and Steven and the whole Kobold team involved in this. This is a profile raising contract and really goes to show the support Kobold Press has even amongst the major RPG companies. As always, I'm looking forward to new adventures from Kobold Press and am doubly curious due to the tie-in with the new D&D.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-36934727107283199592014-04-11T16:07:00.000-07:002014-04-11T16:07:38.397-07:00A to Z BustThis needed far more planning than what I had jumping in. The itinerary I laid out is also more ambitious than I anticipated when coupled with the real life schedule and obligations. Back to the trenches to hold the nose to the grindstone, unfortunately most of the result is not in any way imagination related.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A teacher of mine once said it was the cheap, little thrills in life that keep us going. I posit it's also the small torments in life that keep us down. They're never enough to wipe us out, thankfully, but they can make it feel that way. Fortunately, there's not much left to complete and I can start climbing back up after the small torments are done with me.</div>
Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-50440126463546258202014-03-31T20:54:00.002-07:002014-03-31T21:04:55.785-07:00Next up, April A to Z Challenge<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-REeJpd_mDT8/Uzo0DACDMVI/AAAAAAAAAGU/xxiheYLbCs8/s1600/A2Z-BADGE-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-REeJpd_mDT8/Uzo0DACDMVI/AAAAAAAAAGU/xxiheYLbCs8/s1600/A2Z-BADGE-2014.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>Didn't mean to let March almost slip by without a post, but weekly exams do tend to pull attention away from the more enjoyable "assignments" in real life. April will be no different as it's the month leading up to the last weeks of the semester, finals occupies the majority of May. However, since there's the <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/">April A to Z Challenge</a>, I'll give another activity a shot. Despite knowing I've gone the easy route with these last few challenges by compiling brief posts into large blocks right at the very end.<br />
<br />
Why do these month long activities always fall on the busiest months. The A2Z Challenge in April before the end of Spring semesters. <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo</a> is in November, when typically Fall semesters' finals tend to take up the early to middle of December and term projects and papers are due shortly after Thanksgiving. For those who work in retail, it's one of the busiest months of the year. Family tends to coming over in November, get-togethers require planing, traveling, and cooking. Why not March and October?<br />
<br />
Anyway. On to the A to Z Challenge!<br />
<br />
Will be blogging along <i>unofficially</i> as I will likely not have the opportunity to write up half-decent blurbs every day this month. I will use it as a prompt to sketch out a setting I've been mulling for a while. Each day and letter will have a location/geography/polity topic and a person/object/organization/history bit. Further refinement of the major topics yielded the following six subjects for each broad topic:<br />
<br />
"Where (Mostly)"<br />
<div class="p1">
1 - Country, Kingdom, Empire or Major Polity</div>
<div class="p1">
2 - Capital City</div>
<div class="p1">
3 - Other City, Major Town</div>
<div class="p1">
4 - Site of Interest: Fortress, Prison, Outpost, Oasis, etc.</div>
<div class="p1">
5 - Ruin, Historical Site, Site of Catastrophe or Tragedy</div>
<div class="p1">
6 - Geographic or Geological feature or landmark (Mountain, Forest, Desert, River, Lake, Sea, etc.)</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
"Who (bit of What or When)"</div>
<div class="p1">
1 - Organization</div>
<div class="p1">
2 - Religion</div>
<div class="p1">
3 - Ruler</div>
<div class="p1">
4 - Person of Interest</div>
<div class="p1">
5 - Significant Object/Relic</div>
<div class="p1">
6 - Major Historical Time Point or Historical Person</div>
<br />
I rolled 2d6 for all 26 letters and that formed the basis for the topics by letter. More rolling may be required to narrow down the day's topic and I'll likely pull up some random generators to trigger ideas to overcome the blank slate. I'm going into it with a rough idea of the atmosphere and a few archetypes I want to include. Beyond that, nothing is set, not even names, which is where the alphabetical nature of this challenge comes into play.<br />
<br />
First up is A and the roll results say Ruin or Historical Site (5) and an Organization (1).<br />
<br />
Of course, I'll have to pull up the country entries first to flesh out at least some names, associate them with rough archetypes to get a sense of where things are before I can jump in.<br />
<br />
Preliminary results return the following letters denoted as a country: D, E, F, G, H, L, M, O, U<br />
<br />
As you can see, the dice roller threw "1s" consecutively at a length there. Doesn't matter, one letter is as good as any other, especially when the starting phase is so unformed. I had not planned on any specific name for the nations at this point. Broke down my nation archetypes into a list of nine, rolled a virtual d9 and matched them to an available letter.<br />
<br />
A few days will be spent (aside from getting RL stuff out of the way) outlining where everything is before I head into the nitty gritty of something as specific as a historical site or organization. Will be back on this after the leap into April.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-62347740905736654432014-02-28T15:24:00.000-08:002014-02-28T15:30:40.777-08:00[The D&D 40th Anniversary Blog Hop Challenge] Day 14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Day 14: Did you meet your significant other while playing D&D? Does he or she still play? (Or just post a randomly generated monster in protest of Valentine's Day).</b><br />
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Guess I owe people a monster. You're getting a haunt instead.<br />
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<div class="p1">
<b>The Massacre CR 14</b></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>XP 38,400</b></div>
<div class="p1">
CE persistent haunt (70-ft. radius, 20-ft. high, encompassing a dead-end alley)</div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Caster Level</b> 14th</div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Notice</b> Perception 20 (to hear the rising twang of bowshots escalating to dying screams)</div>
<div class="p1">
<b>HP</b> 63 <b>Weakness</b> susceptible to ranged attacks with bows or crossbows <b>Trigger</b> proximity; <b>Reset</b> one year (on the anniversary of the massacre, except on the day of the massacre the reset is 1 minute, if the haunt kills a victim within the last day, the reset time is one day)</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Effect</b></div>
<div class="p1">
On the approach to the old alley one notices the telltale signs of bloody violence, rusting quarrel bolts and arrowheads embedded into ancient stone walls depositing rudy stains dribbling from the crevices like caked blood. When the haunt triggers, the air is filled with the gray metallic blur of an arrow barrage. All creatures in the area are subjected to a <i>scouring winds</i> spell. The barrage bursts forth from the alley entry towards the back wall. A powerful wind (windstorm strength) drives creatures in the alley towards the dead-end as ghostly figures of the original massacre relive the event and share their torment with the living. Due to the surprise ambush of the original massacre, the haunt always acts first each round. Characters can take on the role of the aggressors and assassins by attacking and damaging the haunt with bows and crossbows. The spirits are infused into the wall with hardness 8, the haunt hit points are depleted first before the hit points of the wall. However, this enrages the doomed spirits and they retaliate with one <i>arrow eruption</i> spell each round if assaulted at range, duplicating the strongest attack and projectile used against them. Any creature killed by the haunt (either from the <i>scouring winds</i> or <i>arrow eruption</i> damage) experiences the same desperation and doom as the original victims. The newly deceased corpse is targeted by a <i>phantasmal revenge</i> spell with the corpse's killer treated as the nearest living creature in the alley. The spirit of the freshly slain blames those nearby for their demise and lashes out in rage. All living creatures in the alley can see the wrathful spirit rise from the newly slain, though only the nearest creature is targeted.<br />
</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Destruction</b>The massacred spirits can be laid to rest if each of the original murderers or their descendants are brought to the haunted alley to face the same fate.</div>
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Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-77581372413038181152014-02-28T12:29:00.000-08:002014-02-28T12:33:55.789-08:00[The D&D 40th Anniversary Blog Hop Challenge] Day 15 - 28<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><br /></b>
<b>Day 15: What was the first edition you didn't enjoy. Why?</b><br />
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Disliked 4E, 'nuff said. Not for the rules, because I never played the game. I abstained from the game on principle of the foolish mega-RSE* they implemented for the Forgotten Realms. Some backwards ape-thinking went into the decision making there, and I say that with the risk of insulting apes everywhere. Apologies my primate brethren.<br />
<br />
* RSE: Realms Shaking Event or Realms Shaking Event. Yes, this is an official acronym (actually an initialism) now eve adopted into official WotC blog posts by their designers. When that happens, you know there's too much company interjection of meta-plot into a property.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 16: Do you remember your first edition war? Did you win? ;)</b><br />
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I was around the game just in time for the 2E vs. 3E edition war. There was an edition war? Indeed.<br />
<br />
Highlights include one 3E proselytizer who wanted to convert over, saying WotC hired mathematicians to balance the game mechanics. Right. Even if it were true, didn't help any. Not a knock on the 3E line, there's wonky stuff in each edition. I hung around the Planet ADnD forums at the time. Some of the old guard refused to switch from AD&D and made it known day in, day out. It was all good training for the 4E edition war, which made all edition wars before it look like a border skirmish. Ah, I love the sound of nerd-rage in the morning.<br />
<br />
As for myself, I fell in the middle, stuck with 2E for a bit, not for holding the line, but because I hadn't purchased the 3E books yet. I've played in a mix of games over the last decade and change. No one really won that one, 3E is going strong, doubly so given Pathfinder. While 2E isn't a mainstay, there's enough overlap with the OSR to keep it going.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 17: First time you heard D&D was somehow "evil."</b><br />
<br />
The internets. The "D&D is satan" reaction, fortunately, happened before my time and beyond my region (as far as I know).<br />
<br />
Heard talk about going after Magic playing in schools, but it was due to distraction from academic work (which would be the true crime if this were a real reason to ban games) or some issues of trading (aka gambling) with cards. Nothing came of it at my school.<br />
<br />
The same think happened to Pokemon, but you know those electric squirrel-monsters were up to no good.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 18: First gaming convention you ever attended. </b><br />
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Does I-Con count? Probably not. I did game with friends there, well, at their house. Come to think of it, we should do that more often, genre convention or not, but the band split into the surrounding states. Nowadays, the web provides the solution. Not the same, but good enough and has its own advantages.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 19: First gamer who just annoyed the hell out of you. </b><br />
<br />
In a long running L5R d20 PBeM game, one day a player (a good roleplayer too) brought up an OOC (Out of Character) commentary about how my character's name was ridiculous and he was going to interpret the kanji with a more fitting meaning. This initiated an echo chamber of fellow Nipponophiles 'hai'ing each other. Now I'm not remotely competent in Japanese, but I figured enough out at the time to know the name was silly.<br />
<br />
Guess what? It was a code name my character used to stay incognito. He had a real more mundane, more realistic name he kept unmentioned to his party. The game never progressed enough for the big reveal. Fuck those guys.<br />
<br />
I guess now I know how folks feel about Realms know-it-alls, but still doesn't excuse the criticism of the setting. Asshats have the potential to infest all games and setting.<br />
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<b>Day 20: First non-D&D RPG you played. </b><br />
<br />
Freeform. On another wavelength than D&D so we'll leave it at that.<br />
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<b>Day 21: First time you sold some of your D&D books--for whatever reason. </b><br />
<br />
Duplicates sold because I picked up a copy in better condition, probably from buying auction lots and collections of gaming junk.<br />
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<b>Day 22: First D&D-based novel you ever read (Dragonlance Trilogy, Realms novels, etc.)</b><br />
<br />
The <i>Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy</i> (which started the franchise), the <i>Dragonlance Legends Trilogy</i> (follow up featuring the Majere brothers and time travel), and the <i>Dark Elf Trilogy</i> of Forgotten Realms (featuring that Drow ranger guy) formed a cauldron of fantasy slurry consumed at a ravenous pace. They were enjoyable enough.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 23: First song that comes to mind that you associate with D&D. Why?</b><br />
<br />
Nothing comes to mind, suppose that tells you something ... or something else.<br />
<br />
There's music I think fits the bill. There's music reminiscent of the emotions, pains and victories, of characters in the game, or pieces that capture the fun and excitement of playing to a sufficient degree. Yet nothing screams "D&D" to me, only the moments and themes experienced playing the game and those vary widely enough. I guess D&D is bigger than one song. It has to be encompassing in order to be what it is.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 24: First movie that comes to mind that you associate with D&D. Why? </b><br />
<br />
Record of the Lodoss War. To this day remains more D&D than the D&D movies and most other franchises purported to have that D&D aesthetic. For all the harping about cliche stories of knights and dragons, there aren't too many movies with those elements in them, even prior to the Lord of the Rings. Movies with a D&D-like group of adventurers set up remain rare. The sword and sorcery movies from the 70s and 80s often focus on a singular hero and don't quite have the same vibe.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 25: Longest running campaign/gaming group you've been in. </b><br />
<br />
Not counting freeform ... Two Realms games and the above mentioned L5R d20 game. Only the Realms game remains, though the game in the homebrew is still technically around in some form just not active.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 26: Do you still game with the people who introduced you to the hobby? </b><br />
<br />
Seeing as I introduced my group to the hobby and we learned as we went, I suppose I still game with me. Dude's a loser though, but don't tell him that. We just put up with him to be nice.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 27: If you had to do it all over again, would you do anything different when you first started gaming? </b><br />
<br />
Probably would have gotten a better start, maybe attend a game run by more experienced players to get a better flow of things. When we started, we only had three people who wanted to play, meaning it was a DM with a party of two. Should have tried inviting more people to at least make it a 3-4 person dynamic. Towards college and the rare games we had while going to non-gaming, yet still geeky conventions, we played short sessions with around six players. Those were a blast. More like that.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 28: What is the single most important lesson you've learned from playing Dungeons & Dragons?</b><br />
<br />
Whether edition wars or system schism, old school credentials versus new school innovation, dungeon crawls in sandbox campaigns versus role-play-heavy story-gaming, or whatever topic has seized the energy of online discourse, enjoy the game. Not so much a lesson as a wish for all to have fun.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-47936498134861154832014-02-02T20:22:00.000-08:002014-02-28T12:29:27.360-08:00[The D&D 40th Anniversary Blog Hop Challenge] Days 3 - 13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MS3l2ggnifg/Uu3QdHVzVRI/AAAAAAAAAFM/ZB6hgOQT9pg/s1600/dnd40hopbadge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MS3l2ggnifg/Uu3QdHVzVRI/AAAAAAAAAFM/ZB6hgOQT9pg/s1600/dnd40hopbadge.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Day 3: First dungeon you explored as a PC or ran as a DM.</b><br />
<br />
Whatever was in the 2E Fast Play rules. It's a modest starter 'cellar'.<br />
<br />
It would've been unmemorable except Wil was the DM at the time. After we finished the adventure-as-written, we didn't much feel like following the end as stated. One successful find secret door check latter and Wil launched us into a large dungeon area that he created on the spot. He drew out on the map on some blank paper as we discovered more. He handled the game with impromptu skills worthy of any veteran game master.<br />
<br />
* If I can find the notes and maps, provided they still exist (and since I have all our gaming stuff, they'd be in my possession), I see about posting them up.<br />
<br />
I've had less successes behind the DM screen (we just used the DMG for a screen). Behind a computer screen running a PbP or PBeM works better for me.<br />
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<b>Day 4: First dragon you slew (or some other powerful monster).</b><br />
<br />
Dragons? Whoa, don't blow your fireballs all in one go.<br />
<br />
We battled fairly 'mundane' critters like orcs, ogres and trolls for a good long while. Then dueled some evil humans equal to our level, a rival party if you will. Aren't those the best monsters? :}<br />
<br />
We took out a fake beholder once. Oddly enough, in a recent game, the group also popped a fake beholder. The resemblance to scary Halloween balloons probably doesn't help their cred.<br />
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<b>Day 5: First character to go from 1st level to 20th level (or highest possible level in a given edition).</b><br />
<br />
Games usually tap out around level 10. One game we started at level 15 (figured give ourselves some room to improve). That game lead a short life.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 6: First character death. How did you handle it?</b><br />
<br />
For my group, characters don't die so much as games fizzle without so much as a whimper. We jumped around from game to game and fell in and out of TTRPGs.<br />
<br />
A few dozen characters exist in the stasis of limbo. Maybe they'll astral travel their way back to the world of the gaming, some day.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 7: First D&D Product you ever bought. Do you still have it?</b><br />
<br />
Covered earlier (Days 1 & 2), the 2E core rulebooks. Still have them, still use them.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 8: First set of polyhedral dice you owned. Do you still use them?</b><br />
<br />
A set of Chessex smokey marble, acquired from the internet. Later on we grabbed a Pound-o-Dice, also from some web seller. Still have all of them and used them whenever we get together for an actual tabletop face-to-face game (we haven't met since '07 or thereabouts). All my dice are digital now. There's probably a digital theme running through my responses.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 9: First campaign setting (homebrew or published) you played in.</b><br />
<br />
A toss up between Forgotten Realms and Dark Sun. Dark Sun interested the other group members more so we spent more time exploring there, generally ignoring or forgetting the harsh rules of survival. We kind of treated it as a regular setting with a post-apocalyptic veneer.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 10: First gaming magazine you ever bought (Dragon, Dungeon, White Dwarf, etc.).</b><br />
<br />
Started a Dragon subscription in the last years of the print magazine (during the Paizo run, which helped convert me to Pathfinder). I enjoyed them and miss receiving a regular gaming magazine in print. Kobold Quarterly helped fill the gap for a while and now Gygax magazine, but the jury is out on how closely the experiences match. Gygax magazine has more topic drift than Kobold Quarterly.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 11: First splatbook you begged your DM to approve.</b><br />
<br />
Begging is unbecoming of a wannabe murderhobo.<br />
<br />
Or if you want something you gotta work for it, either GM yourself or making a good persuasive argument for inclusion. There's always the possibility of re-flavoring some rule allowed into the same concept.<br />
<br />
My group was into splats, never had a problem with them. For online games, there are so many choices that if I didn't like the limits of one I could always <i>not</i> join the game.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 12: First store where you bought your gaming supplies. Does it still exist?</b><br />
<br />
Don't recall buying anything at a brick'n'mortar store. I've visited the few in my area. The online retailers and resellers still exist and continue to account for the majority of my gaming consumption supply, as well as Kickstarters, digital releases, and e-books. <br />
<br />
I've even gotten someone to pick stuff up for me at GenCon, but we've never met. I feel like I live in a science fiction movie or I'm a patron of an illicit dark-net website arranging anonymous dead drops for my next gaming fix. I think the truth is a little of both and that ridiculous scenario noted above is already here.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 13: First miniature(s) you used for D&D.</b><br />
<br />
Dice make good minis when you need a quick and dirty (especially with snack food residue on them) layout of where everyone is during a battle. Use different color dice of course. You can even turn them to the appropriate number face to denote spell effect durations.<br />
<br />Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-46321023595874022172014-02-01T22:06:00.000-08:002014-02-02T20:24:45.650-08:00[The D&D 40th Anniversary Blog Hop Challenge] Days 1 & 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MS3l2ggnifg/Uu3QdHVzVRI/AAAAAAAAAFI/4YcNKXxtyDU/s1600/dnd40hopbadge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MS3l2ggnifg/Uu3QdHVzVRI/AAAAAAAAAFI/4YcNKXxtyDU/s1600/dnd40hopbadge.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
As the title (and event badge) says, there's a D&D 40th Anniversary Blog Hop Challenge happening as I type this. It's hosted by <a href="http://d20darkages.blogspot.com/p/d-40th-anniversary-blog-hop-challenge.html">d20 Dark Ages</a>, which has a list of the participating blogs (which I've tried to incorporate below) and some tips on how to join in and stay on course (it is a challenge after all).<br />
<br />
Here's the list of topics for the month of February:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-X3yVFrq0Y/Uu3REc7D9_I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/zwhVGp2RC1Y/s1600/D&DBloghop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-X3yVFrq0Y/Uu3REc7D9_I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/zwhVGp2RC1Y/s1600/D&DBloghop.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm always a sucker for these daily post prompting activities based around 'lite' topics. It's also a significant anniversary for the game, so for the sake of marking the occasion, why not.<br />
<br />
And may D&D have many more anniversary and continue to inspire and help entertain many more fans and future players.<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
<br />
I'm technically late starting this already, but Saturdays aren't the freest days for me. As with all blog hops and challenges they always fall on the worst months (for me) as some sort of revving up for the usual disgorgement of exams and assignments, or other related obligations.<br />
<br />
Knowing real life gets hectic starting mid-February, this one is going to be shaky, but trying is half the fun. Anyway, here goes --<br />
<br />
<b>Day 1: First Person who introduced you to D&D. Which edition? Your first character?</b><br />
<br />
The first time I remember hearing about D&D was during junior high. I sat with the nerd-geeks during lunch time. The game of those hallowed tables was Magic: The Gathering. Here I learned to play by observation and played by vicarious experience. Never did buy into the hobby. At the time I was the kid with no income or allowance, it seemed an impossibly expensive hobby. Even years later when I had some spending money, I found out it <i>is</i> an expensive hobby (or could easily/often be).<br />
<br />
As the geeks at the Magic table have a tendency towards all things geek and genre (gods bless them), one day my friend Andrew turned the conversation towards D&D (probably by way of a Lord of the Rings discussion). I had heard of D&D, but didn't actually know what D&D was. I don't remember Andrew explaining the game D&D either. He talked about the settings of D&D. Fascinating worlds. D&D had me hooked by way of settings from day one.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 2: First Person you introduced to D&D. Which edition? Their first character?</b><br />
<br />
I didn't get to play D&D until a few years later, in high school. I was the one to suggest it to my band of friends looking for something to do on Friday afternoons besides video games and traditional board games (Monopoly, Risk, and Scrabble). My first (partial) convert to the hobby was my friend Wil.<br />
<br />
We started with the free AD&D 2nd Edition Fast Play rules downloading from the TSR website (thank you, mid-late '90s internet) and d6s looted from our Risk game. Quite sure by then TSR was nothing more than a preserved skin-suit worn by Wizards of the Coast (and Hasbro was lurking around looking to kill Wizards and take its stuff).<br />
<br />
We played with the pre-generated characters from the fast play rules. I want to say I played Darkblade the ranger (love those mystic warrior archetypes, with a groovy name to boot), but as I distinctly recall using a two-handed sword, I was probably Elanna the fighter at some point or another. I probably also run the other characters, Niles the thief and Thaddeus the mage at least once.<br />
<br />
First character I created was probably the Nameless Paladin (I suck at names, I liked the paladin class write up). He was nameless and characterless, just a collection of stats for monster ass kicking. honestly can't remember my friends' characters. We didn't stay in character. At best, we narrating what our characters did, if that much.<br />
<br />
Characters didn't really matter at that point (there are times they don't matter even now, and that's the truth). It was mostly hack-n-slash dungeon crawl with some element of exploration.<br />
<br />
We messed with the Fast Play rules for a bit, extending them with DIY recklessness (the best kind), until we ponied up more money to get used copies via eBay. Why eBay? We didn't even know where to buy them brick-n-mortar at the time and if we knew where, we also knew from the web they were expensive if purchased new. We found the black binding revised 2nd Edition for relatively cheap in a lot with some of the splats. Little did we know, 3E was on the horizon.<br />
<br />
I 'inherited' all of our D&D stuff when we split for college. Those books and boxed sets form the seed of my gaming collection.<br />
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<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=222943" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-34516778267343105692014-01-26T18:03:00.001-08:002014-01-26T18:03:28.352-08:00Celebrating 40 years of D&D!<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Celebrating 40 years of D&D! The Kickoff, Officially...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">For D&D's 40th Anniversary, Wizards encourages fans to play the game and enjoy. What better way to celebrate. There is no better way to celebrate.<br /><br />Also, if you're up for it, shout out your love of the game through the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dungeonsanddragons" target="_blank">D&D Facebook Page </a> and <a href="http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_preview.asp" target="_blank">D&D Twitter Channel</a> (or any social media would be fine I assume cause the G+ communities are significant) using #DnD40.<br /><br />To
get the ball rolling, WotC posted thoughts and videos of a couple of
familiar designers/authors speaking about their D&D experiences.<br /><br />Link: <a href="http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd%2F4news%2F20140126" target="_blank">http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd%2F4news%2F20140126</a><br /><br />Okay,
it's Ed Greenwood and Troy Denning if anyone is curious but not curious
enough to click the link. And now you probably clicked through. Ha!<br /><br />***<br /><br />Over at the <a href="http://www.koboldpress.com/k/front-page17482.php#.UuW3hvYo63d" target="_blank">Kobold Press blog</a>,
the kobolds have cleverly trapped some designers/authors-you-may-have-heard-of
to interrogate them about their favorite experiences regarding the most venerable roleplaying game.<br /><br />Part one of this blog series includes David "Zeb" Cook,
Bruce Cordell, Jeff Grubb, Colin McComb, Wade Rockett, Robert Schwalb,
and Margaret Weis.</span>Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-20649685141056015912014-01-16T21:41:00.003-08:002014-01-16T22:13:11.455-08:00A Preview of Far West. Finally.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
After two years since funding and numerous delays and projected delivery and delays again (and again and again), it seems <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/Adamant/far-west-western-wuxia-mashup-adventure-game">Far West</a> is finally on the verge of release. Update #81 links to a 65-page preview consisting of the first five chapters in completed art and layout format. This was a step that should have happened months ago if Adamant Entertainment had the partly completed layout draft, but there could have been many reasons why this was not feasible before. At a glance, the layout is clear without being bland. It uses a parchment background that does not interfere with readability, unlike other books and PDFs that use extensive watermarking. Art is of the expected style and variety, including the piece inspired by the lumpy mug of this patron (I'd use the term 'anti-photogenic'). I haven't looked at the actual rules and setting content yet.<br />
<br />
When the final file is sent to Cubicle 7, they should by all accounts work the full book through their approval process in short order. I expect it will be release to backers not too far from now. This is the most significant, verifiable update in the two year history of this project. While the 65-pages sent look to be complete, the Table of Contents reveals the rest of the sections afterwards (from around page 78 onwards) possibly remain in a state of layout flux as they're denoted with the dreaded XX page marking. Hopefully the book is further along than the current selection because the ToC lists about twice as many sections in total as shown in the preview. <br />
<br />
The first funded Kickstarter I backed is finally drawing to a conclusion and it looks to be at least a satisfactory result (like I said, I still have to read it). Despite delays, health issues, and staff changes, something could be said about completing a project. When the full book finally proliferates to all the backers, maybe we'll get the post-mortem the much-beleaguered game designer/developer said he would write so he can tell his side of the story. Until then I await the full product.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-90210154800483007992014-01-13T18:47:00.000-08:002014-01-13T19:02:19.268-08:00Magic: The Gathering Movie confirmed. Is D&D Next?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/fox-bring-magic-gathering-big-670529" target="_blank">Hollywood Reporter has an article (Link)</a>
about Hasbro inking a deal with 20th Century Fox for a Magic: The
Gathering movie franchise. They've signed writer-producer Simon Kinberg
(Fox's <i>X-Men</i> and <i>Fantastic Four</i> franchises) to lead the development.<br /><br />I
noticed the article said Hasbro, which means it's the head office
making the movie decisions, not Wizards of the Coast. Makes sense as
these are expensive efforts and they need the big shots calling all the
shots. The potential benefits reach into the billion dollar range if
they launch a successful movie franchise (and sell more Magic cards,
novels, merchandise) and that's not even talking about <i>LotR</i> or <i>Harry Potter</i> numbers. I'm sure Hasbro is hoping for <i>Transformer</i> numbers or even <i>GI Joe</i> numbers (and not <i>Battleship</i> numbers).<br /><br />The
relevance to the D&D? Well it gives extra urgency to the
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/sweetpea-entertainment-goes-on-the-offensive-over-d-d-movie-rights" target="_blank"> lawsuit</a> Hasbro has with the previous (current) D&D movie producer
and the studio he's signed with, since Hasbro wants to launch its own
D&D movie effort. It seems the Hasbro giant has awoken and is hungry
for more big movie franchises made from its IP. <br /><br />It's <b>D&D's 40th Anniversary</b>
this year, and MtG's 20th Anniversary. Despite the card game doing
better business, it's D&D that holds more cultural significance. <br /><br />If
Hasbro cannot get a generic D&D movie off the ground, do you think
they would resort to using one of the settings to launch a movie
instead, such as <i>Dragonlance</i> or <i>Forgotten Realms</i>?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">I think if the holdup for D&D drags on and Hasbro sees good numbers for Magic, then they will certainly do everything in their power to cinematize more IP. If the numbers are good enough, they might even settle to expedite the release of rights for D&D.</span></span>Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-9441037362346430332014-01-08T18:53:00.004-08:002014-01-08T20:26:06.116-08:00Musings on Forgotten Realms Icons for 13th Age (Archmage Engine)<div class="p1">
A discussion came up on the <a href="http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18378">Candlekeep Forums</a> (a Forgotten Realms fansite) asking about 13th Age (Archmage Engine) Icon implementation for the Realms setting. There are some differences between FR and the 13th Age setting that would make a 1-to-1 correlation between Icons less than precise.<br />
<br />
I hadn't thought about the topic with any earnest effort, so instead I pointed them towards the Icon system applied to Kobold Press' Midgard campaign setting (<a href="http://www.koboldpress.com/k/front-page16689.php">Link</a>) written by Wade Rockett. I hoped it would provide an additional example to show the flexibility that could be introduced to the Icon system. Whereas the 13th Age Icons are almost entirely individuals, Midgard Icons introduced a few more councils and secret societies.<br />
<br />
After a brief search, I found this topic was discussed briefly before on Candlekeep with one participant providing a <a href="http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17106">comprehensive outline</a> of options. The different threads and examples got my brain jumpstarted on the topic and I came up with a list of my own. Of course this is not a formal write-up in the proper format, but just a quick list with some thoughts on the matter. If one wanted a gameable summary, there's enough lore floating around for each proposed Icon on the FR Wiki to make a worthy "official" Icon write-up.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
There are a multitude of rulers, archmages, liches, ancient beings, and clergy leaders to choose from, but not all of them fit the Icon role. With some archetypes lacking an equivalent in the Realms, I choose a best fit group or figure followed by my explanation. I held the obvious 'Icon-ability' of Realms figures or groups above their suitability as a direct match to an existing 13th Age Icons (as the Midgard Icons played loose with the direct matching). Overall I tried to avoid actual deities (as both 13th Age and Midgard have avoided) or most of the traditional Chosen (of Mystra), given their unusual roles in the setting. Also, I gave an attempt to spread the Icon allotment out amongst the different alignments.<br />
<br />
Using the 2E/3E era Realms (<i>Because.</i>) I would short list the following as Icons of the Realms with the intent of treating them as "universal" setting-wide Icons, rather than more regional Icons as suggested in some of the above linked discussions.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J2r2l7NAlt4/Us4TyipxU7I/AAAAAAAAADw/y-2CP3fJ9n0/s1600/Waterdeep_symbol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J2r2l7NAlt4/Us4TyipxU7I/AAAAAAAAADw/y-2CP3fJ9n0/s1600/Waterdeep_symbol.jpg" height="200" width="174" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterdeep</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<b>The Lords of Waterdeep</b>: Few cities are as indicative of the Realms as the setting's preeminent city and a hallmark of Waterdeep is its council of masked rulers. The city is a setting unto itself, but even then, the city's reach of trade is long and its influence relatively widespread. Plus the Lords have a board game themed around them. ; ) The Lords of Waterdeep also incorporates the machinations of Khelben/Blackstaff, Laeral, and the Moonstars.</div>
<br />
<b>Queen Amlaruil</b>: The archetypal elf queen. Though she is aloof and isolated in Evermeet, she has agents promoting the elven agenda throughout the Realms. She is technically/nominally the ruler of all the elves. She is also the chosen of the Seldarine, making her something of a proxy or demigod, right at the boundary between mortal and deity.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The Princes of Shade</b>: Though we could easily single out Telamont Thanthul. Love them or hate them, there's no denying the Shades are striving to be a major power in the setting (with the capability to accomplish that goal) and the princes are suitable iconic faces for the Shadovar.<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1tCTxrkdn0g/Us4UH0GnMgI/AAAAAAAAAD4/No7MmYErJLQ/s1600/Cormyr_symbol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1tCTxrkdn0g/Us4UH0GnMgI/AAAAAAAAAD4/No7MmYErJLQ/s1600/Cormyr_symbol.jpg" height="200" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Dragon of Cormyr</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>King Azoun IV</b> (or later the <i>Steel Regent Alusair</i>): After the events of the the Tuigan Horde, Azoun had expended and reacquired a considerable amount of political capital and fame. He is the leader of one of the most stable longstanding kingdoms in the Realms, and is a central figureheads for law and order, but also good. After his death, Alusair is a capable successor for the role. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Sammaster, the Cultist</b>: He IS the Cult of the Dragon and through the cult, he is everywhere. Cult leaders have the proper cult of personality for Iconhood. Plus he holds great personal power and finds a way to return every time he's destroyed. He has a lot of unique things going for him being the most well known (only?) ex-Chosen. He's been a mainstay villain of the setting since the beginning.</div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>The Magister</b>: Ideally Azuth is the Archmage Icon role, but we're drawing the line between icons and deities. The various chosen could work, some better than others, but their actual role in the setting is controversial. The next logical choice is the office of the Magister, sort of the poor man's Chosen. The Magister has been sort of ignored in all the hubbub revolving around the monolithic Chosen, which is good for gaming flexibility, plus it's an official title with rules of succession rather than the more freewheeling Chosen.<br />
<br />
In this Icon role, the Magister would be responsible for promoting and protecting magic, possibly to the exclusion to traditional 'goodly' notions. We can substitute in the Blackstaff here, but his role is more limited than the Magister's general focus on promoting magic, even if he is a more manipulative and interventionist figure. It also doesn't matter who the Magister is, though there's no reason to remove Talatha Vaerovree from the office.<br />
<div class="p1">
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2hKF8XuxIE/Us4YjVRTRlI/AAAAAAAAAEY/9skkyEPNl_k/s1600/Zhentarim_symbol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2hKF8XuxIE/Us4YjVRTRlI/AAAAAAAAAEY/9skkyEPNl_k/s1600/Zhentarim_symbol.jpg" height="187" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Zhentarim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<b>The Black Network (the Zhentarim)</b>: As opposed to Manshoon or Fzoul since leadership is shared, split, or exchanged between them at various times. The one constant through the different renditions of the Realms is the Zhentarim itself in one form or another.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Tchazzar, the Dragon Tyrant</b>: Hand waving this one a bit. There are many powerful dragons in the Realms, but few with a noticeable influence beyond a small local region. While that holds true for Tchazzar, he is one of the most historically active dragons in the setting and one with actual skin in the game amongst mortal nations. In this Icon role, Tchazzar would take on something of a more active draconic and nation-building agenda. Doesn't matter that he's dead through much of the 3E era. Magic can fix that. He also doesn't need to be the absolute ruler of Chessenta.<br />
<br />
<b>The Emerald Enclave</b>: Also another hand waving bit. There are localized druid orders throughout the Realms and the Emerald Enclave is one such sect, but they're probably the most powerful. Their influence is also spreading beyond their traditional turf as they've enforced their presence in the Realm of the Purple Staff along the Dragon Coast and much of the Vilhon Reach/Chondalwood area.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HgB0V-GZ5dA/Us4UpO6qVoI/AAAAAAAAAEE/2otpexnU0EA/s1600/Symbol_of_the_Red_Wizards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HgB0V-GZ5dA/Us4UpO6qVoI/AAAAAAAAAEE/2otpexnU0EA/s1600/Symbol_of_the_Red_Wizards.jpg" height="198" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Red Wizards of Thay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Szass Tam, the Red Wizard</b>: The Red Wizards are a logical choice, but they're still an unwieldy and disparate lot. Tam, on the other hand, is the most powerful Zulkir and supposed true ruler of Thay and thus the de facto leader of the Red Wizards (whether the other Zulkirs realize or admit it). Stately and surprisingly cordial, he is also the only overt lich to rule a powerful nation.<br />
There are liches more powerful than Tam, such as Larloch, Aumvor, and Ioulaum, but they are withdrawn and unknown to most of the world. Others like Shoon VII and the Twisted Rune prefer working from the shadows or have still yet to make their presence known to the wider world. </div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>The Demon Lord</b>: Here we'll go with Eltab, being one of the better established Realms-specific demon lords with a long history in the east between the time of the Nar Demonbinders and his activities in Thay and beyond. His presence in the Citadel of Conjurers revitalizes the Narfell as an ever active threat to neighboring kingdoms of which there are many (Impiltur, Rasheman, perhaps Damara, Narfell itself, even Thay and the Endless Waste/the Raumviran/Yaimunahar).</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
We could go with Malkizid, but he seems more concerned with elven affairs (likewise Wendonai with the Drow). Many of the other elder evils mentioned in Champions of Ruin are not quite as coherent as Eltab (some are closer to forces of nature than sentient antagonists). Alternatively we could exchange Eltab with a version of Errtu if we're looking for someone with roots in the North. Another alternative is a return of the Trio Nefarious (but elf focused again).</div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ss-gxDrjS3E/Us4U1bHCgmI/AAAAAAAAAEM/rMHaNZxNK34/s1600/Harpers_symbol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ss-gxDrjS3E/Us4U1bHCgmI/AAAAAAAAAEM/rMHaNZxNK34/s1600/Harpers_symbol.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Harpers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<b>The High Harpers</b>: Few groups have their meddlesome hands in the affairs and secrets of the world like the Harpers. This is a good compromise between the Harper semi-secret organization as a whole and the few Chosen who take up the inordinate amount of spotlight within said secret society. If one likes, the remaining Chosen (El, Dove, and Storm) can be rotated out (not a new concept seeing as Khelben, Laeral and Alustriel departed) and replaced with new members, or the non-Chosen members can be emphasized. Pre-schism, the Chosen are mostly accounted for here.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>The High Lady</b>: Alustriel is not only the leader of the Silver Marches, she holds sway over the complex alliance necessary to keep such a confederation together. She also maintains a network of consorts, lovers, relatives, friends, children, allies, and apprentices ready to act as her agents. She can also stand in for the interests of the Chosen and the Seven Sisters, giving those concepts a focal point rather than having them seem to meddle overmuch across the entire setting.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
***</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The above makes 13 Icons. Here's my rough break down of where they fit on the Heroic/Ambiguous/Villainous spectrum:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Heroic</b>: <i>Usually</i> the Lords of Waterdeep, King Azoun IV, Queen Amlaruil, the High Lady; <i>possibly</i> the Magister, and the High Harpers</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Ambiguous</b>: <i>Usually</i> the Magister, the High Harpers, the Emerald Enclave; <i>possibly</i> the Lords of Waterdeep, Queen Amlaruil, and Szass Tam</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Villainous</b>: <i>Usually</i> the Black Network, the Princes of Shade, Sammaster, Szass Tam, Tchazzar, the Demon Lord; <i>possibly</i> the Emerald Enclave</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
***</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The list is not comprehensive, but attempts to serve as a quick snapshot or summary of what the Realms has to offer in terms of power groups and movers-and-shakers (without letting deities and Chosen dominate the list).</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
There are some major holes in my list: </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
- There is no Dwarf King icon equivalent, but that sort of holds true for Midgard (and they have Dwarves up the wazoo), so they resorted to a dwarven secret society. The dwarves of the Realms are in a more disarrayed state than those other settings.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
- There is no Orc Lord icon, but King Obould of Many-Arrows or Sythilis/Sothilis ogre-mage ruler of Murandinn don't quite have enough far-reaching influence. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
- The lack of a good CN ambiguous Icon (or generally more neutral Icons), which the Simbul is suited for as mentioned below.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
- There is a Northern bias as most of the Icons have their power base north of the Sea of Fallen Stars. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
***</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The following few can work in the Icon role, but I feel are a bit more limited than the above for the various position.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<i>The Blackstaff</i>: Easy to slot into several Icons roles, but I covered above why I would select others over him/her.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<i>The Witch-Queen</i>: The Simbul has a fierce reputation, the raw power to back it up, and she commands the resources of a nation, but is restrained by the interests of the very nation she protects. She is somewhat less influential than Alustriel, in my opinion, even if I think she's a more interesting character than her sister. If there was one replacement I would make, this would be it, especially since the High Lady archetype overlaps with Queen Amlaruil's Elf Queen archetype.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<i>The Sunmaster</i>: Daelegoth Orndeir is basically a cult leader as fanatical as Sammaster after casting the Eternal Sun over Elversult, just with less dracolichdom and murder (maybe not by much, depending on who's at the receiving end). His influence is a bit limited in geography and theological scope (Amaunator is still a dead god or a Lathanderite heresy at best in the 3E era).</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<i>The Lord Who Watches</i>: The Hidden Lord Gargauth represents the diabolical influence in the setting (replacing Asmodeus' role as given in the 4E Realms). This move magnifies his current status in the 3E Realms. As a demipower and former archdevil, he fits perfectly in that middle ground. However, we already have a LE Icon in the Black Network and their close association with Bane, we also already have a fiendish Icon in Eltab.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The outline given in the other Candlekeep thread linked earlier in this post provides good additional options (and more of them), some better tailored to certain games (especially regional ones or those looking for a direct 13th Age Icon match) than my outline here attempting broad setting-wide icons. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
* One more idea before concluding, take the malleable 13th Icon role (occupied by the Prince of Shadows in 13th Age, who doesn't make it onto the d12 Icon die) and make it swappable with any of a number of alternative Icons to cater a game to a specific region. Or keep it open to show the gradual shifts playing out across the complex relationship between the power groups. In this way, it's not the 13th Icon himself who is unknown, but the position of the 13th Icon that is ever fluid.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Image Credits: Organization emblems (Waterdeep, Cormyr, Red Wizards, Harpers) from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, 2001; except the Zhentarim emblem, which was obtained from Candlekeep's archives and cropped from the original.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Dungeons and Dragons, the Forgotten Realms, and associated materials, trademarks, copyrights, names, organizations, characters and their distinctive likenesses are intellectual property of Wizards of the Coast. This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast.)</span></div>
</div>
Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-10216665672944488292014-01-01T15:45:00.000-08:002014-01-01T15:52:00.430-08:00A New Year<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HODieV0AdhU/UsSSEbp-fbI/AAAAAAAAAmg/cR_3ISd0zyg/s1600/mayan-calendar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HODieV0AdhU/UsSSEbp-fbI/AAAAAAAAAmg/cR_3ISd0zyg/s320/mayan-calendar2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've shot way past this didn't we?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Welcome to 2014.<br />
<br />
We're a 111 years (give or take) from the flight of the first airplane, a hundred years from the start of World War I, thirty years beyond the dystopia of 1984 as imagined in '48, and five years after the Near-Apocalypse of 2009, by some reckoning.<br />
<br />
It's a new year and with it comes resolutions I'll probably procrastinate and second guess.<br />
<br />
Hey everyone running down their list and will actually follow through with cool gaming-related stuff. I'll put up my list of wishful thinking.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Kickstarter: The Dissection</b><br />
I'll continue to ramble about things that arrived from Kickstarter projects and discuss things that have fewer sightings than blind terrestrial rodents on days other than Groundhogs Day. <br />
<br />
<b>Pathfinder: The Butchery</b><br />
I'll make some attempt at posting junk for the Pathfinder system because the system is satisfyingly crunchy I won't be able to avoid breaking some eggs just to join in the cacophony.<br />
<br />
<b>The D20 <strike>Detritus</strike> Deluge</b><br />
In which I will delve into my growing collection of materials from the D20 boom ... and examine it. What is it? Is it any fun? What is it doing on my shelf anyway?<br />
<br />
<b>Let's Read: The Forgotten Realms Campaign Boxed Set (2nd Edition)</b><br />
Why 2nd Edition? Why not! There are plenty of defenders for the Old Grey Box (1st Edition version) as to the setting's old school credibility. I'm not going to say that continues with the second version, but it was my first introduction to the setting and I found it enough to make me a fan of the setting. I've learned much more about world building in the years since and I've grown quite sick of the more recent stuff. We'll see how it holds up.<br />
<br />
<b>Pseudo-Projects</b><br />
I wouldn't get my own hopes up for these, they are so far term they make the Realms Beyond feel cozy and proximal.<br />
<br />
<i>~ The Homebrood</i><br />
A mutating homebrew setting that probably isn't anything like I originally started out with.<br />
<br />
<i>~ Realmsfinder</i><br />
A related carnage to the above mentioned Pathfinder butchery. An attempt to convert to Pathfinder some elements of the now Misbegotten Realms liberally mixed with Golarion and Midgard, perhaps hammered out into a veneer of a setting which is not much worse than the Realms people paid money for. It's not the setting you deserve, it's the setting composed through market research and misplaced 4xtreme post-90s angst. We have low standards on this blog.<br />
<br />
<i>~ The Vicious Coil</i><br />
Continuing the snake-themed world building from the random races experiment of yesteryear.<br />
<br />
<i>~ Glamouriana</i><br />
A dark fantasy side-project drawn from the remnant ichors of the discards above. Or basically me cobbling a lot of crap together into something weird in the absence of creative ideas. An Elizabethanesque swashbuckling and sorcery clockpunk setting with mythos elements diluted into pre-deluvian seafaring bloodlines in overt competitive intrigue against a faux Europe.<br />
<br />
<i>~ Project 44</i><br />
A vestigial outgrowth of the mess above. A sci-fantasy setting where 'unspace' alters the people traveling through it but presents the only feasible method for interstellar transportation. Our intrepid explorers meet strange races in the dark cold void of other space. Weird shenanigans ensue.<br />
<br />
<i>~ Liminal Verge</i><br />
Coming from an extensive time in freeform PBeMs, I've always wanted a way to frame freeform games in some semblance of non-arbitrary action resolution. This is intended for a near post-scarcity, humanistic, cyberpunk lite, space opera that pretends to be thought-provoking science fiction. Not that any of this matters as I know most participants in such games and the associated setting universe would rather wank poetic in their debauched freeform decadence.<br />
<br />
Indeed as the list of projects progresses, I have a diminishing notion of how I'm going to even approach them. Though, it was a blast to give them evocative or ominous monikers. <br />
<br />Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-50186059567619308962013-12-26T18:28:00.000-08:002013-12-26T18:28:40.278-08:00Frog God Games 2013 Holiday Grab Bag Unboxing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3c2OqnZIB-o/UrzFo-rT1ZI/AAAAAAAAADg/Fi9Su6e4kGg/s1600/FGG+Grab+Bag+2013+All.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3c2OqnZIB-o/UrzFo-rT1ZI/AAAAAAAAADg/Fi9Su6e4kGg/s640/FGG+Grab+Bag+2013+All.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddle stitched adventures fore, perfect bound modules plus ToH III hardcover aft.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u></u></div>
<div class="p1">
<u><br /></u>
<u>One Large Box</u><br />
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="p1">
- S&W <b>Dice set</b></div>
<div class="p1">
- S&W <b>Patch</b></div>
<div class="p1">
- <b>Orcus Sticker</b></div>
<div class="p1">
- Rappan Athuk <b>side view map</b></div>
<div class="p1">
- S&W <b>Encounter Cards</b></div>
<div class="p1">
- S&W <b>Monster Cards</b></div>
<div class="p1">
- K4: <b>The Coils of Set</b> </div>
<div class="p1">
- K5: <b>The Six Spheres of Zaihhess</b> </div>
<div class="p1">
- K7: <b>Tower of Jhedophar</b> </div>
<div class="p1">
- K9: <b>Elemental Moon</b> </div>
<div class="p1">
- F1: <b>Vindication</b> </div>
<div class="p1">
- H1: <b>The Bonegarden</b> </div>
<div class="p1">
- L2: <b>Vampires and Liches</b> </div>
<div class="p1">
- G9: <b>A Lamentation of Thieves</b> </div>
<div class="p1">
- M3: <b>Maze of Zayene 3: Tower Chaos</b> </div>
<div class="p1">
- <b>Tome of Horrors III</b> hardcover (3E)</div>
<div class="p1">
- <b>Hall of Bones</b> (S&W) - A Free RPG Day module, which I wanted since I can never make it to the event.</div>
<div class="p1">
- <b>MCMLXXV</b>, in Grimmsgate cover (S&W) - Have it already from the S&W Kickstarter, same mismatch cover coincidentally.</div>
<div class="p1">
- ST10 - ST14: <b>Slumbering Tsar The Hidden Citadel Parts 2 - 6 </b>(PF) - Already have the ST hardcover.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The NG modules are great because I don't have most of them. Also very pleased with the miscellaneous items as they were kickstarter extras I didn't add-on at the time. Cost of the large grab bag was $100 plus priority shipping. Going by retail prices the box certainly more than makes up for its value.<br />
<br />
A quick scan of eBay shows the modules going anywhere between $9 to $15 with the average price working out to around $10. Of course, since these adventures are not rare, they do crop up as auction lots quite often for very reasonable prices. With 15 full adventures at $10 a piece, the Free RPG Day adventure is about $4, ToH III is around $16, we're looking at $170 for the books alone. Combined with the other materials, I would optimistically value of the box at about $200. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
However, leave it to my luck to end up with 6 modules as duplicates of the few FGG adventures I already have. This immediately takes out $60 worth of value from the box. None of the items are particularly uncommon or even in demand given the existence of the excellent Slumbering Tsar hardcover and we've been flooded with the MCMLXXV module covered in the Grimmsgate skin. As my shelf space dwindles, I have to find some way to liquidate them.<br />
<br />
Compared to acquiring out-of-print modules on eBay, with some patience, it is feasible to obtain these modules for a similar price. Overall it was a wash due to the duplicates in my collection. If the Slumbering Tsar modules had be just about anything else, the equation would change drastically.<br />
<br />
Such is the way of random grab bags.<br />
<br /></div>
Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-88173598528592083072013-12-26T14:59:00.000-08:002013-12-26T14:59:03.572-08:00Kung FuryYes, please!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='480' height='399' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/72RqpItxd8M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Currently funding on Kickstarter: <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kungfury/kung-fury?ref=live" target="_blank">Kung Fury</a><br />
<br />
Also check out the SoundCloud pages for the people responsible for the movie's awesome faux '80s soundtrack: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/daataa" target="_blank">Mitch Murder</a> and <a href="https://soundcloud.com/lostyears" target="_blank">Lost Years</a>.<br />
They've been doing this for a while.<br />
<br />
<br />Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-92158934767137718322013-12-26T14:09:00.000-08:002013-12-26T14:09:10.032-08:00Kickstarter Round-Up: (Post) Christmas Edition Right around Christmas Eve and even onto Christmas day, I've been bombarded by Kickstarter messages and announcements. A number of Kickstarter projects took the days of high Christmas to get some of their affairs in order. Mostly I received advanced-stage preview of their progress with some projects even choosing to time their full digital distribution of rewards to coincide with the holiday gifting tradition.<br />
<br />
>> Some of the significant ones sending digital rewards include:<br />
<br />
<b>Ultimate Psionics</b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--jOdz1uB4Qw/UryoZ5T4NII/AAAAAAAAAk8/37CdKWEM6C0/s1600/Ult_Psi_DRS2600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--jOdz1uB4Qw/UryoZ5T4NII/AAAAAAAAAk8/37CdKWEM6C0/s400/Ult_Psi_DRS2600.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
Dreamscarred Press sent the full 450 page PDF to their backers Christmas Eve. I've followed their updates with interest and they've each been comprehensive. Though a bit delayed from their original estimated delivery date, the project overshot their goal by a considerable amount and the project grew in scope. The wait was worth it as the final product is packed with psionic goodness for Pathfinder.<br />
<br />
The book has professional quality layout (right up there with Paizo and WotC) and filled to the brim with full color images (again comparable with the M.O. of much larger companies). Another bonus is the PDF has been optimized to the point where a 450 page file loads and scrolls as smooth as books one-tenth its size without noticeable sacrifice in visual quality and clarity. Understandable as the file size is on-par with those much smaller yet unoptimized books. More companies should go the extra step to streamline their digital files. It makes the electronic file run better on tablets especially, which find their way to the game table (where a supplement wants to be).<br />
<br />
<b>Ballpoint Universe</b> (originally College-Ruled Universe) <br />
Not a tabletop game but a computer game in the "Schmup" genre using graphics derived entirely from drawings done in ballpoint pen on college-ruled paper (thus the name). I backed on a whim based on the art style in the second quarter of 2012. After a steady development phase, the game was sent in a thumb-drive months ago but the designers continually cleaned up the gameplay and added features. Once the game was up on Steam, the project created sent Steam Keys to the backers. I considered this complete with the delivery of the flash drive, but having a Steam key means I have an 'perpetually' updated version on my account, keeping the game relevant in my library. Ballpoint Universe receives a well-deserved "Got It" check mark.<br />
<br />
<b>Lady Sabre and the Pirates of the Ineffable Aether</b><br />
The project creators (Greg Rucka, Rick Burchett, Eric Newsom) sent all the digital files to backers, including the graphic novel, the supplemental gazetteer, maps, desktop icons, wallpapers, and graphics. Physical rewards will go out around early Spring 2014 once they print and get prepped for shipping.<br />
<br />
>> Other projects have technically shipped, but are using the holiday update to announce improved functionality or content.<br />
<br />
<b>Quantum Flux</b> (formerly Spacial Flux)<br />
This was a rogue-style wandering spaceship game. The project funded by a relatively low amount. Knew it was going to be a long shot even if it relied mostly on textual interactions with graphical enhancements. Project creator with the help of another party more established in game production managed to get this to a working Alpha/Beta stage. Then the project was handed over to the third party as a Beta and will continue development from there. This v1.0 (technically finished, but still Beta-y game) was the version uploaded to patrons this week. It's functional if not exactly as smooth as expected from a finished product. Not a bad effort for the funding level. I backed it at a low tier to throw some support for indie developers, and partly because FTL sparked my interest in rogue-like games. Hopefully as this gets onto steam and other platforms development will refine the game as its profile rises.<br />
<br />
<b>Takedown</b><br />
Sent out an update showing DLC in QA testing. This tactical shooter barely met its funding goal in early 2012. About 18 months later they launched their product and sent Steam keys to backers. The game was unfinished to say the least and its reputation took a hit. Rather than abandon ship after such an incident, the company has continually improved on the game, fixing bugs, cleaning up game play, and adding new areas. While I haven't kept up to date with the project, it is good to see the company owning up to their project and hammering away at the game. Maybe something decent will come of this someday, but for now, this remains an example of the difficulties of crowd-funded indie games (and I think developer Serellan even got help from publisher 505 Games).<br />
<br />
>> Other projects don't have their primary reward ready for digital consumption, but they have offered a related gift to backers for their patience.<br />
<br />
<b>Shadows of Esteren - Book 2: Travels</b><br />
After rapid fulfillment of the first two books of Esteren, a French medieval horror RPG translated to English, Agate Editions went for a Kickstarter for Book 2. The following for these lavishly illustrated and beautifully produced books has grown with each book and the scope of Book 2 grew. This was all accounted for in the Kickstarter with the fulfillment dates updated and split up before the project ended. Still the wait for the completion of Book 2 is longer than for the others and Agate Edition offered up downloads of Book 1 to backers who didn't already have it with the encouragement to share one copy if a backer already has it. This was a nice gesture to their fans, but also a good way to grow their audience. A game lives only if people play it.<br />
<br />
<b>Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls </b><br />
Deluxe T&T has been delayed for a bit and for the last few months, backers have been getting DTRPG coupons for free T&T modules. In May we received <i>Buffalo Castle</i>, in July <i>City of Terrors</i>, <i>Saving Fang</i> in August, and <i>Dungeon of the Bear</i> on Christmas. These are mostly older modules scanned into PDF or recently expanded upon. Nothing matches actually having the core rules in hand, especially since this is my first copy of T&T, but it is a nice gesture to keep the craven masses occupied and is a good use of their substantial back catalog.<br />
<br />
>>And finally we get previews almost as good as the final product.<br />
<br />
<b>Guide to Glorantha</b><br />
Moon Design Publications sent a 346 page backer preview for the holidays. If this is indication of the final product, as it looks like a partial layout and some completed graphics and images, this will be a tome to behold. Showing completed chapters is doing previews right no matter how much more work you have to complete.<br />
<br />
<b>Adventures in the East Mark - The Red Box</b><br />
Sent out the text of the translated rulebook to backers. It's a good start for people curious about the game system sans any layout and art.<br />
<br />Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-24601071209508721572013-12-25T14:23:00.001-08:002013-12-25T14:23:12.356-08:00Merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Waft5mM8XYA/UrtZvv-e-gI/AAAAAAAAAj8/sxQ0oDFpEXY/s1600/santa_round_2_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Waft5mM8XYA/UrtZvv-e-gI/AAAAAAAAAj8/sxQ0oDFpEXY/s1600/santa_round_2_med.jpg" /></a></div>
A perennial thread at the Candlekeep Forums resurrected by white thread-necromancy around the holiday season are the web freebies from Wizards of the Coast site of yesteryear detailing Nicholas the Gift-Giver, his Northern Palace, and his Gnome Toymakers and Cooks.<br />
<br />
Indeed, <i>Santa has stats!</i> For d20 anyway. Throwing aside the "if it has stats" mentality for the moment, I've always found this to be one of the more pleasant holiday themed articles from Wizards. <br />
<br />
The pages are still there buried beneath the current site (now probably several redesigns since) and the links are enclosed below:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20011222x" target="_blank">Nicholas the Gift-Giver</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20021225x" target="_blank">The Northern Palace</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20021225x&page=2" target="_blank">Gnome Toymakers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20021225x&page=3" target="_blank">Gnome Cooks</a> </li>
</ul>
Also note the corresponding Nicholas the Gift-Giver wallpapers rendered in the sizes prevalent at the time including the widely used 640x480, the commonly found 800x600, as well as the rarer high definition at the time 1024x768.<br />
<br />
Enjoy this blast from the spirit of internet past!Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-7527232546951840882013-12-14T20:06:00.000-08:002013-12-14T20:06:08.977-08:00<div class="tG QF">
</div>
<div class="Ct">
Via <a href="http://savethescifi.com/">Singularity & Co.</a>:<b><br /></b><br />
<blockquote>
<b>Calling all NYC (and surrounding area) RPG and table gamers!</b> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
THIS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18:</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Singularity & Co. presents <b>'Secrets of the Lost Tomb'</b> Game Night with Everything Epic Games. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Singularity
& Co. invites everyone with a love of pulpy adventure and thrills
to join us and special guest Everything Epic Games as we showcase and
play their new game, <b>'Secrets of the Lost Tomb'</b> (currently running their own ALREADY FULLY FUNDED Kickstarter - <a class="ot-anchor aaTEdf" href="http://kck.st/1cmO3sX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://kck.st/1cmO3sX</a>). </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Players
will be transported back to a thrilling 1930's adventure universe,
complete with collaborative play and brilliant artwork - 'Tomb' truly is
a unique game of action and discovery! </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Email to get on the player list: chris@everythingepicgames.com </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b>Where:</b> Singularity & Co. Bookshop , 18 Bridge St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b>When:</b> Wednesday, December 18th, 6:30 - 10:00 (if you survive that long...) </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b>How much:</b> FREE! </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Check out Everything Epic Games for more info about this awesome game: <a class="ot-anchor aaTEdf" href="http://www.everythingepicgames.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.everythingepicgames.com/</a></blockquote>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t-DVj4nIBJA/Uq0qN6_U5lI/AAAAAAAAADQ/YoPkqJheZ-E/s1600/Secrets-of-the-Lost-Tomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t-DVj4nIBJA/Uq0qN6_U5lI/AAAAAAAAADQ/YoPkqJheZ-E/s400/Secrets-of-the-Lost-Tomb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Can't argue with FREE.<br /><br />
Would love to attend a gaming event in my area, but the time is smack dab in the middle of finals week. We'll see.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497244344638197087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-84193342689845388252013-12-11T19:02:00.002-08:002013-12-11T19:04:32.855-08:00Updates from Project Eternity, Wasteland 2, and Shroud of the AvatarObsidian Entertainment sent an update through their Project Eternity Kickstarter yesterday announcing the official name of their game: <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/obsidian/project-eternity/posts/691086" target="_blank"><b>Pillars of Eternity</b></a>.<br />
<br />
Along with some housekeeping pledge management site update stuff they included their new logo:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C5BxPvI8kYk/UqkjoCS3ojI/AAAAAAAAAh0/he1x3wmtVho/s1600/Pillars-of-Eternity-logo-580x371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C5BxPvI8kYk/UqkjoCS3ojI/AAAAAAAAAh0/he1x3wmtVho/s1600/Pillars-of-Eternity-logo-580x371.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good color choice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
More importantly, they posted a trailer using the in-game graphics, noting some of the animation is being refined.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='480' height='399' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/HKoDTzea79Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Seems they're making good progress.<br />
<br />
Not to be outdone, <b>Wasteland 2</b> posted <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/wasteland-2/posts/691853" target="_blank">Update #40</a> this evening announcing the beta release for Windows to their backers.<br />
<br />
Not to be left out, <b>Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues</b> also put up their <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/portalarium/shroud-of-the-avatar-forsaken-virtues-0/posts/691903" target="_blank">Update #40</a> with details for backers on accessing their beta release.<br />
<br />
Hmm, odd that, both Update #40.<br />
<br />
I backed both Wasteland 2 and <strike>Project Eternity</strike> Pillars of Eternity. Though I missed Shrouds of the Avatar, I will likely pick it up on release. These are some of the biggest gaming projects funded on Kickstarter. It is good to see them making significant strides towards a finished release.<br />
<br />
In fact, it is fundamental the games resulting from these projects turn out to be good in order to demonstrate multi-million dollar crowdfunded computer games from established companies or with the involvement of influential industry veterans are viable alternatives to the big publisher funded titles. Here's to them, may they succeed for the sake of these old school style CRPGs and their own company health.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-32943728570331045952013-12-11T15:55:00.000-08:002013-12-11T16:44:15.441-08:00Kickstarter Roundup: The "Got It!" Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eeRqLal8Oy8/Uqj4zd-WlgI/AAAAAAAAAhY/mvh85aX5nMI/s1600/kickstarter-logo-k-color.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eeRqLal8Oy8/Uqj4zd-WlgI/AAAAAAAAAhY/mvh85aX5nMI/s200/kickstarter-logo-k-color.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Kickstarter updated the Backer History page for each user's account, including a handy check box marked "Got It!" if the backer deems the project completed. Clicking on it neatly marks the project with a Kickstarter-branded green check mark, which apparently also denotes a similar indicator on the project creator's list of backers.<br />
<br />
As some participants in the Kicksnarker G+ community expressed, it's not as functional as a custom spreadsheet tracking all the details of each project, and I agree. However, I think it's still a useful bit of functionality that was a no-brainer to implement on Kickstarter's part, since the Backer History is already a comprehensive list of a backer's pledged projects. It's also a useful method for them to gauge backer satisfaction and project completion rate.<br />
<br />
I went through my list and checked off completed projects. Due to the binary "Have It/Don't Have It" choice, the results show a drastic difference from my own spreadsheet, which included remarks for partial fulfillment and itemized rewards. When made to distinguish the Got It as fully complete projects only, my count of satisfied projects drops precipitously (granted a number of them are recent projects).<br />
<br />
It can be disheartening to see, but considering the successes I've backed, I still think Kickstarter remains a useful system to fund projects. I feel it was worthwhile to see the good projects come to fruition rather than to dwell overlong on the tardy ones and the outright failures. Not that the missteps are forgotten.<br />
<br />
So who are the winners who earned their green check marks?<br />
<br />
Limiting this to my tabletop gaming related projects only, else the full list is much longer. In order of backing they are as follows:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a><b>Journey to the West</b>: Pathfinder RPG Voyage (<i>Kobold Press/Open Design</i>): Physical goods received as well as one oversized PDF stretch goal. There is one outstanding PDF stretch goal, but seeing as the other PDF grew to three times its original size and the last PDF book is in editing (it too is larger than promised), I consider this fulfilled far beyond the content promised. I saw some backers comment it took longer than expected, but seeing as this involved an elaborate and rigorous pitch-and-design process it came in well on time by my reckoning.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Castles & Crusades: Classic Monsters Manual</b> (<i>Troll Lord Games</i>): This was completed on time, but I missed the survey and for some reason my books were "lost" for a while. An email to Mr. Chenault easily resolved that after a time as the books were shipped back to him from another backer possibly with a similar name (a lesson on my part to keep tabs on my questionnaires, and thus my KS spreadsheet was born). I received the books with personalized notes. The Troll Lords rock as far as I'm concerned with this project. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>It Came From the Stars</b>: Bringing the Weird to Pathfinder RPG (<i>Zombie Sky Press</i>): Was fun to read the development process as project creator and lead designer Scott Gable and company used a system similar to Wolfgang Baur's Open Design. The resulting book and PDF are a beauty to behold (a weird alien beauty).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>D-Day Dice</b> Board Game(<i>Valley/Radiant Games</i>): This exploded from stretch goals and I received a lot of stuff from this, quickly too. I'm pleased with the product. I've heard Valley/Radiant Games and its owners have gotten into some legal strangeness with another of their funded Kickstarter projects to reprint an older game. Even then, from the updates of that other project it looks like they may have resolved the issues and are moving forward. Didn't back the other one, just know that D-Day Dice went smoothly and one of my earliest backed (and received) projects.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Zong Shi</b> (<i>Gryphon Games & Eagle Games</i>): Backed this on a whim, liked the concept, and it arrived at my doorstep before I realized it had even shipped. This was the first Kickstarter product I received. Gryphon and Eagle Games have about 25+ games completed or ongoing, all funded by Kickstarter. From what I can tell, they're pumping out board and card games at a rapid rate. When one project concludes they have another project up shortly (or even concurrently) at the same time they are manufacturing others or shipping another. They function like a well-oiled machine (maybe a bit too prolific in some ways) with a comparably minimal of delays (as far as I can tell). I haven't backed another of their projects yet, but usually at least skim their new projects. Some companies are really putting Kickstarter to good use and Gryphon/Eagle aren't the only ones, but they've been doing this for a couple of years now on KS with some success.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Artisan Dice</b> (<i>Artisan Dice</i>): One of the original (if not the first) wooden dice makers on KS. I received my sets. They work well enough but I got them for the novelty and as a gift for a friend (again novelty). I heard some of the more exotic woods could not be machined and that led to a few disappointed backers, but for the most part the dice have been shipped to most backers (as far as I can tell).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Quicksilver Worldbook</b> for Pathfinder (<i>UNIgames</i>): A company with Jeff Dee's involvement, this was a weird fantasy setting with psionics and living liquid metal. After some delays (not even considerable by KS standards), I received the book. A spur of the moment backing and I haven't given the book more than a thumbing through. It's nice enough at a glance. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>King For a Day</b> (<i>Postworldgames</i>): Similar to above, backed for the hell of it, looked interesting at the time. After some delay got my book and PDFs. Project delivered and it looks like what was pitched.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Midgard Tales</b>: 13 Pathfinder Adventures (<i>Kobold Press</i>): This resulted in a beautiful hardback of adventures. Stretch goals also gave backers an adventure by Wolfgang Baur and a Legends of Midgard supplement. All of them look great. The only outstanding product owed is the standalone Freeing Nethus adventure, but it's in editing last I heard. I consider this more or less complete. As the expanded adventure for Nethus was a stretch goal and we're gotten several already, and I've never been owed anything I paid for by KP, I expect the last adventure to ship soon/eventually. The main hardback grew larger than originally planned (maybe a stretch goal was in there somewhere), so there's plenty to chew through in the meantime.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Adventures Dark and Deep: A Curious Volume of Forgotten Lore</b> (<i>BRW Games</i>): One of the positive legends of tabletop RPG Kickstarters. This arrived as projected or was it early!? Joseph Bloch (BRW Games) continued this success with the rest of the ADD books, each one earlier than projected. Unfortunately, I didn't make it in on the other ADD Kickstarters before they ended, my brain fumbled its save vs fascination with other inferior KS projects, backed losers instead of winners. I do have the ADD Players Guide hardback incoming from DriveThruRPG, hopefully that will make me feel better.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Traveller 5th Edition</b> (<i>Far Future Enterprises</i>): Received this a while ago. The game is a bit dense and I'll probably never play any version of Traveller. I do like the dice included as backer swag.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Rappan Athuk</b> (<i>Frog God Games</i>): Went for the whole festering demon horde on this one, add-ons galore. Besides the main book and stretch goals, I got Slumbering Tsar, some Necromancer Games modules, the Tome of Adventure Design, and the City of Brass Boxed Set. They all arrived within a reasonable estimated delivery time and well packaged. Due to the positive experience here, this was not my last dealing with the Frog Gods.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Dungeon World</b> (<i>Sage Kobold Games</i>): This gem arrived without any fuss, then exploded in popularity on my gaming news and social feeds. Love the little supplement booklets that came with it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Ace Detective</b>: Storytelling Game (<i>8th Summit</i>): Got this for the use of pulp detective artwork from Black Mask. The art is unrivaled in atmosphere for obvious reasons. I also liked the detective theme. The game looks sharp and comes with a Mythos investigation expansion too.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Shadows of Esteren</b>: A Medieval Horror RPG (<i>Agate Editions, Studio 2 Publishing</i>): Esteren came out of nowhere (well out of France actually) and seized attention with its gorgeous award-winning art and production. Aside from the art, the atmosphere of the setting is dark and foreboding, which is supported well by the visual design. Haven't the chance to play the game yet unfortunately.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Tabletop Forge</b>: Virtual Tabletop for G+ Hangouts (<i>Tabletop Forge</i>): Okay, marking this as complete might be controversial as Tabletop Forge imploded before a fully functional version could be released. The updates go into detail. I don't consider this a lost cause because the creator salvaged what he could from this by investing the existing TTF efforts into competing virtual tabletop Roll20 (also a Kickstarter funded project). As I understand it, much of the funds went to (besides KS & Amazon's cut, expenses, taxes and the like) fulfillment of backer perks (gaming PDFs, maps, game time with designers).<br />
<br />
Backers of TTF were incorporated into Roll20 as if they were charter members of Roll20's own Kickstarter with the perks that come with that. Essentially, TTF became a second crowdfunder for Roll20. Most of the art and map assets were introduced into Roll20. Since they
were owned by their respective artists anyway and they could sell it at
the Roll20 marketplace, they weren't left to dry either. TTF might have died, but it made Roll20 stronger. I also received my non-TTF perks from this project, a bunch of books in PDF format and a custom world map for my use as a homebrew setting map. To date it is one of the most unique Kickstarter rewards I've received.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Bulrup</b>: The Mystical Card Game of Abstract Agriculture (<i>Stonescrye Games</i>): An interesting little card game, another impulse backing, liked the agriculture theme and simple but effective art design. I think it was just the designer and one artist's effort, maybe with some help from friends here and there. This was one of the smoothest projects I backed proving a small outfit can achieve success if they're organized and serious (and passionate) about their project.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Numenera</b> (<i>Monte Cook Games</i>): Numenera delivered a sci-fantastic setting wrapped around Monte Cook's new d20-descended Cypher System. Monte set up for one book and ended up funding an entire product line, all before D&D 5E reached a suitable beta release. With his friend Bruce Cordell signing on to the company and leading development of another game, The Strange, based on the same system, Kickstarter has helped these industry veterans launch a new company with top-notch production values to compete on stronger footing in a market with entrenched gaming titans.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Reaper Miniatures Bones</b> (<i>Reaper Miniatures</i>): Along with everyone else and their dog, I went in for at least the Vampire package. I now have more minis than I know what to do with and more than I can ever hope to paint. Probably the greatest relative value of all.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Swords & Wizardry Complete</b> (<i>Frog God Games, Mythmere Games</i>): Probably one of the better values in Kickstarter I've backed. Came away shortly after with a beautiful hardback for S&W Complete, a hefty Monstrosities book (did not dawn on me how big a tome this was until it uncovered it from the shipping box), and some adventures. Normally more of a Pathfinder or 2E person, but if I had to choose an OSR game, it would be S&W, due mostly to this Kickstarter (and its association with FGG's dual system support). S&W Complete is also 'advanced' enough to make an easy segue for my 3rd edition-centric habits.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Art of Brom</b> (<i>Flesh Publications</i>): Not technically a gaming project, but it's Brom who defined a good portion of my favorite gaming products growing up. The book is magnificent in reproducing some of Brom's best and most iconic works. This launched, concluded, and most importantly distributed early enough for me to get another copy as a Christmas present for a friend. I've backed a few art books (and comics) and many will miss the holiday season. I can never rely on a project as a gift until I have it in my hands. Fortunately, Art of Brom had everything ready beforehand.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Fate of the Norns </b>(<i>Pendelhaven</i>): Didn't know anything about the game going into this project, but apparently it's been out for 20 years, this was for the anniversary reprint and update. Anyway, the art style attracted me to Fate of the Norns more than anything, that and the Norse theme. Believe it or not, this was another project mistakenly shipped to another backer and this time I filled out the survey. I discovered this when the project creator contacted me to check if I received my package. This initiated the process to correct the shipping issue and I received my book and runes not long afterwards. I appreciate the project creator touching base to make sure everything was alright which informed me of the problem and they were quick to fix it. Good follow up and customer service.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Tenra Bansho Zero</b> (<i>Kotodama Heavy Industries</i>): A RPG playing with Japanese influences actually written by Japanese designers, with a translator who treats it as a passion project? Sure I'll give it a try. Tenra delivered and the project creator kept in steady communication throughout the process. Books look great, came with cool a bunch of kanji dice (pretty unique from my other dice), some supplemental player cards and GM reference sheets and book marks, and a manga. Stretch goals had some PDFs, which are in development, but I have confidence they will be completed. The books are out, people are playing the game, that's what counts.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Shadows of Esteren Prologue</b> (<i>Agate Editions, Studio 2 Publishing</i>): Like the previous Esteren project, this arrived before I realized it shipped. The production values and art remain 'Triple A' quality. Due to the success of their third KS project, the Prologue PDF is now available as a free downloadable intro to the game. This is an excellent way for a game to gain traction and this is all due to efficient use of crowdfunding.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Fate Core</b> (<i>Evil Hat Productions</i>): Fate Core set a high standard for value, timeliness, communication, total transparency, diverse ideas and settings, and low cost of entry for all Kickstarters to come (or since). It's almost unfair to other projects to have this bar of quality looming over them. Fate and Evil Hat are like the Master Race of Tabletop Gaming, but aren't snooty enough to rub it in people's faces (I jest, but only partly). Aside from a producing a cool system and a bunch of settings, I like that the people involved highlight the amount of work it took to reach their level success and the insane costs of shipping. Listen and learn from the best, future Kicksterterers.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Sorcerer Upgrade</b> (<i>Adept Press</i>): Got this more for the influence of the game than plans to play it, but never know, this is actually closer to what my game-conscious friends prefer in an RPG than the more D&D type games. Backed and received the books with good communication from the project creator.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Ehdrigohr</b>: The Roleplaying Game (<i>Council of Fools</i>): The game with the most creative ambiance and less-tread cultural influences I've encountered on Kickstarter without heading into gonzo territory. The setting was realized vividly with distinct art and strong prose. The book is in full color too, unusual given the inexpensive backing levels. Where others do that and crash, Council of Fools delivered all the while with enough updates to keep backers apprised of progress. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Razor Coast</b> (<i>Frog God Games</i>): The infamous Razor Coast project, already a failed pre-order from Sinister Games during the early days of Pathfinder. After a long absence, the setting creator appeared suddenly one day with an apology and with another supportive freelancer acting as a mediator, who handle his refund account for him with disgruntled preorderers. Then it was announced FGG had purchased the rights to the project. While FGG hit a snag with the full color printing and overseas logistics, they managed to pull everything together and get the books out before or around Gen Con 2013 (from start to finish still faster than a lot of other KS projects). Problems can hit the most experienced and organized of companies, but what separates the good ones from the ones who end up being the topic of snark is that the professional companies deliver in a reasonable time in spite of the setbacks (or deliver at all). Razor Coast shows us late is a viable alternative to never, all things considered.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Dungeon Roll</b> (<i>Tasty Minstrel Games</i>): With custom production molds for dice with non-standard symbols and a game box in the shape of a treasure chest (or the awesome KS exclusive mimic monster box) I thought for sure this would be delayed beyond all reckoning. Fortunately TMG demonstrated they are in control of their production schedule. Shipped through Amazon, which I heard was not timely for other backers, but worked well for me. I received a very cool game with the aforementioned unusual aesthetics. The instructions included a few blatant typos, which was unfortunately given the brevity of the document, but the quality of the other components is solid. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Mage Tower</b>: Tower Defense Card Game (<i>Super Mega Games</i>): Hassle-free project, backed and received on time. Helps the product was ready to go from their contracted print/production company.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Lords of Gossamer and Shadow</b>: Diceless Role-Playing (<i>Rite Publishing</i>): Rite Publishing approached the Lords of Gossamer and Shadow Kickstarter with an interesting setup. Most backer tiers contribute only to the game's development (editing, art, layout, stretch goal PDFs). For the medium tiers, acquiring a print book is offered as an at-cost coupon through DTRPG. Some might say that's backwards, paying for a product twice. This actually offers the most transparent way to deal with rising shipping costs, else the project creator would just incorporate the print & shipping cost into the tier's price and then roll the dice hoping shipping or production costs do not explode in the meantime. I'm comfortably backing the middle tier knowing I'm paying for development costs and stretch goals. Together with the at-cost print and shipping, backing the project still cost less than other projects with exclusive hardcover tiers.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Majus</b>: A Magic Noir Pacesetter Game (<i>Goblinoid Games</i>): Backed and received shortly thereafter. If only all projects were handled so smoothly.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Short Order Heroes</b> (<i>Calico Games</i>): Another one that shipped before many projects of similar scope or projected schedules.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Torchbearer</b> (<i>Burning Wheel</i>): This one was easy as well. The resulting book feels at once like it would fit amongst the old editions, but with a subtle modern/deluxe flare to it.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Haggis & Ross Clan Deck </b>(<i>Indie Boards and Cards</i>): Recently received and it already made a list for top games for the holidays under $20. Another positive for actually delivering product to backers, it means you can also distribute through regular channels and you know ... sell your game and make a wondrous thing called profit (this is the esoteric Step 3 to profit's Step 4). Dungeon Roll above also made the same list. The secret is out folks. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWk0Fur3WSI/Uqj6PvO5keI/AAAAAAAAAhk/SdMSmhcNJ8U/s1600/KS_Got_It_Check.jpg" /></a> <b>Numenera: Poster Map of the Ninth World</b> (<i>Maps of Mastery</i>): Went in for the basic map, got it. That went well.<br />
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That's what I've got, satisfied backing of 36 projects to date. There are more on the way and some of the recent ones look to be capable of delivering. Several companies also reappear as creators on my recently backed projects including: Kobold Press, Frog God Games, Rite Publishing, Monte Cook Games, Tasty Minstrel Games, and Agate Editions/Studio 2 Publishing. I back with confidence because I've actually received stuff from them. Success begets success, but they put the work in to earn it. <br />
<br />Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-12529376931021695572013-12-10T15:22:00.000-08:002013-12-10T16:14:18.836-08:00World Building with a List of Races: The Dominant OnesContinuing on the setting creation kick from the previous post, I mentioned using the setup of rolling five times on a d100 to pick out that number of races from this list of races on a Paizo forum discussion: <a href="http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ng5v?Worldbuilding-Exercise-Get-5-Random-Races" target="_blank">Worldbuilding Exercise - Get 5 Random Races, Build a Setting</a>, Build a Setting. Mind went blank starring at the races that came up, I had trouble making anything of them with just a list of five names. I didn't put myself in the mindset of treating it as a simple exercise and indeed wanted something more elaborate. Also, the some of the races happened to be the weird ones from Wizard's later 3.5E output. I would have to reinterpret them. <br />
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For now the list consisted of:<br />
<b>* Ratfolk:</b> Probably the most interesting choice. Also, a fan of the Nezumi/Ratlings from L5R/Rokugan.<br />
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<b>* Darfellan</b> (powerfully build, seafaring humanoids with the coloration of orcas)<b>:</b> Never liked them even though I found Stormwrack useful. In my opinion they fall into the biggest misstep of race creation, the humanoid/anthropomorphic animal race. Yes, I find this worst than humans with pointy ears or forehead lumps. Plus they look silly, it's hard to pull off the black & white color scheme.<br />
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<b>* Dragon-based Humanoid</b> (Wildcard, make your own)<b>:</b> So these aren't Dragonborn, which are a separate entry (and partly why the draconic races appear so often in my rolling frenzy, they had two related entries which I conflated together).<br />
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<b>* Illumian</b> (human-like beings infused with sorcery with glowing sigils floating around their heads)<b>:</b> Another weird one from Wizards, this time from Races of Destiny. This one is going to take some work.<br />
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<b>* Dwarf:</b> Simple enough of a start, perhaps even a bit too standard compared to the others.<br />
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Since I had the list and the dice roller up, they were handy tools to keep the momentum going. Refusing to settle with the first batch fated to me by the dice gods (what a cheat I am), I opted for a "best 2 of 3 mentality". The rule was the first five races to make it to three repeats become the power players of the setting, those with the dominant empires and most prevalent populations. This took many rolls and by the time I reached five dominant races, I had a handful of secondaries with two appearances or three if I considered similar races together. More rolls later I finished up and had a rough narrative of who's who based on who came up more often, when they arrived, who dropped out, and combining similar races together as offshoots, subraces, or successors. Much of it was arbitrary and spontaneous based on the scant information interpreted from the rolls, but as the web of connections grew, richer details and conflicts emerged.<br />
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At this point, of the original five races, three emerged firmly as dominant races while the other two were close runner-ups. Interesting interactions arose due to the order they appeared in the rolls. I decided to enshrine the original 5 as major movers & shakers of the setting, either currently or in the past, regardless of their present status.<br />
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The total result formed into this:<br />
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***The Dominant***<br />
<b>- Dwarves:</b> The primary power of the setting, they are an ancient races who dwelt upon the world since the first of days and their influence has scarcely waned in that time. Their culture and civilization is older than most races have been active. Since they appeared four times in the Grand Roll before most races could get to two, "At the Four Corners of the earth" is a common phrase used to describe the staunch ubiquity of the dwarves. Duergar are also present in significant number.<br />
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<b>- "Orcs":</b> Actually Darfellan, but orcs and half-orcs came up more often after Darfellan peaked. Combining the concepts yields semi-aquatic orcs who are mighty seaborne raiders, activity which fuels their founding of sprawling and rowdy coastal and islandic empires. They are a weathered, hardy race whose fortune rises and ebbs like the tide. They have a longstanding rivalry with the dwarves and the ratfolk. Given their influence, half-orcs are not uncommon and act as intermediaries with humans and other races.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dO2PEmTFIpA/Uqekmf7AwpI/AAAAAAAAAgs/1Hjj7nPYQ-E/s1600/Strix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dO2PEmTFIpA/Uqekmf7AwpI/AAAAAAAAAgs/1Hjj7nPYQ-E/s640/Strix.jpg" width="328" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strix<br />
PFRPG, Paizo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>- Humans:</b> Actually Illumians, but after an early peak, Illumians never recurred in the Grand Roll where as humans did. They were the powerful Sigil-marked Ancients (now grown rare and reclusive) who gave way or degenerated into common humans. Humans took 13 sets to appear, the number may hold significance for the humans and their 'Sigilim' predecessors. <br />
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<b>- Strix</b> (dark winged humanoids with avian features): Counting their counterparts the harpies and their distant cousins the tengu they are even more prolific than they first appear. The avian races have always been a part of the world, but rose later than the others. For a time they were vassals or subjects but in the last few centuries their presence as equals to the other dominant races is unquestioned. The strix are mysterious and ambitious and have the tendency to walk alternative (some say dark) paths to achieve their goals. The harpies, possibly the same race, presents a more loquacious and familiar face in their interactions with the other races, but where as the strix have courtesy of offing you quietly and quickly in your sleep, the harpies are cruel fury incarnate when they require. <br />
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<b>- "Wood Fey":</b> Actually Treants, but after making the list they disappeared while Dryads, Elves and Uldra each appeared more often. To keep with the treant theme, might aim more for a plant-based humanoid (another choice that came up several times). This is the race requiring the most defining and elements might click into place as the other races are developed further.<br />
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Next will be the secondary races, those who don't quite have the continent-spanning influence of the dominants, but not due to being inactive. Indeed we'll see a few of the original races refuse to fade quietly into the annals of history and give the dominants a run for all they're worth.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-61968602215385591702013-12-08T19:17:00.000-08:002013-12-09T14:56:40.750-08:00World Building Exercise with Five Random Races & A List of Fantasy ArchetypesStumbled upon an old thread on the Paizo forums, <a href="http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ng5v?Worldbuilding-Exercise-Get-5-Random-Races" target="_blank">Worldbuilding Exercise - Get 5 Random Races, Build a Setting</a>, started by Mikaze based on another thread from another forum. The idea is to roll five d100s and compare the results to the list found in the thread. That gives you five races who will be the primary player races for a setting. Write-up the setting as you see fit, any where from a few paragraphs to whatever level of detail you desire.<br />
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I've been messing with the list over the weekend, using the Invisible Castle online dice roller. While my first set of five were fine, I went overboard and put the system to work in develop the races and setting. I used something like 35 sets of 5d100 rolls to flesh out the races and relationships using a few simple rules associated with how often and when a race appears in the rolls. Very soon certain trends appeared. Perhaps it was coincidence or maybe I was looking at the results with bias, but the dynamic started to look like one of my abandoned homebrew settings.<br />
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The exercise filled in a few gaps and reinforced ideas I had played with. Soon I folded the ideas from the exercise entirely into my homebrew. Some basic work still needs to be done to integrate the two, but this has the old homebrew well dusted off and ready for some refurbishing.<br />
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Ever a glutton for more world building, I used the Paizo board dice roller to run through the exercise again. Took a few tries to get results that didn't mirror the trends of my deluge of d100s (something like 175 rolls). Came across two sets involving gonzo collections of races and will reserve those to fuel later inspiration.<br />
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I went in looking for a traditional fantasy setup but found those specific results charged my creativity but zipped it along other directions. The randomness gives results that force you out of your comfort zones. Some of the reasoning for my excessive rolling laid in trying to develop trends rather than settling with the first set (even though my first set contained most of the races already in my homebrew).<br />
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Other times the dice spit out a sets that challenge your intent. It makes you consider alternatives, changes your desired world atmosphere, or even leads you to venture into genres you had no idea you wanted to try. <br />
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Ultimately after several more sets treading on my homebrew, I gathered the untried stragglers unique from my prior attempts to divine out a setting's concepts from dice. What follows is the thought process involved in that along with the rolls.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iAZj51erMfI/UqU5i0AE4_I/AAAAAAAAAfY/f6gn9Rad6po/s1600/samsaran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iAZj51erMfI/UqU5i0AE4_I/AAAAAAAAAfY/f6gn9Rad6po/s400/samsaran.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samsaran<br />
Paizo's PFRPG</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
- Construct-based Humanoid (user defined)<br />
- Tanuki (short racoon humanoids)<br />
- Samsaran
(reincarnated blue-skinned humanoids)
<br />
- Serpentfolk
<br />
- Medusa<br />
<br />
Going to throw a wildcard in there in case the serpentfolk and medusa ideas bleed together.<br />
<br />
<span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 92</span>: Construct -
Okay, the Medusa aren't mythological medusa but human-machine hybrids
with the snake element being artificial. The sorceries of this bond is
related to the serpentfolk. Guess the medusa and samsarans will be
stand-ins for humans. I prefer some version of humans be present in my settings to work as a starting point.<br />
<br />
Since Medusa and Samsarans are human derived, still need one more:
<br />
<span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 67</span>: Sasquatch, going the Wookie or Mok route.<br />
<br />
Using the <a href="http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2qf6x?World-Building-Exercise-3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">World Building Exercise 3</a> thread filled with a hundred fantasy archetypes/roles, I rolled two roles/occupations for each race to create a spectrum of expertise/focus.<br />
<br />
- Construct Humanoid: <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 42 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 79</span> > Frontier Warriors & Wayfinders (take that as guides and maybe explorers of ruins)<br />
<br />
- Tanuki: <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 96 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 37</span> > Defenders & Tribal Shamans<br />
<br />
- Samsaran: <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 10</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 43</span> > Dilettantes & Masters of the Bow (by the gods, they're blue-skinned Elves)<br />
<br />
- Serpentfolk: <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 14 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 84</span> > Priests & Tacticians<br />
<br />
- Medusa: <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 73</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 34</span> > Enlightened Ones & Military Leaders<br />
<br />
- Sasquatch: <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 94</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 77</span> > Skilled Apprentices & Driven Avengers<br />
<br />
Only point I really want clarification on is Skilled Apprentices of what? The answer is <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 33</span> Knight of the Silver Sword.<br />
<br />
Actually maybe we'll answer what otherworldly archetypes influence
the more pious peoples or even the non-pious ones as a few run too close
to theme to offer much variety. Included are impromptu rules for narrowing the rolls based on my first impression of the race/archetypes combo.<br />
<br />
- The Constructs are influenced by a concept involving (roll three, reduce down to one singular overarching objective or origin): <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 71 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 38 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 29</span>: Stargazer, Unwilling Mage, Pirate<br />
<br />
Created by unwilling mages from the stars, the Constructs were used as
raiders to despoil entire planets. A cataclysm separated and freed them
from their manipulators, destroying what passed for their old
civilization (a foothold on this world). They now travail the ruins of
said fallen civilization, looking ever towards the stars of their birth.
Perhaps they can one day gather the resources and magic to free their
creators from the grasp of their ancient overlords.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BpgODpPS1ho/UqU5thq8Q8I/AAAAAAAAAfg/zvfITqJlTII/s1600/tanuki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BpgODpPS1ho/UqU5thq8Q8I/AAAAAAAAAfg/zvfITqJlTII/s400/tanuki.jpg" width="341" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanuki<br />
by Eric Belisle<br />
Paizo's PFRPG</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
- The Tanuki Tribal Shamans venerate spirits of (a dichotomy with an outlier, a trio, or some complex gamut): <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 8</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 11 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 7</span>: Mysterious Wise One, Spellcasting Warrior, Land's Redeemer<br />
<br />
A spiritual archetype for each adventuring role in their society with an overall goal to save or reclaim the land.<br />
<br />
- Samsaran ideology involves (roll three, make it a byzantine affair) <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 61</span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 99</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 86</span>: Heretic, Agent, Rebel
<br />
<br />
Samsarans have a complex society balanced between agency and rebellion with some heretical outliers.<br />
<br />
- Serpentfolk have a pantheon (of five at least) <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 85</span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 10</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 28</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 53</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 14</span>: Dark Curious, Dilettante, Bored Noble, Warrior of the Nameless Good, Priest<br />
<br />
- Medusa enlightenment is a concept of two or more seemingly contradictory ideas <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 52</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 54</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 48</span>: War Dancer, Rugged Frontierman, Berzerker Cultist<br />
<br />
- Sasquatch have two wildcard factors, one positive, one negative <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 51 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 69</span>: Crone's Ranger, Storyteller<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EuUAU7S6ZVo/UqU54uE16jI/AAAAAAAAAfo/2X7LkgIkDGk/s1600/RedSerpentFolk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EuUAU7S6ZVo/UqU54uE16jI/AAAAAAAAAfo/2X7LkgIkDGk/s400/RedSerpentFolk.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serpentfolk<br />
by Florian Stitz, for Paizo's PFRPG</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Need to clarity a few of the serpent gods (roll two, pick one)
<br />
- Dark Curious & <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 90</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 24</span> Scientist or <s>Trap Master</s>
<br />
- Dilettante & <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 3</span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1 d100 ⇒ 56</span> Sage & <s>Skilled Veteran</s> (couldn't decide <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d2 ⇒ 1</span>, sage it is)
<br />
- Bored Noble & <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 68 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 85</span> Negotiator or <s>Dark Curious</s>
<br />
- Warrior of the Nameless Good & <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 40 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 19</span> City Speaker or <s>Questing Knight</s>
<br />
- Priest & <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 12 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 23</span> War <s>Mage or Spellsword</s><br />
<br />
The detritus will form the basis of a dark pantheon:
<br />
- <s>The Master of Traps</s> or the Masters of the Trap, perhaps an aspect of the Dark Curious Scientist
<br />
- The Skilled Veteran, perhaps a dark warrior god of barbarians,
tyrants, and atrocities opposes the erudite Dilettante, and probably the
Noble Negotiator as well.
<br />
- The Dark Curious Scientist antagonizes himself/herself and is the nemesis of the Bored Noble Negotiator
<br />
- The Questing Knight (& <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 25</span> Beastmaster) is a crusader who is the bane of the urbane Warrior of Nameless Good.
<br />
- An dark arcane War Mage/Spellsword (& <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 70 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 79</span> Giver of Blessings, Wayfinder, Construct connection?) contests with the War Priest (& <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 45</span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 10 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 77</span>
Knight of the Realm (another variant of the Priest is the nemesis of
the Good City-Warrior?), Dilettante (a relationship with the
Dilettante?), Driven Avenger (influence with the Sasquatches?)).<br />
<br />
These last few results needed a bit more as they're are all similar to priests/paladins or overlap with another
deity.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QK59pok6dgA/UqU5_YZG9rI/AAAAAAAAAfw/AzcumGfpZm4/s1600/Medusa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QK59pok6dgA/UqU5_YZG9rI/AAAAAAAAAfw/AzcumGfpZm4/s400/Medusa.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Medusa <br />
by Andrew Hou<br />
Paizo's PFRPG</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Medusa options didn't offer much for "enlightened", another three gives me: <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 2</span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 13</span><span class="messageboardPostDice"> 1d100 ⇒ 8</span>
Loremaster, Doomspeaker, Mysterious Wise One (connection between the
Wise one of the Tanuki and the Medusa beliefs?).<br />
<br />
The Medusa are
mind-body-integrated, zen-raging, trance-channeling, apocalypse
warrior-monks.<br />
<br />
Feel like I need more granularity for the Sasquatches. <span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 90 </span><span class="messageboardPostDice">1d100 ⇒ 17</span> Scientist, Chosen One
<br />
(+) Crone's Ranger and Scientist: The Constructs are rangers, perhaps a
Crone works into their history/culture and is connected with the
Sasquatches. The Serpentfolk gods (Scientist and Sage) play a positive
role for the Sasquatches
<br />
(-) Storyteller and Chosen One: Stories foretell a Chosen One who the Sasquatches will have to face or will be hunted by.<br />
<br />
There we have it. The formatting is messy, but we have the framework for a setting using two d100 tables of races and archetypes complete with races, specialties, a pantheon and some initial relations and outlooks between the peoples.<br />
<br />
Been stuck in a rut of writer's block over the last few months due to school. This exercise removed the initial barrier. There are enough hooks to bite on to jump into a stream of activity if only to develop the present setting points. Time and opportunity permitting, this might be a fun project to scribble away on.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-12669350240085962602013-12-06T20:22:00.000-08:002013-12-06T20:22:10.510-08:00Goodman Games 2013 Holiday Grab Bag UnboxingThe holiday grab bags offered from internet bargain retailers or daily deal sites have always tempted me. Having watched videos of unboxings, they're usually full of gimmicky gizmos, phone chargers, and miscellaneous USB dongles. I've managed to hold curiosity at bay knowing I don't need a box full of cheap junk.<br />
<br />
What of the same concept applied to gaming? Never had a chance on that save.<br />
<br />
Several game companies have used this method to clear out their warehouses to the mutual benefit of company and consumer. This is the first chance I've had to get a hold of one of these. Other years my near-holiday gaming budget had been absorbed by Paizo sales or tossed into the eBay arena, but this year not so much. I've thrown down for the <a href="http://www.goodman-games.com/2013holidaygrabbag.html" target="_blank">Goodman Games 2013 Holiday Grab Bag</a> box and for a similar deal at Frog God Games. Goodman Games is the first to arrive and here's what it contained:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HX9fpqqrlhM/UqFq0vSBWBI/AAAAAAAAAfI/NxakqkO9VIw/s1600/GoodmanGames2013GrabBag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HX9fpqqrlhM/UqFq0vSBWBI/AAAAAAAAAfI/NxakqkO9VIw/s640/GoodmanGames2013GrabBag.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The list from top to bottom:<br />
- Goodman Games 4E product line <i>promotional poster</i><br />
- Laminated <i>art print</i> of a DCC module cover, Sailors of the Starless Sea<br />
- <b>World Championship Dodgeball</b> (card game)<br />
- <b>Dungeon Alphabet</b>, third printing (system-neutral book on old-school dungeon design, 64 pages )<br />
- <b>Wicked Fantasy Factory #4: A Fistful of Zinjas</b> (4E adventure, 48 pages)<br />
- <b>DM Campaign Record</b> (fill-in forms for notes with some handy prompts and charts) <br />
- <b>Level Up #2</b>, July 2009 (4E magazine, 64 pages)<br />
- <b>Forgotten Heroes: Scythe and Shroud</b> (4E character classes, 105 pages)<br />
- <b>Points of Light </b>(system-neutral book of mini-settings, 48 pages)<br />
- <b>Age of Cthulhu: The Long Reach of Evil</b> (CoC adventure anthology, 72 pages)<br />
- <b>DCC The Emerald Enchanter</b> (DDCRPG module, 16 pages)<br />
<br />
Many of these items are still being sold from the Goodman Games online store. The cost of the box was $30 (+ $12.35 shipping). Going by their listed price, the box contents are worth about $120, not counting the promo poster or cover art print. Of course, I rarely buy at full retail. Noble Knight has a slight discount on most of these items and the price for this would be in the $100 range. A quick search through eBay for the lowest prices of these books puts them at around $80. Split the difference puts us at $90, thus we received goods valued at about three times what we paid.<br />
<br />
After a browse through, here's a breakdown of my first impressions in a Good-Bad-Ugly gradation, except I like to place the worst in the front.<br />
<br />
<b>The 'Meh'</b><br />The poster is for Goodman's 4E product line. I'm disinclined to put up a poster for a product line or edition I haven't played and have no gravitation towards.<br />
<br />
The art print is of the cover, complete with the title and byline. Thinking on it, the print may actually be a printer proof of the cover for said module. Not a terrible thing, but it does limit its use as a visual game aid or a wall hanger (unless the module becomes legendary amongst gaming adventures).<br />
<br />
Not interested in the theme of the Dodgeball card game. Care even less for the art. Moving on.<br />
<br />
The Fistful of Zinja adventure has several things going against it. First it's 4E (but that's minor). It has weird but utterly generic and bland pseudo-manga-style art. Black text within a dark text boxes used in a black & white layout makes many parts of the text a strain on the eyes. Appropriate for the art it has a vague and superficial far eastern theme as if "zinjas" didn't give that away. Here they're some sort of shadow-linked (what isn't "shadowy" in 4E) otherworldly invaders who travel by inter-dimensional castle (à la Krull's Beast and Slayers). It takes more than naming an ambitious warlord and his demon corrupter a "shogoon" and "oni" to make them stand out. The adventure actually uses terms like finishing moves (not a terrible idea actually so this book has some uses), mooks, phat lewt, movie rights, and the Big Badass. Overall it seems uninspiring while trying unsuccessfully to cram the zany over-the-top flavor of anime and rule-of-cool genre tropes in a D&D format.<br />
<br />
Not surprisingly, the items that attributed for most of the potential discount from the list prices where the dodgeball game and the zinja module. <br />
<br />
<b>The 'Spiffy'</b><br />
The DM Campaign Record could be useful, plenty of space, good setting and NPC design prompts, a handful of useful charts. <br />
<br />
Level Up #2 is a hodgepodge of 4E material (races, adventures, feats, artifacts/items, character options, etc.) but also edition neutral stuff to be expected from a magazine [reviews, interviews, questions, a brief ecology with most taken by 4E stats, and an article on a deity of Aereth (Goodman Games' in-house setting)]. Notably, it has an official WotC sanctioned article on the Villains of Eberron, part of it is about adapting the threats into 4E's adventuring tiers. Seems like a fun issue for a gaming mag.<br /><br />Forgotten Heroes: Scythe and Shroud is a book detailing four new 4E classes, the assassin, the deathwarden, the necromancer, and the spiritsworn. Not going to get much use out of it, but the theme of death as a power source is a strong one in fantasy literature. The authors are Tavis Allison (Adventurer, Conqueror, King), Eytan Bernstein (freelancer with WotC amongst others), Brian Cortijo (freelancer, mostly Dragon magazine and Pathfinder, and also a Forgotten Realms fan) and Greg Tito (also ACK). I just happened to recognize the names, no idea they worked on this book. I can spot some neat ideas cropping up on just a skimming of pages.<br />
<br />
Age of Cthulhu: Long Reach of Evil is a Call of Cthulhu adventure anthology, three adventures by three authors across the locales of Peru, Sumatra, and Tibet ("Incan ruins, erupting volcanoes, and madness at the top of the world") all set in 1920s. Okay you have my attention. Not exposed to CoC much, but interested in its material either way. The printing is done in a sepia brown, including the text. This makes readability a problem but compensates for it with clean layout and atmospheric art and artifacts (letters, clues, and evidence) to really immerse the group. The authors are Mike Ferguson, Rick Maffei, and Richard Pett. The former two I believe have several CoC adventures to their names, the latter also has some Pathfinder material, much of which is Mythos inspired or just plain creepy if the reviews are anything to go by. All in all, Long Reach of Evil probably had the right team and is one of the heftier books of this grab bag.<br />
<br />
<b>The 'Awesome'</b><br />
The Emerald Enchanter, a module for the DCCRPG. This is off of Goodman Games' main product line complete with trippy fantasy art and funky old school-inspired rules set. This is nice and current and appreciated.<br />
<br />
Dungeon Alphabet, system-neutral letter-by-letter guide to old school dungeon building and monster stocking. It's also a hardcover. 'Nuff said, it's something I actually wanted and would have gotten eventually anyway. Glad to have it.<br />
<br />
Points of Light, a set of mini-settings by Robert Conley. Have always want this since I've seen OSR blogs mention it. Now I have it thanks to this grab bag.<br />
<br />
So was it worth it to me?<br />
<br />
Yes. Just the three awesome items covered the basic cost, everything else was just nice extras with some of it opening my awareness to products I didn't know about but might be interested in.<br />
<br />
If you haven't tried a Goodman Games grab bag before, I recommend you try one for fun. Certainly beats a box of USB cables and screen protectors. Who knows you might get some nice old school inspired goodies or a useful other edition adventure or game magazine.<br />
<br />Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7161933126148738660.post-72044838572919653982013-11-01T22:07:00.000-07:002013-11-01T22:07:00.014-07:00Halloween Treats at DriveThruStuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ksPow5Xw7Go/UnSH1ZNj8hI/AAAAAAAAAe4/jchiC6oq0vc/s1600/DTRPG-HalloweenBan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="76" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ksPow5Xw7Go/UnSH1ZNj8hI/AAAAAAAAAe4/jchiC6oq0vc/s640/DTRPG-HalloweenBan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php" target="_blank">DriveThruRPG</a> has a Halloween themed Trick or Treat scavenger hunt until November 3rd. Click around to find the jack-o-lantern icons to place discounted PDFs into your cart and checkout for free. <br />
<br />
It's pumpkin loads of fun. Isn't free stuff always fun?<br />
<br />
The DriveThruStuff subsidiaries also have similar scavenger hunts for products of their respective categories.<br />
<br />
<br />For the more impatient here's the list for DriveThruRPG:<br />
<br />
<br />
- Savage Worlds Horror Companion (Pinnacle Entertainment) @ Follow Link
for Halloween scavenger hunt
(http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?filters=200_0_0_0_0)<br /><br />-
Wild Cards SCARE Sheet 1: Bugsy (Green Ronin) @ Troubleshooting, top of
page (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/Troubleshooting.php)<br /><br />-
Streets of Bedlam: A Savage World of Crime + Corruption (FunSizedGames) @
About Us, end of text (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/about.php) <br /><br />- Profane Miracles (Pelgrane Press) @ Our Latest Newsletter, left sidebar (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/newsletter_current.php)<br /><br />- Kobold Quarterly Magazine 23 (Kobold Press) @ Product Reviews, top of page (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/reviews.php)<br /><br />-
A Guide to Transylvania (2e) (Wizards of the Coast) @ Free Stuff, the
very bottom of page
(http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?keywords=+&x=0&y=0&author=&artist=&pfrom=0&pto=0)<br /><br />-
Promethean: The Created (White Wolf) @ Follow Your Favorites, middle of
page under main text
(http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/account_newsletters.php)<br />
<br />
<br />
The grand total for these would be $63.45 at listed retail prices. Including the Guide to Transylvania (2e) which isn't even scheduled for release until November 5th (estimated the price to be $9.99 like similar Ravenloft guides for the above total value). <br />
<br />
Thanks to all the companies involved and to DriveThruStuff for making free stuff an activity.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994932732115376322noreply@blogger.com0