Rich Baker - More on H2

[MerricB]

From his Gleemax blog:

"I'm entering the home stretch for H2: Thunderspire Labyrinth this week. I've got about another 7 tactical encounters to write up. Since I had to turn in the maps a month ago, much of this design work is already done, in that I *know* how each room lays out and I've got a good idea what creatures should be in each one. All I have to do now is write 'em up! Unfortunately, I'm leaving a fair number of placeholders behind me, because the core rulebooks are in constant flux at the moment."

Cheers!

 

[Traycor]

H1 sounds great, but so far H2 feels to me like it comes out of left field compared to the first adventure. To me it looks more like a neat location and a big dungeon for the sake of a neat location and a big dungeon.

Personally I think adventures should be more organic feeling and less forced.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

H2 honestly sounds like a 4E Ptolus adventure, which works for me, obviously.

 

[mhensley]

"...because the core rulebooks are in constant flux at the moment."

Is this a good thing? It sure makes the preview books less attractive.

 

[Frostmarrow]

H1 sounds great, but so far H2 feels to me like it comes out of left field compared to the first adventure. To me it looks more like a neat location and a big dungeon for the sake of a neat location and a big dungeon.

Personally I think adventures should be more organic feeling and less forced.

For a big dungeon to work all you need is a kick-ass hook. Sometimes players don't even realize they are playing through a dungeon, even though they are. It's a hook thing.

 

[TerraDave]

This is one of the few designer or developer blog posts we have had in a while...most of them have fallen off my "favorites" page.

I wonder if the "constant flux" of the core rules has something to do with that.

One good possibility: they are getting play-test feedback. And incorporating it.

 

[TerraDave]

For a big dungeon to work all you need is a kick-ass hook. Sometimes players don't even realize they are playing through a dungeon, even though they are. It's a hook thing.

After a while, the hook will not be enough. Even a well done "big dungeon" can feel old after a while.

I think in this case, however, the adventure is only for about 3 levels...so it might be like an "expedition to" kinda thing. Which can be ok.

 

[mhensley]

This is one of the few designer or developer blog posts we have had in a while...most of them have fallen off my "favorites" page.

I wonder if the "constant flux" of the core rules has something to do with that.

Yeah, I've noticed that as well. After 4e was announced there was a constant flurry of blog postings by the developers. That has slowed down to almost nothing now. :\

 

[MerricB]

I think their incomptence at fixing Gleemax might also have something to do with it. At this point, I expect the people they've hired to do it would be getting very nervous indeed.

Cheers!

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Yeah, I've noticed that as well. After 4e was announced there was a constant flurry of blog postings by the developers. That has slowed down to almost nothing now. :\

It could also be that the designers just wanted to write so much after 2 years of silence - then they were finally able to do it and wrote a lot, and now, they are satiated, and went back to the "real work". (The fact that external playtesting has begone might also mean that they have to focus more on their work then on their blogs)