Grim Tales: SLAVELORDS of CYDONIA - Advance Copy: Taking Q&A!

[GlassJaw]

Can you specifically address compatability with standard D&D d20 rules in your review

Yeah, I'll definitely go into a bit more detail even though there are only a few pages actually devoted to the "conversion."

So even if the bad guy is listed as a Tough4/Strong3. Ignore it. Look at the BAB and the attack and the skills. How they were assembled won't matter for you.

This is basically true although using Grim Tales will obviously make it more seamless. GT has a much more developed magic system than you'll get in the short conversion rules in SoC. Some of the talents and skills are pretty different too than their D&D couterparts. I'd say you can probably convert 75-80% of the material as-is or with the conversion rules given in the book. After that you'll have to fudge it a bit.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Once you have a BAB, saves, skills, feats etc it doesn't matter how you got there. The real difference is Talents replaceing class features and those replicate core mostly anyway.

The conversion notes start by saying, and I paraphrase, almost everything is included in the statblock already, so you will hardly notice. As Fenris pointed out, GT is amazingly compatible with everything d20 as is.

For completeness I included a quick one-line description of every feat and talent, just in case.

Honestly, the biggest difference is going to be spellcasting, and if you wanted to use traditional D&D spellcasters alongside the GT spellcasters in the module, you could do it with no problem. The PCs cast spells their way, the native Cydonians cast spells their way.

Wulf

 

[Fenris]

A couple of more questions:

Since in this adventure we have transported the PCs to a new place (planet). What do you do about PC deaths? Obviously I don't want to resurrect them (that's why this is Grim Tales after all). But you can't just poof in a new character like you can in a traditonal setting (wander to inn and pick up the new meat). Any suggestions in the book for covering such contingincies?

Also: Cydonian weapons. Are there suggestions for how proficiency should proceed? Are they all exotics (well to the PCs)? When do they stop being exotic since the PCs are around them all the time? Do they come in groups? I am just wondering as I won't be sending in a combat oriented group of characters, but the players are to a degree. Just trying to get a handle on how the characters will need to adapt to their new home

 

[GlassJaw]

What do you do about PC deaths? Obviously I don't want to resurrect them (that's why this is Grim Tales after all). But you can't just poof in a new character like you can in a traditonal setting (wander to inn and pick up the new meat). Any suggestions in the book for covering such contingincies?

Yes, there is some info on this. In Book 2 (which deals with the Arena and the PC's becoming gladiators), there is info about introducing new PC's. The Arena is very diverse so it's a logical place for the PC's to meet new people, species, creatures, etc.

There is also an underground resistance movement (also detailed in the Arena section) in Cydonia that a new PC could be affiliated with. The new PC could even be of non-human origin.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Also: Cydonian weapons. Are there suggestions for how proficiency should proceed? Are they all exotics (well to the PCs)? When do they stop being exotic since the PCs are around them all the time? Do they come in groups? I am just wondering as I won't be sending in a combat oriented group of characters, but the players are to a degree. Just trying to get a handle on how the characters will need to adapt to their new home

If you have Personal Firearms Proficiency, you can use all Cydonian energy weapons.

Additionally, lances (a line effect like a flamethrower) and disruptors (a cone effect) can be used with Simple Weapon Proficiency. (They're really just point and shoot area-of-effect weapons).

None of them are considered Exotic.

(This argument was hashed out in great detail between me and the writers...)

Wulf

 

[Fenris]

Thanks Glassjaw and Wulf! I grow more and more giddy with expectation with each answer!

And I also wanted to add to Wulf a big thanks for answering all these questions about both GT and Soc. Your responses and enthusiasm about your products as well as your availability here is a big reason why I am buying Slavelords (along with that second copy of Grim Tales for my players).

I truly hope that Slavelords does well so that more Grim Tales products can come out. They are really the only gaming products I forsee buying anymore. I am a complete and hopeless Grim Tales convert (and proud of it!)

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

And I also wanted to add to Wulf a big thanks for answering all these questions about both GT and Soc. Your responses and enthusiasm about your products as well as your availability here is a big reason why I am buying Slavelords (along with that second copy of Grim Tales for my players).

The enthusiasm for gaming shown by this community is a big reason why I am publishing. (It may be the only reason-- it's certainly not the money!)

I truly hope that Slavelords does well so that more Grim Tales products can come out. They are really the only gaming products I forsee buying anymore. I am a complete and hopeless Grim Tales convert (and proud of it!)

Wow, thanks! I hope so too. Plans are already afoot for the Dragons and Undead campaign books, and I spent a good portion of the Thanksgiving holiday working on a GT Spellcasting supplement... If Slavelords does well and helps sell a few more copies of Grim Tales, you can expect more products, don't worry!

Wulf

 

[scourger]

And I also wanted to add to Wulf a big thanks for answering all these questions about both GT and Soc. Your responses and enthusiasm about your products as well as your availability here is a big reason why I am buying Slavelords (along with that second copy of Grim Tales for my players).

DITTO.

It is also really cool of you to loan an advance copy to a member so that information can get out. It is brilliantly clever covert marketing. Although I haven't gotten into GT, SoC looks intriguing enough to buy (and I've been watching for it for what feels like about a year). Hopefully, I can use it with the rules with which I like to play.

Here's hoping SoC is a great module with more adventures to follow.

 

[GlassJaw]

It is brilliantly clever covert marketing.

I'm just a pawn in Wulf's devilish scheme.

Besides getting to check out the book, I was just happy to chat with Wulf a bit since he lives very close to me. Us Rhoe d'Islandiz (that's a Rhode Island joke) have to stick together.

 

[Maester Luwin]

Wulf I would also like to thank you both for the wonderful game Grim Tales is & your support on this forum!!! I love gritty/ low magic games & Grim Tales is definitly the ticket! I can't wait for Slave Lords myself. Thanks Maester Luwin