(Mongoose) Sheoloth - City of the Drow

[Psion]

Basically, Sheoloth was written for 3.5, but we kept a close eye on 3.0 compatibility. So, for example, spell selections will be the ones with no changes required (even if the spells themselves have altered slightly in effect). Same with classes - we have ensured that the changed class features/progression will have no effect upon the actual character. The one outstanding 3.0/3.5 carryover are the skills.

I'm scratching my head at this. What you describe seems impossible without different sets of stats for each, which the book does not have. And in most cases, where there is a conflict, it seems like the statistics have failed to 3.0, not 3.5. For example:

- A 12th level bard in the book has the total skill points of a 3.0 bard, and not a 3.5 bard.
- A druid in the book has three animal companions. In 3.5, a druid only receives one animal companion.
- One character, a diviner, has perform phrased as a single skill with two specialties. In 3.5, specialties are separate skills.

It seem obvious to me that the characters were made from randomly generated NPCGen characters (which is a 3.0 generator; see the thread in the general forum for more on this.) Terms for things like skill names are updated, but in almost every other instance where I said to myself "whatabout" and checked to see if the statistics were 3.5-ready, I found that the 3.0 route was taken.

FWIW, I don't want to give onlookers the wrong impression. Aside from NPC statistics, this is a really decent book with lots of utility. But the NPC statistics I found rather disapointing.

We have included conversion notes between the two

Is this something on your website, because I don't remember seeing anything like this in the book?

 

[JoeGKushner]

Psion's post was one of the reasons I wanted to know how Mongoose was handling 3.0 and 3.5. Monte claims that AU can be used with both systems too but hell, my novel Earl Aubec can be used with both systems if I want to do all the work. I just feel that there are certain realities that publishers aren't taking into account yet with the differences in stats, skills (types and points), feats and other goods.

There is a huge difference between a 3.0 guard who gets bullstrength cast on him at the start of the day with a greatsword and the power attack feat and that exact same guard in 3.5.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Psion, on these notes, "I'm scratching my head at this. What you describe seems impossible without different sets of stats for each, which the book does not have. And in most cases, where there is a conflict, it seems like the statistics have failed to 3.0, not 3.5. For example:

- A 12th level bard in the book has the total skill points of a 3.0 bard, and not a 3.5 bard.
- A druid in the book has three animal companions. In 3.5, a druid only receives one animal companion.
- One character, a diviner, has perform phrased as a single skill with two specialties. In 3.5, specialties are separate skills.

It seem obvious to me that the characters were made from randomly generated NPCGen characters (which is a 3.0 generator; see the thread in the general forum for more on this.) Terms for things like skill names are updated, but in almost every other instance where I said to myself "whatabout" and checked to see if the statistics were 3.5-ready, I found that the 3.0 route was taken.

FWIW, I don't want to give onlookers the wrong impression. Aside from NPC statistics, this is a really decent book with lots of utility. But the NPC statistics I found rather disapointing.
Quote:"

Were they the only issues you found with the book? The Mongoose Matt man didn't answer you question about the conversion notes either so I'm hoping a bump gets some more answers here.

 

[Psion]

Were they the only issues you found with the book? The Mongoose Matt man didn't answer you question about the conversion notes either so I'm hoping a bump gets some more answers here.

That depends, what do you mean by "these". If you mean "npc statistics", then yes. NPC statistics are pretty much the only mechanical aspects of the book. The city layout, the organizations and major powers, the demographic breakdowns, buildings and businesses -- all those sort of details seemed useful and well done.

Do you mean "these" as in only those NPC statistics that I pointed out were problematic? No. As mentioned in the thread on the main board, they appear to have randomly generated skills and feats, which is a problem, and none of them appear to be equipped. I didn't find any more 3 -> 3.5 conversion issues, but I stopped looking after I found those. The ones I saw were enough to convince me that this wasn't just a few bad apples; the bunch was not carefully converted.

I feel like I am repeating myself, but did that answer your question?

 

[Psion]

Aaargh! Double post...

 

[JoeGKushner]

That depends, what do you mean by "these". If you mean "npc statistics", then yes. NPC statistics are pretty much the only mechanical aspects of the book. The city layout, the organizations and major powers, the demographic breakdowns, buildings and businesses -- all those sort of details seemed useful and well done.

Do you mean "these" as in only those NPC statistics that I pointed out were problematic? No. As mentioned in the thread on the main board, they appear to have randomly generated skills and feats, which is a problem, and none of them appear to be equipped. I didn't find any more 3 -> 3.5 conversion issues, but I stopped looking after I found those. The ones I saw were enough to convince me that this wasn't just a few bad apples; the bunch was not carefully converted.

I feel like I am repeating myself, but did that answer your question?

Yup. If I'm reading correclty, all NPCs are 3.0 with some tack on for 3.5 in essence and there are no 3.0 to 3.5 conversion notes. Some one on another post mentioned that some of the spells in the Ultimate Spell book were also written out 3.0 as opposed to 3.5. If true, it's like when 3.0 first came out and Sword & Sorcery Studios were having their mechanical issues.