Monte Cook reviews Kobold Quarterly

[Erik Mona]

Not really. I'd of course prefer that you enjoyed my issues, but taste being subjective and all, it's unrealistic to assume everyone loves everything you do. Some dude with a Dragonlance icon on EN World didn't like my issues?

Oh, well.

--Erik

 

[ruemere]

Not really. I'd of course prefer that you enjoyed my issues, but taste being subjective and all, it's unrealistic to assume everyone loves everything you do. Some dude with a Dragonlance icon on EN World didn't like my issues?

Oh, well.

--Erik

Now, now, no need to be so nasty . For all we know he may be the guy who visits to fix your refrigerator... the horror of some evolved meal going for your throat should be sufficient to let him go in peace.

Anyway, Kobold quarterly seems to be an interesting magazine. Does anyone know what is the ratio of game-usable text to general content? I am looking for something with adventures and locations inside.

Regards,
Ruemere

 

[Darrin Drader]

Not really. I'd of course prefer that you enjoyed my issues, but taste being subjective and all, it's unrealistic to assume everyone loves everything you do. Some dude with a Dragonlance icon on EN World didn't like my issues?

Oh, well.

--Erik

Sometimes you just can't catch a break.

Take the sarrukh for example. I designed them with the stated design goal of making a progenitor race that is capable of modifying other lizard races, in accordance with existing Realms lore. Why is this race that was never intended as a playable race villified? Pun Pun. Some power gaming dude decided to break what was intended to be a DM tool.

Oh well. For what it's worth, I thought the issues you produced were among the best for 3rd edition. I still preferred Dungeon.

 

[Jack99]

Sometimes you just can't catch a break.

Take the sarrukh for example. I designed them with the stated design goal of making a progenitor race that is capable of modifying other lizard races, in accordance with existing Realms lore. Why is this race that was never intended as a playable race villified? Pun Pun. Some power gaming dude decided to break what was intended to be a DM tool.

4 words mate.

What. Were. You. Thinking?​

 

[Shemeska]

Sometimes you just can't catch a break.

Take the sarrukh for example. I designed them with the stated design goal of making a progenitor race that is capable of modifying other lizard races, in accordance with existing Realms lore.

You designed the sarrukh? *bows down* Awesome concept and I loved their flavor and history in 'Serpent Kingdoms'. Actually worked an ancient sarrukh into a subplot of one of my Planescape campaigns. So count me as someone who distinctly appreciated your work there. And it's sad that the PunPun stuff actually was taken seriously enough by anyone (other than as a joke or amusing exercise in rules abuse) to haunt you for that race.

 

[Darrin Drader]

4 words mate.

What. Were. You. Thinking?​

The outline I was handed was king. I really can't imagine any way that the objectives I was given could have been satisfied without leaving the door open for an abomination like Pun Pun.

Now the sarrukh CR, that's another issue entirely, which had something to do with the relative newness of the rules at the time (remember that it was actually written about a year before it was released and the epic level rules were brand new at the time). Best advice is to change the CR to 12 and disallow players from even thinking about playing one. I think they make good villains when thus modified, so they succeed in that respect.

You designed the sarrukh? *bows down* Awesome concept and I loved their flavor and history in 'Serpent Kingdoms'. Actually worked an ancient sarrukh into a subplot of one of my Planescape campaigns. So count me as someone who distinctly appreciated your work there. And it's sad that the PunPun stuff actually was taken seriously enough by anyone (other than as a joke or amusing exercise in rules abuse) to haunt you for that race.

Thanks for the kind words, but I don't consider the sarrukh to particularly haunt me. If anything, it's just an annoyance, mainly because after reviewing the work, the guy was right, Pun Pun is completely within the scope of the RAW. I'm glad you got some use out of them. How do you feel the CR worked out - or did you modify it downward?

 

[Shemeska]

Thanks for the kind words, but I don't consider the sarrukh to particularly haunt me. If anything, it's just an annoyance, mainly because after reviewing the work, the guy was right, Pun Pun is completely within the scope of the RAW. I'm glad you got some use out of them. How do you feel the CR worked out - or did you modify it downward?

Never had to roll a single die during the encounter. The PCs talked everything out and never actually elected to fight them (for what amounted to a full set of the Nether Scrolls, which they unknowingly handed over to a sometimes ally of convenience and sometimes enemy known as the Cheshire Fiend).

They spent around an hour of game time just chatting and bargaining with this big, four armed, serpent bodied sarrukh (or at least an astral projection of its real form that was out somewhere on the planes, called back by their intrusion into its buried vault of magical objects).

 

[jeffh]

Now, now, no need to be so nasty .

What was even remotely nasty about Erik's post?

(Especially in comparison to what it was a response to.)

 

[Derulbaskul]

Kobold Quarterly has proven to be a fantastic magazine. I've really enjoyed it so far and have subscribed since the beginning and recently renewed my subscription. Wolfgang's work on Open Design should also get fresh shout out: great stuff there too!

(snip) Some dude with a Dragonlance icon on EN World didn't like my issues? (snip)

I have a Savage Worlds icon and I really enjoyed your time as editor. Of course, I like Savage Worlds which means I have better taste than someone who likes Dragonlance....

 

[Irda Ranger]

Of course, I like Savage Worlds which means I have better taste than someone who likes Dragonlance....

Now who's being nasty? Low blow!