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

[jezter6]

I'm really interested in it as well. I'm a not-too-good GM, and really wanting to run an Iron Lords of Jupiter type game...and this may just fit the ticket. I won't have to make stuff up, I won't have to worry much about planning. And I can start some d20modern n00bs off with something promising.

If it works with modern, I assume it works for future as well. I'm interested...is there a preview doc out there anywhere?

Also, any chance this would get split up into smaller PDF docs for web sale? I would rather a PDF, but dont have the capacity to download something near this large in PDF, nor will i need it all at once. If it were in 4 or 5 smaller PDF's that would be pretty cool as I could buy the first one as i need it, and buy the rest as we get closer or I win the lottery.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I'm really interested in it as well. I'm a not-too-good GM, and really wanting to run an Iron Lords of Jupiter type game...and this may just fit the ticket. I won't have to make stuff up, I won't have to worry much about planning. And I can start some d20modern n00bs off with something promising.

As long as "not too good" doesn't mean inexperienced, you'll be ok. But you do need to know your way around the GM side of the screen even if you aren't that creative. Otherwise, I'd recommend you give Slavelords a pass. It's not your typical adventure.

If it works with modern, I assume it works for future as well. I'm interested...is there a preview doc out there anywhere?

I haven't read much of d20 Future, but I would be very surprised if Slavelords didn't run just fine.

No preview yet-- I might preview some of the rules sections, but am unlikely to preview the adventure itself (that is, the non-OGL stuff!)

Also, any chance this would get split up into smaller PDF docs for web sale?

Do you realize how funny that question is sitting on top of your current sig block?

Wulf

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

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.

And here I thought it was rather plain and overt.

But seriously, I'm just enthused to have another book out there, and I am very proud of this one... (till the errata starts showing up, anyway...)

Marketing is nice, but I'm honestly just tickled to be able to 'talk shop.'

My personal supply arrived on my doorstep today, which means the bulk will probably be in Osseum's warehouse this week, and on the way to retail very soon.

Wulf

 

[Fenris]

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

Wulf you mentioned the great effect melee weapon could have. Any cool Cydonian melee weapons in the book. And again the usualy profiency question. I am way jazzed about the firearms/simple rules for the others though.

 

[scourger]

When will it be available through EN World Shop? Ordering through my FLGS is dicey at times, and I really need to give this site some patronage.

 

[JoeCrow]

Plans are already afoot for the Dragons and Undead campaign books

Schwing!! Hey, what about a Noir/Pulp supers book? Bit more focused than the big campaign books that seem designed to drop into any world, but I dunno. I think the Shadow and Doc Savage might work in any setting, with a bit of work.

and I spent a good portion of the Thanksgiving holiday working on a GT Spellcasting supplement

Aces. Me buy this now. Edit faster, puny developer! Or customer smash!!

I dunno, maybe I've been reading too many Hulk comics...

 

[jezter6]

Wulf,

My question about smaller PDF's was more of a: 50-100 pages per PDF, not asking you to sell me 3 pagers at $2 each where I'd end up paying $200 for Slavelords instead of $35. Smaller PDF's of a MONSTER of a book is fine.

I'm relatively inexperienced at GM'ing in general, although I know the rules fairly well. My problem with GMing is more on the creative side and having to figure out where to take my players. Maybe it's that I haven't had players that really take control of their own destiny and i have to lead them around a bit more, I don't really know.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I'm relatively inexperienced at GM'ing in general, although I know the rules fairly well. My problem with GMing is more on the creative side and having to figure out where to take my players. Maybe it's that I haven't had players that really take control of their own destiny and i have to lead them around a bit more, I don't really know.

I definitely recommend you look through the book first. Take your time in the shop, get a feel for what it provides and what you'll need to be ready to do yourself.

It's quite a beast. We give you the reigns, but you better know how to ride.


Wulf

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Wulf you mentioned the great effect melee weapon could have. Any cool Cydonian melee weapons in the book. And again the usual profiency question. I am way jazzed about the firearms/simple rules for the others though.

First, of course the sli'ess have analogs of common melee weapons-- axes, swords, clubs/hammers, spears and picks and the like.

Iron is plentiful on Cydonia (big surprise, right?) but most noble houses outfit their bru legions with crystalline weapons. Crystalline weapons accept power packs and have energy effects-- fire, cold, electricity, sonic-- to make it somewhat more unpleasant to be on the wrong end of a croc warrior's gurak.

A basic hit will suck 1 charge and add some energy effect, a confirmed crit will suck 3 charges and really whup ass: light people on fire, paralyze them, slow them, nauseate them, etc.

The skreet ratmen make pretty good use of iron, though if they're caught with a weapon they're likely to be eaten. But then, since their fate is to be eaten eventually anyway, most of the gutter trash are armed to the teeth.

Proficiencies are what you'd expect-- Simple, Melee, and a few Exotic.

Wulf

 

[GlassJaw]

I'm relatively inexperienced at GM'ing in general, although I know the rules fairly well. My problem with GMing is more on the creative side and having to figure out where to take my players. Maybe it's that I haven't had players that really take control of their own destiny and i have to lead them around a bit more, I don't really know.

I've read through about half the campaign now and I've kind of been taking mental notes of areas that, if I were planning to run it, I think I would need to flesh out a bit more. I've had some lengthy discussions with Wulf on some of these areas.

While there are a couple of spots that I feel (re: my opinion) could use some more info, there is nothing "wrong" with any particular section. This is not the traditional Temple of Elemental Evil-type campaign. There are many areas that are open to interpretation and require some GM savvy to navigate through.

I'll give one example. Book 2 is mostly about the Arena and gladiator combat (which factors highly into sli'ess society). The thing is that there aren't really any hard and fast hooks to get the players into the arena. There are really only one or two specific hooks but they might not work because the campaign may not develop in that manner. Sil'saar could send the PC's into the arena out of punishment, a reward and chance for the players to gain more freedoms and privileges, or even a way to increase his own status in the arena rankings. It's really up to the GM and how the campaign develops. Are the PC's resentful of being in captivity and trying to escape at every opporunity? Are they model captives, biding their time for an opportune moment?

My point is that it's up to the GM how the players get into the arean or even how much he wants gladiator combat to be a factor in the campaign. SoL isn't a campaign that requires the players to find the silver key in room 55 to get to the mirrored maze or whatever. It's an amorphous blob that the GM can mold as he sees fit. Some of the blob just requires more molding than others. As Wulf mentioned, this style may appeal to some and may not to others. Regardless of that, this is surely a unique product and really offers a new way to look at campaign building and the 1-20 epic module.