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Post by platimus on Mar 11, 2016 18:52:26 GMT -5
Bret, I concur with "Haunting Ed". Both of your previous posts sound good to me. Glad to hear you are recovering. Keep up the good works! Trembling with anticipation, Plat
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Post by valthanis on Mar 13, 2016 0:12:27 GMT -5
It would be more intensely focused (ie, not the entire Stormspeake, but just Steel Gap and the area for fifty or a hundred miles or so around it). Some detail on the city and surrounding area, including vague plot hooks, and then an adventure about 80-100 entries that takes place in Steel Gap and maybe part of the immediate area. Bret Bret, It is really great to hear you are doing better. I really like this idea. It does not have to be Steel Gap, but I am interested in this area. Nathan
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Post by mister frau blucher on Mar 17, 2016 10:17:13 GMT -5
Just a quick update, I have been working on the Steel Gap Campaign Guide. Lots of notes so far, getting them organized. We'll do the same thing as with FITS, having the first half be a guide and the second half will be an adventure.
I am incorporating a few plotwords from other Stormspeake adventures into this - in the adventure at a minimum, and maybe into portions of the guide. This way characters that have been in other adventures and picked up certain plotwords will experience some continuity. I tried this early in DCG's existence, linking SOR and TDV to other adventures, but let it slip a bit recently.
Here is something I am wondering - should I have one medium sized (100 entry) adventure, or several smaller (25-50 entry) episodes? They could actually be related to one another, but at the same time be self-contained mini-adventures.
Bret
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Post by platimus on Mar 17, 2016 18:06:08 GMT -5
Which approach would involve a PDF release? I vote for that one! On a more serious note (not that I wasn't serious before ), several smaller episodes would be awesome IMO. Especially if they were connected by a central hub adventure set in a town or city. Sort of like the ER approach. Maybe the starting adventure is set in the urban area. The main villain escapes. Then you have these other rumors and areas to explore to track him down. Some of them may have nothing to do with the Mr. Villain's shenanigans while others do.
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Post by araman on Mar 17, 2016 20:09:22 GMT -5
Bret, I think I lean more towards several smaller episodes.
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Post by platimus on Mar 19, 2016 21:15:11 GMT -5
Which approach would involve a PDF release? I vote for that one! On a more serious note (not that I wasn't serious before ), several smaller episodes would be awesome IMO. Especially if they were connected by a central hub adventure set in a town or city. Sort of like the ER approach. Maybe the starting adventure is set in the urban area. The main villain escapes. Then you have these other rumors and areas to explore to track him down. Some of them may have nothing to do with the Mr. Villain's shenanigans while others do. For some reason, I feel the need to clarify my thoughts and get yours, Bret. I was assuming "the several smaller episodes" would be very self-contained but linked in various ways. For example, "the starting adventure" might have a bold title like "Chapter One" (just an illustration) and its entries would be numbered 00 to 40. The various other "mini-sodes" would also have bold titles and begin entry numeration at 00. I was assuming that was intention with the "several smaller episodes". If not, please consider this. I think it would be helpful for start/stop of gaming sessions and for anyone wishing to run the "mini-sodes" as independent, one-off adventures. It might also be good testing/practice for the planned use of plotwords that carry from one adventure to another. Taking an abstract view, it makes the document much more accessible. If it makes my points any more persuasive, I'll go ahead and admit that if you reply that this was indeed your intention to begin with, I will feel quite stupid for making the effort of pointing these things out.
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Post by mister frau blucher on Mar 21, 2016 8:40:48 GMT -5
No, no, don't feel stupid, plat! I was definitely a little vague in the specifics, but you picked up on exactly what I was talking about. I think several focused adventures that could be finished in an evening would be good for players and GM, and also allows to highlight more aspects of the surrounding region. Maybe they would be sequential; or maybe they could be played in any order. If the latter, it might be a little more difficult to make it challenging for everybody, as each adventure would have to be designed to the same power level.
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Post by platimus on Mar 21, 2016 9:45:12 GMT -5
No, no, don't feel stupid, plat! I was definitely a little vague in the specifics, but you picked up on exactly what I was talking about. I think several focused adventures that could be finished in an evening would be good for players and GM, and also allows to highlight more aspects of the surrounding region. Maybe they would be sequential; or maybe they could be played in any order. If the latter, it might be a little more difficult to make it challenging for everybody, as each adventure would have to be designed to the same power level.Why? Why can't some be slightly harder than others? A 300 entry adventure has some areas/encounters that are harder than others. Why would this be any different? If the difficulty of the mini-sodes varies significantly enough to warrant different labels like (Chapter One: 32 point characters, Chapter Two: 33 point characters, Chapter Three: 34 point characters)...then label them or provide a GM note in the back of the book. I suppose you could have entries from 000 to 300 and use a GM note in the back like "Chapter One: 000 -040, Chapter Two: 041 - 080" but, since you've already grouped the entries into contiguous (but still random) blocks...why not label/number them as I suggest? Either way works but I think my suggestions would make it a bit easier for a GM or player that wishes to pick and choose. Addendum: * I guess it all really depends on how "connected" you want or conceived the smaller adventures to be. Also, if they are intended to be taken sequential, you may as well combine them all into one big adventure. * Also, "Chapter One", "Chapter Two" examples were bad. I was thinking they would be separated by area. Not sure why I didn't use "Area 1", "Area 2",..."Area 51" as examples...
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Post by darkpumpkin on Mar 21, 2016 22:26:37 GMT -5
I really liked the campaign guide and background info in "Fire in the Streets". It had just enough info to get my imagination going. More would be welcome, even as stand-alone products.
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Post by araman on Mar 22, 2016 7:29:39 GMT -5
Bret, if you go with different level mini-adventures, you could have clues regarding the difficulty. If a group bites off more than it could chew, then it's time to reboot and restart.
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Post by platimus on Mar 22, 2016 9:22:17 GMT -5
Bret, if you go with different level mini-adventures, you could have clues regarding the difficulty. If a group bites off more than it could chew, then it's time to reboot and restart. I agree with Araman the Wise, Bret. In the end, follow your muse. I only offered unto her some sacrificial snacks!
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Post by valthanis on Mar 23, 2016 15:58:43 GMT -5
Bret,
I like the idea of several smaller adventures. I like the idea of them being related, but if it works better that they are not related that would be fine too.
Nathan
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Post by mister frau blucher on Apr 27, 2016 14:07:56 GMT -5
Hey guys,
I've written quite a bit the last few weeks. I stil have a lot to write, but I am starting to organize it. I want a cleaner, more intuitive layout than with FITS. One new thing will be Random Encounter tables for the city of Steel Gap and the surrounding countryside, and Random Event tables as well. This should kickstart some adventures when run either solo or with a judge.
Also, the adventure format I am looking at is this: there will be a separate section containing three separate adventures, and a fourth based on clues provided in the other three. An introduction to this section will give options on starting the three primary adventures, which will be for different power levels (so they should be run in order, but there might be notes for adjusting their power level).
Anyway, still a lot of writing and organizing to do, just wanted to let you guys know we are rolling on with this!
Hope you are all well!
Go Penguins!
Bret
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Post by araman on Apr 27, 2016 15:46:28 GMT -5
Doing well enough. :-) Got a nice wild turkey (about 25 lbs) an hour into Turkey Season. Now it's the wife's turn. Progressing on my projects - garage, new horse fences, tending to the pigs and chickens for future feasts, getting reading to do some spring planting, working with the dogs, etc. Unfortunately, I now have a "severely sprained knee" according to my doctor, so I'm now moving a bit slower. lol
Speaking of injuries, are you fully recovered?
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Post by mister frau blucher on Apr 27, 2016 16:34:46 GMT -5
Sorry about the knee, amigo!
I am pretty much recovered. Still some pain, but everyone I talked to that has had invasive surgery of any kind says that will last up to a year, so it doesn't worry me. The ankle is stable and strong again, so I am fine!
Bret
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