Oathbound - an overlooked setting?

[Steverooo]

The Queen of Penance is Israfel. In terms of how do you get out, I need to ask the question how did you get in? If Israfel pulled you and your party in Penance, you can leave the Forge with a key of binding. Keys can be purchased and/or found within the city. If you arrived on the Forge of your own accord, such as a plane shift or similar type spell, then you are free to leave by the same means.

Israfel! That's the wench!

As you can see, I answered your question, above... She popped us in...

One thing I REALLY wanted to know (which I understand is in the CS), is: What do you have to do to get OUT?!! When Airiel (or whatever the ruler of Penance's name is) appeared, she asked the PCs if they wanted to go... All the others said, more or less, "Yes". Mine asked a question... BOOT! He's in Penance, coming out of Stun, facing the charge of a Boarclops. What's-her-face is on a nearby rooftop, watching. I am developing a great dislike for this Outsider... and my Favoured Enemy is Outsiders (Evil). I bet my bonus applies!

So, oh knowledgable ones... how do I get my poor PC back? (The campaign is over, and I NEVER AGREED! )

Hey, the Mermaid I liked, but THIS Airiel...

So, how much do these "keys" cost? Are they magical? If so, do they have any other effects?

(Anybody?)

 

[Voadam]

Mine, mine, mine!

(Edit: What's Wrack & Ruin, anyway?)

Wrack and Ruin is a sourcebook on the surface ruins of the city of Penance in Oathbound and the underground Wrack under the city.

Penance is huge and built on layer after layer of older cities. Plenty of the surface is abandoned ruins as is a lot of the built over and unstable older city layers. But that leaves room for plenty of lost or hidden things in these areas and the sourcebook fleshes them out.

 

[Teneb]

The actual "cost" for a key of binding is up in the air. Oft times, they need to be found. According to O: DotF, each key is unique. In my campaign, a key of binding is something a character needs to create themselves, using something (unique to each person) from each domain. It ain't easy to get out of MY Forge.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Also, if you have read Mearls statement about "core stories" then I think that Oathbound fits into the mold of a setting without a core story to it.

You kiddin' right? The Forge has one of the *best* core stories I've seen! A group of adventurers is pulled from disparate dimensions and thrown together by enigmatic entities who subtly and overtly push them to their breaking point every week until they break or dominate. That's *exciting* for a core story!

I'm looking forward to the pdf revision of the world which will redo the prestige races to a different mechanic. The races are a neat idea but straight xp for powers is not something I have been happy with balance wise in my high level game.

Serious, they're doing this? That's sweet sauce! XP for powers has never struck me as a good idea, but I've just ignored Prestige Races. It'll be sweet if they're adding a better way to do 'em!

Since then, we've moved away from the sinewy and highly stylistic art to more realistic or traditional fantasy art.

Much like the DiTerlizzi art for PS, I thought the sinewy characters gave a real sense of style to the setting. Stuff like the pictures of Nemamiah on pg. 106 or Israfel on pg. 11 or pg. 109 (is that her on pg. 125?), or the protection creature on pg 65, the Palethian on pg. 337...the pic at the beginning of ch. 9; these rank as some of my most favorite pictures in any RPG supplement! They're bold and expressive!

Again, some people like furries and others hate them. I'll just say this. Future Oathbound supplements after Wildwood-which has two humanoid races, two furries and one that really doesn't fit in either category, will feature far fewer furries than earlier ones.

I think the "inhabitants" chapter of the core is a little bit overwhelming for a lot of people, furries or no. 12 races (the core has 5, 7 if you include the halves...that doubles the number!), of which only 5 are given in copmlete write-ups, with the rest using the old 2e "If you wish to have all the info, buy our other book!" approach....the races are genuinely cool, but it's harsh...

 

[Teneb]

Serious, they're doing this? That's sweet sauce! XP for powers has never struck me as a good idea, but I've just ignored Prestige Races. It'll be sweet if they're adding a better way to do 'em!

Yep, the Prestige Race mechanic is basically being totally reworked. The new version will first appear in Wildwood, and a majority of current (and some new) PrRs will be revised in the Oathbound Player's Guide. A smidgeon of info can be found here:

http://www.oathbound.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=99&forum=5&post_id=625#forumpost625

 

[I'm A Banana]

Excellent! Nice to see they're going with a level system instead of an XP system. Also, cool to see it ability-focused. I may be the only player in the world who liked that aspect of the original 3e Psionics system.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Though it's anyone's guess whether or not certain prestige race levels will advance class abilities or not.

Somehow I'm guessing it'll be some sort of synergy thing, and prestige races based on mental abilities might advanced caster/manifester levels. Though out of a 3 level prestige race it might only offer +1 or +2 caster levels. Though honestly the Focus of the Fair and Foul is something that sounds really good for bards.

Some of the prestige races previously had stages you could skip, like the Focus of the Sphere (dex-based I'm guessing) where air-breathing and walking characters could skip some stages, even more if you had a fly speed.

 

[tf360]

The prestige racial level abilities are generally spell-like abilities, supernatural abilities and/or extraordinary abilities. There are few if any generic skill bonuses and feats.

 

[Psion]

S&M is a lot better but it just doesn't mesh well with the core rules.
(...)
I have AEG's Magic, and I think it's very nice.

I find these two statement about at exact odds with my perception of reality. S&M seems a very nice magic book to me, but AEG's Magic is the book I would cite first if one were to ask me about baffling departures from the rules (like their lame attempt to make flesh magic "more special.")

One man's junk, and all that...

 

[Psion]

You kiddin' right? The Forge has one of the *best* core stories I've seen! A group of adventurers is pulled from disparate dimensions and thrown together by enigmatic entities who subtly and overtly push them to their breaking point every week until they break or dominate. That's *exciting* for a core story!

I think he's got you there, BU.