Iron Kingdoms - tell me about them please

[Bobitron]

Hi, Jeff! Nice to see another convert to the IK, it's a great setting.

I think it takes about 4-6 weeks to get most books printed, but I'm not an expert. I know that the World Guide shipped quite a while ago, and all my LGS's (which are probably the same ones as you, Dragon's Lair & War and Pieces in West Hartford and The Grid and Time Machine in Manchester) still have not had it on the shelves. I ended up ordering it online.

Where do you game? I don't think I'm up for joining another group right now; my current one meets once a week. But I am curious.

 

[Stormborn]

We are about to start going through the Witchfire Trilogy for our first foray into using a published setting (other than CoC and 1 time in Pendragon). I rolled up a Gun Mage, and am yet to decided if I am completly happy with him. The idea is cool and I wanted to use one of the unique classes, but am wondering if a Sorcerer/Fighter combo wouldn't be just as effective. I'm going to find out Saturday I guess.

I'm actually excited about this, don't get me wrong, just over analytical of mechanics sometimes.

 

[Pants]

IK... Great setting, bad mechanics.
Be prepared to modify some things if you run it.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

Yeah, mechanics can get clunky, but it's not too bad.

Pants, two more posts till 2,000!

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Though a fair amount of argument over which ones are the 'poor mechanics'.

The Mechanikal magic item rules are complex, and somewhat poorly written, but very, very cool when you get the hang of em. There is a PDF explaining how they work, here. Much clearer than the rulebook.

For me, I really did not agree with the prices on firearms, 2+ gp a shot is absurd! And guns should be faster than heavy crossbows, not slower, especially since in IK the guns are breach loaders.

The Auld Grump

 

[Pants]

Yeah, mechanics can get clunky, but it's not too bad.

Most of it works pretty good, just not all of it...
I also happened to think that some of the rules in Eberron CS were clunky as well.

Pants, two more posts till 2,000!

Woo! Didn't even notice

Though a fair amount of argument over which ones are the 'poor mechanics'.

The Ogrun needs to be rewritten. I think the Gun Mage is pretty weak and the Bodger is just... weird (though cool conceptually! I have a strong desire to play a Gobber Bodger). I don't really see the point of some of the feats that grant some small spell-like abilities (like Green Weapon or Fire's Wrath).

 

[NewJeffCTHome]

Hi, Jeff! Nice to see another convert to the IK, it's a great setting.

I think it takes about 4-6 weeks to get most books printed, but I'm not an expert. I know that the World Guide shipped quite a while ago, and all my LGS's (which are probably the same ones as you, Dragon's Lair & War and Pieces in West Hartford and The Grid and Time Machine in Manchester) still have not had it on the shelves. I ended up ordering it online.

Where do you game? I don't think I'm up for joining another group right now; my current one meets once a week. But I am curious.

Right now, I don't play anywhere. I recently moved from Newington (a short bike ride from Dragon's Lair) to east of the River. My old gaming group was in the North Branford area and I had a 35 minute commute each way before from Newington, and that became about an hour when I moved. Plus, the DM in that group has had health problems over the past year as well...and my gaming time was sporadic since the birth of my daughter (see my post in the off-topic thread on that!)

I'm even entertaining the thought of getting back into DMing if I could host at our house.

 

[Bobitron]

Well, good luck! Check out the Privateer Press forums if you need help, there are plenty of people there willing to assist. I'll let you know if need a player. I'm in South Windsor, and normally play in Coventry and Machester.

 

[Banshee16]

Thanks for all the information. I saw a copy of the monsternomicon on eBay... but, I think the price was a bit high. is that an essential book, or can you use monsters from the regular WotC Monster Manual, too?

In all honesty, the Monsternomicon is a book you should buy for yourself as a treat. Forget the fact that it has a tonne of cool monsters which are very fitting for the setting.

Simply put, IMO, the Monsternomicon is the *best* monster manual by any company for 3rd Ed. It's got great art, is very well organized, and introduced a number of elements that took it head and shoulders over the competition.

Charts showing the size of each monster in comparison with a human. Flavour text about the monster, from the viewpoint of characters in the setting (largely Victor Pendrake). Rules showing typical information known about a monster by people in the setting, dependent upon what they rolled for their knowledge check.

Don't bother with E-Bay. Privateer Press is reprinting the book with 3.5 stats. Wait until it comes out over the next few weeks or months, and purchase it brand new.

Banshee

 

[NewJeffCT]

In all honesty, the Monsternomicon is a book you should buy for yourself as a treat. Forget the fact that it has a tonne of cool monsters which are very fitting for the setting.

Simply put, IMO, the Monsternomicon is the *best* monster manual by any company for 3rd Ed. It's got great art, is very well organized, and introduced a number of elements that took it head and shoulders over the competition.

Charts showing the size of each monster in comparison with a human. Flavour text about the monster, from the viewpoint of characters in the setting (largely Victor Pendrake). Rules showing typical information known about a monster by people in the setting, dependent upon what they rolled for their knowledge check.

Banshee

I'm not a big fan of monster supplements, as when I'm DM, my BBEGs tend to be evil humans and I usually stick with the more common monsters at lower levels - goblins, orcs, hobgoblins, etc and at mid-levels - undead, ogres, trolls, giants, lycanthropes. I make exceptions, but that is not very common and in unusual situations.

That said, if the setting calls for new monsters, I would have to do that. And, I did pick up the 'Dangerous Denizens' monster book, as it had locations of various monsters throughout Kalamar and typical combat actions for them...