Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
IRON DM 2022 The Tournament Thread
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Radiating Gnome" data-source="post: 8776062" data-attributes="member: 150"><p>All right, this final match pits the FitztheRuke against Kobold Stew in a salty, spacey mashup. This final doesn't disappoint -- we got two great entries -- both very creative and making good use of the provided ingredients. </p><p></p><p>So, let's get into it. </p><p></p><p>FitztheRuke has offered up Rumble in the Jungle (<strong>Rumble</strong>), a romp that leverages the latest Spelljammer rules to bring it all together.</p><p></p><p>And Kobold Stew offers up Azimuth Aflame (<strong>Azimuth</strong>), an old-school traveler adventure to amuse an old grognard like me. I mean, look at those single-line stat blocks. That's a system for an era when you had to pay by the word and whole RPGs could fit into your cargo shorts pockets. </p><p></p><p><strong>So, let's take a look at the ingredients.</strong></p><p>[spoiler]</p><p><strong>Salt-Water Crocodile</strong></p><p></p><p>In Rumble, the Salt-Water Crocodile is also the Stolen airship -- a fun combination of ingredients that makes for some fun visuals, etc. </p><p></p><p>In Azimuth, the Crocs are a dangerous and endangered species that the players are able to subdue, load, and transport to another planet -- and that cargo gives them special dispensation to come and go. </p><p></p><p>I liked both implementations, so no advantage to either entry. </p><p></p><p><strong>Stolen Airship</strong></p><p></p><p>Again, both are quite good. Azimuth presents the single airship that provides transportation around the planet, stolen by the PC's contact Dana Ferris. And Azimuth presents the barge (with the attached crocodile). In the end, I think the croc/airship is super inventive, so I'm going to give a slight edge to Rumble here. </p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Impending Asteroid</strong></p><p></p><p>I was very tickled with Rumble's homage to the movie Armageddon (we'll call it an homage, anyway), and kept expecting there to be more jokes that went with the film (like, a reward that the PCs never have to pay taxes, etc). </p><p></p><p>The asteroid in Azimuth was less crucial to the entire plot, and only a complication at the Carradoc end of the action. It's a hazard, and it's present, but Rumble's was stronger and more central to the story. So, again, advantage to Rumble. </p><p></p><p><strong>Burning River</strong></p><p></p><p>In Azimuth, the burning river is a major complication on the first planet, the threat to the crocs, and feels important and interesting. In Rumble, the burning river is a sort of afterthought in the third act, the final threat raised by the cultists after the destruction of the asteroid. I found that a bit less satisfying, so Azimuth wins this one for me. </p><p></p><p><strong>Alarming Totem</strong></p><p></p><p>In Rumble, the alarming totem is the herald of the threat to the village -- rocks are falling. This is one of those ingredients that could have been made anything -- it's less integral and imaginative here than I would like. In Azimuth the usage is maybe a tiny bit better -- still not everything I like to see, and not as strong as other ingredients. I'll rate this one as a tie unless I need a tiebreaker later. </p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Reticent Overlord</strong></p><p></p><p>In Azimuth, the reticent overlord (actually called reluctant overlord in the writeup) is Marchioness D'Alessio, an obstacle that the characters must overcome on Carradoc. In Rumble, Overlord Groman is the tortle overlord whose dithering forces the PCs to steal the barge/croc to complete their mission. Both work, both present a RP challenge. No advantage to either. </p><p></p><p><strong>Foolish Machinations</strong></p><p></p><p>In Rumble, the stated use of the ingredients is in the actions of Salakrot, the halfling cultist who is responsible for all the trouble at home while the asteroid is dealt with above. In Azimuth they are the corrupt activities of the comms officer Aez-Ghaha'ar on Azimuth, a complication for the PCs. I don't have strong feelings of preference for either application -- it's a tricky ingredient and it has been used, but not especially imaginatively. </p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Stolen Heart</strong></p><p></p><p>Our last ingredient is Stolen Heart -- and with a set of ingredients that have two things that are stolen it had me curious to see if those two would somehow be combined. </p><p></p><p>In Azimuth, Dana Ferris has stolen the heart of Alice Tomoe-Laka, the system manager of Terragon, who will present some complications for Dana's (and the PC's) escape. </p><p></p><p>In Rumble, the stolen heart is the heart of a Stone-Thrower elemental -- and it's the bomb that must be placed to destroy the asteroid. </p><p></p><p>So, neither tied the two stolen ingredients together thematically, but we have one romantic stolen heart and one heart stone power source. I think they're both good. </p><p></p><p>So, in the end, I gave Rumble the edge on Stolen Airship and Impending Asteroid, while giving Azimuth the edge on Burning River, and a very slight edge on the burning river. So, the ingredient use is very close, in my opinion, but I'm giving a slight edge to Rumble at this point. Narrow, though. </p><p>[/spoiler]</p><p></p><p><strong>Playability, Creativity, Presentation, and the Rule of Cool.</strong></p><p></p><p>I really dig both of these, and I love that they're so different. Even different game systems -- and I really appreciate that in a forum that usually presents D&D adventures, the Traveller adventure isn't just a D&D adventure set in space, but it's an adventure that really fits the style of play and storytelling that Traveller leans in to. Great work on both. </p><p></p><p>In trying to find one that I prefer over the other, for me, it comes down to a feeling of shape. </p><p></p><p>[spoiler]</p><p></p><p>In Azimuth, the action starts with the PCs on Azimuth, dealing with some complications, helping Dana get out, and heading to Carradoc with the crocs. On Carradoc they have to decide if they're going to drop off the crocs (or keep them?) and help Dana avoid Alice's pursuit once more. It has a very this-then-that feeling, a string of related events. </p><p></p><p>In Rumble, the action feels like it has more story-shape to it. The PCs are asked to take on a challenge, and to do it they have to do a sequence of increasingly challenging, related things -- gather the two elemental maguffins, steal the croc/airship, blow up the asteroid, and then deal with the cultists back home. That challenge of dealing with the cultists at home feels very much like the end of Fellowship of the Ring, in which the hobbits return to the shire and must deal with the local threats to the shire on their own, empowered by the things they learned and gained on their travels with the fellowship. It's the return home at the end of the hero's journey. And, at least for me, it makes this story feel more satisfying and whole. </p><p></p><p>So, this judge casts his vote for Rumble in the Jungle. But it's a close one. </p><p>[/spoiler]</p><p></p><p>-rg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Radiating Gnome, post: 8776062, member: 150"] All right, this final match pits the FitztheRuke against Kobold Stew in a salty, spacey mashup. This final doesn't disappoint -- we got two great entries -- both very creative and making good use of the provided ingredients. So, let's get into it. FitztheRuke has offered up Rumble in the Jungle ([B]Rumble[/B]), a romp that leverages the latest Spelljammer rules to bring it all together. And Kobold Stew offers up Azimuth Aflame ([B]Azimuth[/B]), an old-school traveler adventure to amuse an old grognard like me. I mean, look at those single-line stat blocks. That's a system for an era when you had to pay by the word and whole RPGs could fit into your cargo shorts pockets. [B]So, let's take a look at the ingredients.[/B] [spoiler] [B]Salt-Water Crocodile[/B] In Rumble, the Salt-Water Crocodile is also the Stolen airship -- a fun combination of ingredients that makes for some fun visuals, etc. In Azimuth, the Crocs are a dangerous and endangered species that the players are able to subdue, load, and transport to another planet -- and that cargo gives them special dispensation to come and go. I liked both implementations, so no advantage to either entry. [B]Stolen Airship[/B] Again, both are quite good. Azimuth presents the single airship that provides transportation around the planet, stolen by the PC's contact Dana Ferris. And Azimuth presents the barge (with the attached crocodile). In the end, I think the croc/airship is super inventive, so I'm going to give a slight edge to Rumble here. [B] Impending Asteroid[/B] I was very tickled with Rumble's homage to the movie Armageddon (we'll call it an homage, anyway), and kept expecting there to be more jokes that went with the film (like, a reward that the PCs never have to pay taxes, etc). The asteroid in Azimuth was less crucial to the entire plot, and only a complication at the Carradoc end of the action. It's a hazard, and it's present, but Rumble's was stronger and more central to the story. So, again, advantage to Rumble. [B]Burning River[/B] In Azimuth, the burning river is a major complication on the first planet, the threat to the crocs, and feels important and interesting. In Rumble, the burning river is a sort of afterthought in the third act, the final threat raised by the cultists after the destruction of the asteroid. I found that a bit less satisfying, so Azimuth wins this one for me. [B]Alarming Totem[/B] In Rumble, the alarming totem is the herald of the threat to the village -- rocks are falling. This is one of those ingredients that could have been made anything -- it's less integral and imaginative here than I would like. In Azimuth the usage is maybe a tiny bit better -- still not everything I like to see, and not as strong as other ingredients. I'll rate this one as a tie unless I need a tiebreaker later. [B]Reticent Overlord[/B] In Azimuth, the reticent overlord (actually called reluctant overlord in the writeup) is Marchioness D'Alessio, an obstacle that the characters must overcome on Carradoc. In Rumble, Overlord Groman is the tortle overlord whose dithering forces the PCs to steal the barge/croc to complete their mission. Both work, both present a RP challenge. No advantage to either. [B]Foolish Machinations[/B] In Rumble, the stated use of the ingredients is in the actions of Salakrot, the halfling cultist who is responsible for all the trouble at home while the asteroid is dealt with above. In Azimuth they are the corrupt activities of the comms officer Aez-Ghaha'ar on Azimuth, a complication for the PCs. I don't have strong feelings of preference for either application -- it's a tricky ingredient and it has been used, but not especially imaginatively. [B]Stolen Heart[/B] Our last ingredient is Stolen Heart -- and with a set of ingredients that have two things that are stolen it had me curious to see if those two would somehow be combined. In Azimuth, Dana Ferris has stolen the heart of Alice Tomoe-Laka, the system manager of Terragon, who will present some complications for Dana's (and the PC's) escape. In Rumble, the stolen heart is the heart of a Stone-Thrower elemental -- and it's the bomb that must be placed to destroy the asteroid. So, neither tied the two stolen ingredients together thematically, but we have one romantic stolen heart and one heart stone power source. I think they're both good. So, in the end, I gave Rumble the edge on Stolen Airship and Impending Asteroid, while giving Azimuth the edge on Burning River, and a very slight edge on the burning river. So, the ingredient use is very close, in my opinion, but I'm giving a slight edge to Rumble at this point. Narrow, though. [/spoiler] [B]Playability, Creativity, Presentation, and the Rule of Cool.[/B] I really dig both of these, and I love that they're so different. Even different game systems -- and I really appreciate that in a forum that usually presents D&D adventures, the Traveller adventure isn't just a D&D adventure set in space, but it's an adventure that really fits the style of play and storytelling that Traveller leans in to. Great work on both. In trying to find one that I prefer over the other, for me, it comes down to a feeling of shape. [spoiler] In Azimuth, the action starts with the PCs on Azimuth, dealing with some complications, helping Dana get out, and heading to Carradoc with the crocs. On Carradoc they have to decide if they're going to drop off the crocs (or keep them?) and help Dana avoid Alice's pursuit once more. It has a very this-then-that feeling, a string of related events. In Rumble, the action feels like it has more story-shape to it. The PCs are asked to take on a challenge, and to do it they have to do a sequence of increasingly challenging, related things -- gather the two elemental maguffins, steal the croc/airship, blow up the asteroid, and then deal with the cultists back home. That challenge of dealing with the cultists at home feels very much like the end of Fellowship of the Ring, in which the hobbits return to the shire and must deal with the local threats to the shire on their own, empowered by the things they learned and gained on their travels with the fellowship. It's the return home at the end of the hero's journey. And, at least for me, it makes this story feel more satisfying and whole. So, this judge casts his vote for Rumble in the Jungle. But it's a close one. [/spoiler] -rg [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
IRON DM 2022 The Tournament Thread
Top