CD3: -=- THULLGRIM -=- please read last page

[Mark]

I just wanted to drop in a post to emphasize how much I am enjoying watching the Cooperative process in action. Everyone is doing a great job and being very helpful with (while staying respectful of) each other's contributions. Bravo!

 

[jester47]

Having the Wraith join the Spectre in #14 if the party leaves his room makes tactical sense from the POV of the Wraith, but could easily lead to a TPK! #14 is already a hard challenge, with the CR 7 Spectre, two CR3 Ghasts, and a trap which is likely to split up the party. Add in another CR 5 Wraith and bye-bye party!

Let's just assume the Wraith is under orders from Damnation to keep intruders out. So if the party leaves his room, he will continue attacking them in the corridor. Likewise, if the Wraith is turned, he will only go to #14 if the party has already entered. Otherwise, he will attack them inside the corridors first.

That teaches me not to read the description! I just asumed it was the specter. Ok, I will do somthing interesting with the tactics.

Aaron.

 

[thullgrim]

the wraith could simply be bound to its coffin with a caveat that destuction of the coffin frees the wraith or destroys.

on another note I will get my edits done today.


Thullgrim

 

[Conaill]

Well the idea is that these 4 are merodak's leuitenants. they are the 4 guys carved onto the sides of the dais suporting the sarcophagus.

Ah. That part wasn't clear to me. I thought the scenes on the sarcophagus all represented Merodak.

You know, on second thought maybe it's better if they aren't half-fiends after all. That would just make them a little *too* similar to the encounter with the Caretaker. Once that one escapes out into the burial chamber and starts flying around the pillars, it'll be "deja vu all over again"... More variety is good.

Other ways to beef up the zombies to CR2: items, permanent enchantments, ...

Here's an idea that would definitely throw the players for a loop... make then Animated skeletons, i.e. skeletons animated using Animate Objects! A Medium size Animated Object is CR2. It'll have many of the same traits as an Undead skeleton, but is not subject to turning.

Hmm... upon comparison with the example CR2 zombie and CR2 skeleton, the Animated skeleton seems very underpowered. It has about the same hp as the Owlbear skeleton, but that one has DR, much higher Str, Dex and Init, not to mention three natural attacks vs the Animated Object's one Slam or weapon attack. Ah well, it was an interesting twist to contemplate...

 

[Creamsteak]

Made my corrections. Just got CD 2 by the way, and will get to work on that when I'm done with this weeks work.

 

[Leopold]

Made my corrections. Just got CD 2 by the way, and will get to work on that when I'm done with this weeks work.

ditto on that. my typos have been fixed and all is setup ready for more.

 

[Conaill]

Since this is the first time I'm participating in one of these, I'm just curious how far along we are in the process...

Short-term: Are we still waiting for specific entries to get finished/cleaned up? What exactly is the holdup right now and/or where could we best contribute to keep things rolling?

Long-term: What happens after this? I gather there's various levels of editors involved. How much extra stuff is needed (and how long does that tend to take) to turn this into a publisheable product.

Just curious...

 

[Creamsteak]

After whatever needs to happen here is done, someone will do a primary revision. Then it gets passed onto the specific revisions (statblocks, language, etc.), then to Mark who will polish things off to print form.

We will likely need a cover for CD3 as well, if anyone has a friend or something .

 

[Shallown]

Conaill the process this time is a little different before the thread, as far as the dungeon text, was shut down after only a few days. This time we are going for more contributor editing and involvement in room interaction. the way we use to do it was

Trainz posted and administered the thread.
After all the rooms were done either he or I compiled a Word Doc and then I started what I call rough editing. Making sure all the rooms were as complete as possible. Cross checking room description and fixing conflicts, I also wrote up the Synopsis, plot hooks and room interactions. Then did all the formatting for rooms, doors, traps and such. This has proven to be less and less work as we refine our formatting on the board itself.

It went to Trainz who then adds the dungeon and individual rooms and does a rough edit as well to catch anything I missed. He sends it out to everyone else. Trainz handles almost all of the interaction of the diting and production staff and is the ultimate voice in decisions. He is extremely congenial so he doesn't abuse his power like I would

It goes to creamsteak for stat blocks and traps as well as a general editing, It goes to Merak for the grammar and fine detail editing, it goes to Mark at CMG to do the actual PDF as well as check for any legal issues and a final edit to make sure everything is up to a professional quality.

So from me to trainz to cream and Merak then to Mark then finally back to Trainz and myself for final approval. To be honest final approval is more Trainz and myself marveling at what a great job everyone has done. I spend an additional amount of time patting myself on the back

That's the whole process. CD - 2 is at the Pre Mark stage getting Stat/trap block final edits. We have worked to refine and stream line the methods we are using. I can say I have learned a load of things about producing modules/dungeons and appreciate the chance to contribute.

Of course now we are waiting for Trainz to set a final close for this one and I'll start work on it.

That's probably a lot more than you wanted to know and there have been others who have offered to help when they get the time so the team may grow and change but things are running smooth so far.

Later

 

[jester47]

Ok, I turned room 13 into an execution chamber. Very llittle has changed <evil grin> except the purpose of the room and a few bits about the wraith. The wraith was in life an executioner. He made a pact with evil powers and became undead. However he is bound to the execution chamber (more specificly the ice in the chamber). The way the chamber worked is minions (probaly some form of corporeal undead) bring the figure to be executed. They tie the victim down on the ice block and then lock the door. The wraith drains the juice and then the soul of the person gets sucked into hell (as a wraith). The minions(tm) return and cart off the body.

Thus the wraith is now logically bound to the room, and the room has a purpose rather than just being some wraiths pimp pad.

fun no?

suggestions appreciated.

Aaron.