Round 2, set 2
Round 2, set 2
Mythago vs. seasong.
Well, folks, I have to say, I’m disappointed. Both submissions, though containing strengths, were ultimately weak. The judging was difficult, but only because both sides were riddled with holes.
The bummer is
mythago starts SO well. The errant brother getting shanghaied – I liked that a lot! Then, trying to liberate a few coins from his strict, Cuthbert worshiping brother –who later sends him off to his death is indeed an
unfortunate coincidence. The concept of a Gaol Island is appealing to me in this fantasy setting, and the brother getting killed by the Contemplative Kraken (who could’ve been a fascinating NPC, had mythago detailed him a bit more), never arriving left me hoping we’d see the Kraken’s return later on in the story. The timeline, was consistent, and well thought out…
Up until “The Story” that is. 12th Level Wizard Medusa, Lich? WHAT?!? Completely tangential to the back-story, and a horrifying misuse of an encounter. This adventure was set up for characters whose maximum level is 14 –so MAYBE they could handle a CR17 creature… Thukrasios (and by the way, I’m pretty sure all Medusae are female, not male) is CR 21 by my count and an even higher EL, because mythago
specifically states he has a fortress, guards, AND he has time to prepare himself for battle. It would be an
unfortunate coincidence if the Lich even noticed the PCs passing through, let alone saw them as a threat.
So, what really happens is that the PCs are all killed or retreat back to Kingsport, and there we meet the
Blackguard that Calistan, the eldest son, has become – a neat idea that was. Too bad it’s not incorporated into the story at all, except maybe in a later adventure. Then adventures over. Again: What?!
Ingredient-wise: I like the
unfortunate coincidence, this starts a chain of poop which drives the story forward. Great use of the ingredient. I like the Kraken too – too bad he was strictly a single use plot device. He needs incorporation. By now even Eric’s grandmother should know that you don’t tack on ingredients. You just don’t do it. The mirror is exactly the same, and worse, it wasn’t even mentioned in the back-story. Big oversight. The
serene battlefield was meant as a clue to the type of foes the PCs would face, and the answer to the riddle of what happened to the King’s armed delegation. I actually liked this one – too bad it was spoiled by the off-CR opponent. Hated the
deflect arrows use, “protection from arrows” does NOT deflect arrows. “Windwall” does though – see I’m not totally unreasonable
Finally, though the NPC Calistan was a very interesting, mythago did squat with him, rendering him usless. To me, the obvious thing to do is have
The Blackguard be the one who sacked the city, with a troop of convicts from the Gaol island.
On to
seasong.
Seasong is all set-up, little or no adventure. The back-story is quite good, on par with mythago’s but the the punch line is brief, and it’s a sucker punch. It’s also riddled odd expectations, and mechanics problems, and major missing plot info. Too ambitions maybe? I can’t believe it’s
SEAsong we’re talking about here! Here are few highlights.
mechaincs: somehow there is a “fiend” (demon or devil) that is going to fly around, deflecting arrows, and somehow dispel multiple attempts at communication and flying from TWO ships, each with a contingent of guards, including spell casters. Err – how is this exactly? How does he spot a scry attempt when he is flying overhead? This fiend was brilliant enough to plan for A CENTURY to set up this little shindig, and yet this is his best plan?
Also, why is the CR 12 Kraken buddy, buddy with the CR 10 Fiend. What – the fiend speaks Aquan? More importantly, it’s VERY ambitious of seasong to assume the PCs will give the mirror to the kraken when he has stated EXPLICITY, this is a city treasure the PCs are trying to protect – throwing it to some sea beastie is the last thing they’d do. It sets the PCs up for failure, which I’m against.
And what about the other cities ships and national treasures? We get zero information and back-story about them, an oversight, I think - and that’s only because seasong's story is SO focused on the politics, and precautions, and the trust between the two cities.
Seasong alludes to the
unfortunate coincidence quite a few times in his submission, yet it never really materializes. The fiends plot is NOT going to look coincidental, by seasongs own admission. It is going to look like a deliberate act of war by one city on the other. And it is unfortunate, but NOT coincidental at all, that it was the field who suggested the 'two boats' tactic. The one place the ingredient would occur, is if we use the PCs as part of Uuhef’s crew – in seasong’s “alternatives” section. Oh, and by a 'fortunate coincidence', it is also the one situation in which the PCs might actually toss the mirror.
I should add, I loved the sentence “. In this case, have the adventurers that come on board [should] be incompetent louts who couldn't protect a pickle jar.” Loved it, seasong. I did like the serene, aquatic battle field, a decent touch to an otherwise flawed submission.
Sooo, my “least poor” judgement goes to
Seasong. Why? Well, at least he has a single, semi-viable combat. Tough, but at least possible! Mythago didn’t even give us that.
I would like lengthy (and possibly apologetic) exposition, please.