Ashrem Bayle

So yeah. Rejection sucks.

For a few years now I've been working on a fantasy campaign setting for GURPS. And since there isn't already a good fantasy setting for the GURPS 4e line, I decided to submit Crucible to Steve Jackson Games.

After a long, drawn out process, I got my rejection letter today.

It's disappointing, but at least now I can focus my energies elsewhere. The question is, what do I want to do? I'm tempted to convert Crucible to D&D 4e, but honestly the setting was envisioned to work for a more "realistic" type of game system.

I've also got a sci-fi setting I've been kicking around in my head, as well as a post-modern fantasy setting.

So many ideas, so little time.

Anyway, you can see the fruits of my labor here: [Link]

I decided to go ahead and release the Crucible setting to the world for free. Even if you don't play GURPS it might be worth a read. It's pretty rules-lite.

Enjoy!

[Image]
[Image]

By day I am a mechanical designer, by night I am SUPER MAPPER!

Actually that's a lie. I did those maps while I was at work, which coincidentally I do during the day. I'm also not very super.

Still, it was a lot of effort and I hope those of you running Keep on the Shadowfell can get some use out of it.

I use a projector rig, so I plan to project the map onto a my white board and place the minis on it. That said, if you've got the ink and the time, you could also print these big suckers out.

Created 100% with Photoshop.
The thumbnails got to 1/4" sample images. The links go to the full scale image files:

[Image]
[Link]

[Image]
[Link]

Is 4e combat still too slow? Well... it is when you're rolling like my group did Saturday.

[WARNING] Keep on the Shadowfell spoilers:

It was the second kobold encounter, the one on the road that features the Wyrmpriest. The party ranger was scouting ahead and rolled poorly on his Perception to notice the two hiding Dragonshields. He quickly found himself flanked and due to a critical hit, was nearly killed before he could make it to safety.

That pretty much set the tone for the rest of the fight. I was tossing criticals out the yin/yang and the PCs could barely roll over "5".

The Cleric and the Paladin both had to make death checks and the group as a whole just barely survived.

All in all, what should have been a fun encounter just turned out frustrating as the players, round after round, rolled very poorly.

So yeah, it isn't the system's fault. But because of a bunch of bad rolls, one simple combat went on for about two hours. :?

Maybe they'll have better luck next week when the party assaults the kobold lair.

The books in my previous post were but a mere fraction of what I've spent on RPGs in the past few years. I'm embarrassed to say that my gaming expenditures over my lifetime would make for a fine down payment on a new house.

But I'm drawing the line in the sand.

Starting with the D&D DM Screen, I'm not buying any new RPG products any time soon. I'm sticking to the Core set.

I purchased dozens of 3/3.5 books that sat on my shelf and never got more than a good skim. I'd use a feat or prestige class now and then, but the use certainly didn't justify the price.

And as the 3.5 era comes to an end for me, I look at the 3.5 Core books and still feel I didn't get my feel of the info contained therein. I don't want to make that mistake with 4e.

As I flip through the 4e Core books, I don't really see a need for supplements. There are enough powers and variations to carry me through three or four 1-30th level campaigns without much overlap. I've got monsters out the whazoo, and if I'm missing anything, I can make it myself.

I've been gaming for nearly 20 years now. I think I can balance a feat/power or come up with a Paragon Path. And let's face it, if 3/3.5 was any indication, that's mostly what future supplements will be anyway.

The only thing I think is missing are more ritual spells. But like I said, I think I can make them up on my own.

I may change my mind after I've been through the 1-30th level gamut a time or two, but I'm certainly not diving in head first like I did last edition.

I'm not WOTC's b**ch anymore!

I'm getting rid of a lot of my old books. It's mostly D&D stuff, but there are some other gems in there.

Everything except the Oriental Adventures is in near mint condition. I'd call Oriental Adventurers "good" condition. Of course, it came out in '85, so what do you expect.

If anyone is interested, I take Paypal. Shipping is $5.00 for each book. I'm selling most for $10.

[Image]
[Image]
[Image]

NOTE: The 3.5 core books have been sold, as has Lord of Madness.