Subtle Brilliance...

[Sargon]

I was wondering if there are any plans for future expansions to Grim Tales.
The more I read about it, the more I can hardly wait to receive it

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I was wondering if there are any plans for future expansions to Grim Tales.
The more I read about it, the more I can hardly wait to receive it.

Next up is Slavelords of Cydonia. It's a campaign-length epic adventure (1st thru 20th level). It also contains a few rules concepts specific to the adventure that are nevertheless applicable to other games: a Mass Combat system, and a method for creating "energy weapons" such as lasers, particle beams, etc.

After that, due to popular demand, we'll be releasing a more in-depth look at alternate spellcasting systems.


Wulf

 

[Turanil]

Can you tell us a little more about Slavelords of Cydonia?

The cover art looks really great. Now I hear it has rules for laser gun and the like. All of this seems really intriguing as the cover art (with its Frazetta styles even better than that of the Grim Tales cover) is clearly about heroic fantasy. So:

- Release date?
- How many pages?
- The genre of the scenario (fantasy? post-apocalyptic? etc.)
- Hardcover, softcover?
- ...

 

[pogre]

Can you tell us a little more about Slavelords of Cydonia?

The cover art looks really great. Now I hear it has rules for laser gun and the like. All of this seems really intriguing as the cover art (with its Frazetta styles even better than that of the Grim Tales cover) is clearly about heroic fantasy. So:

- Release date?
- How many pages?
- The genre of the scenario (fantasy? post-apocalyptic? etc.)
- Hardcover, softcover?
- ...

I can answer one part - the genre is any you choose. Slaves uses a very clever tool to allow the DM to use any era they want. I'll let Wulf expand if he chooses to, but suffice it to say I think it is well done.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Can you tell us a little more about Slavelords of Cydonia?

The cover art looks really great. Now I hear it has rules for laser gun and the like. All of this seems really intriguing as the cover art (with its Frazetta styles even better than that of the Grim Tales cover) is clearly about heroic fantasy.

Oh? Are you so sure?

- Release date?
- How many pages?
- The genre of the scenario (fantasy? post-apocalyptic? etc.)
- Hardcover, softcover?
- ...

1. Hopefully at GenCon

2. Over 216 pages.

3. The adventure is set on mythic Cydonia, ruled by a race of evil reptilians. You can send fantasy heroes up against them or a strike force of post-apocalyptic commandos, it doesn't matter much. We're very careful not to put any particular genre "spin" on the work; you will notice as you read it that it "reads" however your mind is working. When I read it, it reads as Modern. The writers assure me that it reads as fantasy to them!

4. Hardcover.


Wulf

 

[Turanil]

ruled by a race of evil reptilians

It looks it's going to fit nicely with Serpent Kingdoms.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

It looks it's going to fit nicely with Serpent Kingdoms.

I imagine so. What a coincidence!

 

[Zoatebix]

Is this the place to ask about the blanket 2/3 CR multiplier that appears in the GT system, but not in the v4 document by U_K that I've downloaded? I've puzzled out all of the other differences except that one, I think.

Are GT classes more powerful than D&D classes - is the 2/3 multiplier your 'silver rule'? Are you assuming that characters will be optimized and that monsters have comparitively more varried abilities?

Yay for accurate CRs and ELs and such.
-George

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Is this the place to ask about the blanket 2/3 CR multiplier that appears in the GT system, but not in the v4 document by U_K that I've downloaded? I've puzzled out all of the other differences except that one, I think.

Sure, no problem.

UK's system produces CRs that are 2/3 higher across the board from the core rules. Core rules say something is CR10, UK says it's CR15.

The 2/3 rule just cranks everything back down to the core rules. I added this because it was important for Grim Tales to be more Core d20 friendly; UK sees no reason to do this for his Immortal's Handbook though he's kind enough to mention it.

It is VERY important to apply the 2/3 rule if you intend to mix core creatures and creatures created using Chapter 13.

Note, however, that the 2/3 rule NEVER applies to character levels, nor to any CR that is added to a PC.

And for the sake of completeness, if you want your Dragons to match the core CR (which is arbitrarily too high, to make Dragons seem "tougher" for DMs who can't otherwise manage to play them intelligently) then you need to multiply by 1/2. (2/3 is a more accurate representation of true CR; 1/2 will make them seem "tough" like the core rules.)


Wulf

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Oh? Are you so sure?
We're very careful not to put any particular genre "spin" on the work; you will notice as you read it that it "reads" however your mind is working. When I read it, it reads as Modern. The writers assure me that it reads as fantasy to them!

Heh. My first thoughts had a Barsoom/John Carter vibe.