Shattered Gates of Slaughtergarde - Anyone?

Zaukrie · Dec 13, 2006

Anyone got this yet? I'd love to know more about it.

takasi · Dec 13, 2006

Zaukrie said:
Anyone got this yet? I'd love to know more about it.

Ordered this from the local bookstore and it was put on hold for some reason. It should have arrived yesterday according to the previous info they gave me.

Also, Amazon has bumped up the release date from 12/12 to 12/26.

Bad Paper · Dec 14, 2006

The delay is probably a license thing. My FNGS got it last Thursday but was forbidden from stocking it until yesterday.

I got it yesterday, spent about ten minutes glancing through it. It's at home, or I'd give you a better review.

What I like most is the format: a players' booklet, a campaign booklet, a sites booklet, minis map, drawings, all contained in a folder with the wandering monster tables for the whole thing.

Content...eh... not totally impressed. More damn goblinoids, culminating with demons. Though fighting hobgoblins is fun. BBEG is just another off-the-shelf demon as far as I can tell. Maybe I missed something.

Nifty: the players' booklet details campaign-specific organizations and prestige classes. I think it's two organizations (do-gooders vs power-hungry) and each gets two prestige classes. I think one of the power-hungry prestige classes is based on taking a drug reminiscent of tanbrosh from RttToEE. There are also campaign-specific magic items.

Marcon · Dec 14, 2006

"Bad Paper", I'm very interested to know more about this product, since I'm currently thinking about starting either this or the Savage Tide Adventure Path.

Post more when you get a chance please!

-Marcon

caudor · Dec 14, 2006

Anyone know if this product starts at 1st level or 2nd level? I'm interested in playing it as a new starter campaign; however, I've read that it is also a good follow-up to Scourge of the Howling Horde.

Either way, I'll probably buy it soon.

Festivus · Dec 14, 2006

I am curious if it has the readability problems I experienced with Scourge of the Howling Horde, namely really dark grey graphics behind black letters in the encounter pages.

Gotham Gamemaster · Dec 14, 2006

I haven't read the whole adventure but here's what I've gleaned:

Shattered Gates starts at 1st level and finishes at 7th. The dark background problem of Scourge of the Howling Horde isn't an issue--although a lighter background for the encounter pages would still be preferable.

Although I remember some ad copy stating that Shattered Gates contained tie-ins to Howling Horde--I have yet to see a single mention of Howling Horde or any other adventure in Shattered Gates (there are setting adaptation sections for Eberron and Forgotten Realms, however).

It seems to be three dungeons with minimal story (not exactly what I was hoping for in an adventure that spans 1st-7th levels). The encounter format with its meticulous details (hardness of chains, position of doorknobs, etc.) takes up a lot of room in the package.

Hmm--now that I think about it, I'd call Shattered Gates of Slaughtergarde the kind of adventure that Necromancer Games publishes. So if you're in the mood for a "1st-edition feel, 3rd-edition rules" adventure then Shattered Gates looks to be a great choice.

Zaukrie · Dec 14, 2006

Hmm, not sure then. Does it come "sealed" or can I look at it in the store? I was looking for a mini-campaign for my wife and kids - may still adapt the U series.

I am curious if it has the readability problems I experienced with Scourge of the Howling Horde, namely really dark grey graphics behind black letters in the encounter pages.

QFT - that design work is terrible. I could hardly read the content on some pages (I bought this for my 9 year old as a gift, he wants to run a game).

Gotham Gamemaster · Dec 14, 2006

Zaukrie said:
Hmm, not sure then. Does it come "sealed" or can I look at it in the store? I was looking for a mini-campaign for my wife and kids - may still adapt the U series.

It's sealed. It's a slick two-pocket folder containing three booklets (Player's Guide, Campaign Guide, and Adventure Sites) as well as some maps, encounter tables, and some handouts--much of it resembles Paizo's online supplements for the Dungeon magazine Adventure Paths.

TSGoS is definitely a mini-campaign but a storytelling DM would want to flesh out the in-between dungeon parts---the adventure package is sparse on plot and more like the Fantastic Locations series.

While I'm taking some time to warm up to it, it seems like a great deal at $24.95 US.