Eden Studios' Fields of Blood... is it good?
- Thread starter Phaedrus
- Start date
mattcolville
Adventurer
d20Dwarf said:
A pass was done to convert from 3 to 3.5, but I'm not sure how much of the 3.5 info we had at the time, and some oversights may have gotten through. We'll work to correct them.
d20Dwarf said:
The back cover copy reads "Fully compatible with version 3.5 of the d20 system..."
I did note another 3.0/3.5 mixup, the weapon in the example of a Special Unit using a Paladin is referred to under 3.0 terms. Also, the "souped up" realm version of Emotion is a multiple-function spell; which may prove nothing - at that level, being able to pick 1 of 3 emotions may be fine.
I guess the real test would be to convert a couple of the more 3.5 modified creatures, like Golems (Construct hp change), and see if the numbers come out "right".
d20Dwarf
Explorer
Thanks Matt,mattcolville said:
I hope you didn't think I was nitpicking, I just didn't have time to read through it at the store and I'm trying to decide which of the mass combat/realm management books to buy. God knows even after working with 3.5 for almost a year I'm still typing things like "subdual damage."
d20Dwarf said:
Grrrr...I will need to check my draft documents...that's one I very distinctly recall noting, because it made the spell a lot more useful on a battlefield...
The 3.5 conversion did not have the benefit of the eyes of our playtesters, because the 3.5 revisions were under "We will rip out your spleen and roast it in front of you" levels of NDA.
mattcolville
Adventurer
d20Dwarf said:
Nono, I don't think you're nitpicking. Hell, if anything you're helping us. We all want FoB to be the best product we can make it. This will necessarily mean paying attention to the customers and how they're using it. What problems they find, and how it fits their needs.
Inevitably, some errors creep in, and the customer base may want to push the rules in a direction that didn't occur to us. That's what support is for.
Deluxe Edition / Improvements
First, the record sheets need some work. Realistically, a 3x5 card per Hex is needed, as each Hex can have multiple improvements that affect its defensibility and production. The example sheets have 1 line of space per Hex, which is not enough to really note the effects of multiple Assets/ Improvements/ Fortifications. The expanded record should also include a reminder of how to apply multiple modifiers to production. Also, spaces for recording "Bad Event this season, temporary 50% loss of production" or "Good Event this season, production +50% this season" would be helpful. Guilds present and their levels should be recorded, as well as any ongoing adjustments to Upkeep should be represented.
Some other terrain types might be good to add, like rules for placing Oases in desert areas. I liked the inclusion of "Underground" as a terrain type, as most other products have ignored it, but perhaps to re-balance a larger list more would be needed (ie., Fungal Caverns, Pool Caverns, etc.). Also, for that deeper fantasy feel, what about "Cloud" as a terrain type ?
Kelp Forest ? Coral Reef ?
Considerations for non-standard Calendars would be good to add as well (I personally use a calendar of 3 10-day weeks per month, 12 months per year).
More realm spells would be nice. Possible Errata: The Impenetrable Woods realm spell is listed for both Druids and Arcane Guilds as a level 2 spell, but the spell description only includes Arcane.
Some improvements and events mention that they may only be effective in hexes adjacent to the ocean. However, some of them should also be effective if there is a large Lake nearby. This is not true for all. The event about traders is properly restricted to the oceans, for example, as written; however, the Fishing Fleet improvement would be suitable for use with a large lake (2+ contiguous hexes ?).
First, the record sheets need some work. Realistically, a 3x5 card per Hex is needed, as each Hex can have multiple improvements that affect its defensibility and production. The example sheets have 1 line of space per Hex, which is not enough to really note the effects of multiple Assets/ Improvements/ Fortifications. The expanded record should also include a reminder of how to apply multiple modifiers to production. Also, spaces for recording "Bad Event this season, temporary 50% loss of production" or "Good Event this season, production +50% this season" would be helpful. Guilds present and their levels should be recorded, as well as any ongoing adjustments to Upkeep should be represented.
Some other terrain types might be good to add, like rules for placing Oases in desert areas. I liked the inclusion of "Underground" as a terrain type, as most other products have ignored it, but perhaps to re-balance a larger list more would be needed (ie., Fungal Caverns, Pool Caverns, etc.). Also, for that deeper fantasy feel, what about "Cloud" as a terrain type ?
Kelp Forest ? Coral Reef ?Considerations for non-standard Calendars would be good to add as well (I personally use a calendar of 3 10-day weeks per month, 12 months per year).
More realm spells would be nice. Possible Errata: The Impenetrable Woods realm spell is listed for both Druids and Arcane Guilds as a level 2 spell, but the spell description only includes Arcane.
Some improvements and events mention that they may only be effective in hexes adjacent to the ocean. However, some of them should also be effective if there is a large Lake nearby. This is not true for all. The event about traders is properly restricted to the oceans, for example, as written; however, the Fishing Fleet improvement would be suitable for use with a large lake (2+ contiguous hexes ?).
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