World's Largest Dungeon in actual play [Spoilers!]

[Bestopheles]

I don't have my books with me, but I'm pretty sure that your right...the deconstructing an item is an ability they get after 1st level (I actually though it was around 3rd or 4th level, but may be as high as 7th). That said, I think I may allow access to that ability from first level...especially if there are no clerics in the party, and those xp are going for wands of cure light, scrolls of restoration, etc. However, I may ad caveats as to what can be made with those bonus xp until he hits seventh (only healing items, for example), or even just say they're "banked" and unusuable till he hits seventh. I think with some management it wouldn't be game breaking.

Jason

 

[Tenser42]

Thanks for the kind welcome everyone

If you like Region A that much, then you'll probably really like the rest, so far A is probably my least favorite. Not that its bad, its been a lot of fun.. its pacing is somewhat skewed imo, and with the repeative nature of the darkmantles/rats it I think takes some of the coolness out of it. If you have some other monster books to pull some additional low level badies, or drag some elven deserters in, I think that'll help, or even just pulling more Orcs/Kobolds out with random encounters. A really does have some fine moments though, from the Oger (his name escapes me at the moment), to Turag the cowardly orc, etc...

Soul, if Region A is your least favorite, I'm looking forward even more to reading the rest . As for the pacing in Region A, I did notice the monsters get kind of repetitive (especially all the darkmantles in the eastern rooms). I think I will play that by ear, possibly using the optional random encounter charts folks have already posted elsewhere (ie, fiendish orcs, kobolds, etc.)

If I feel motivated enough, another possibility (since there will only be two characters in the party to start) is to change things slightly such that more of the orcs and kobolds survived the initial assault by the fiends and currently have the upperhand in a pitched battle against the darkmantles in the eastern rooms. The battle began in A49 and has slowly moved east to the darkmantles lairs.

This would accomplish a reduction in foes for the PC(s) to combat, and it would allow the humanoids to survive a bit longer (I like orcs, hehe). And if the PC(s) decided to help the humanoids, this would greatly increase the odds of an alliance. Although once the battle was complete, it should be fun working out the tension between the remaining kobolds and orcs.

We're playing in the Forgotten Realms and my wife has chosen to play a drow elf who loosely follows Ellistrae (sp?), so having a drow elf suddenly appear and help the kobolds and orcs adds a bit of a twist (if she plays it that way).

Anyway, just thinking out loud, thanks for reading .

John

 

[PaulofCthulhu]

For those interested, there's now a dedicated forum for AEG's World's Largest Dungeon over at www.rpgmp3.com

RPGMP3 WLD forum

The 2nd audio session is available, the 3rd is in the can and the 4th will be recorded next week.

Paul

 

[CrimsonScribe]

No, when the maps first came out and I examined them it occured to me that having a players map with all map symbols removed (IE. secret doors, teleports, etc) that could be shown to the players would be extremely valuable. I sen't an email to Jim, who forwarded it to the president of AEG and I've not recieved a response... so I assume it was canned. A scale map for minatures is rediculous... it would be huge. Just storing it would be an issue. At this time I've taped 4 sheets of 8.5x11 graph paper together and am drawing the map for the players as they explore the complex. It seems to be working well, then are getting a feel of having explored a large complex.

I'm in the process of photoshoping Region A right now and I got to wondering, do you want Room Numbers to be shown? Leaving them on would give away any nearby secret rooms because of the gaps in the numbers and may or may not let the players know if they are heading the "right" way (depends on th region).

So far I'm taking out all secret doors, trap symbols and "unique markers" - like the red and green "markers" in rooms A48 & A80 respectively. I'm also colouring all the "true secret rooms" (those with no non-secret doors) the same colour as the dungeon walls.

 

[Soul]

I'd say leave the numbers. Having clues about secret doors isn't so bad really. Whats the fun if the PCs miss all the secret doors? Plus, the players might not realize it, atleast not right away.

 

[haiiro]

I'm in the process of photoshoping Region A right now and I got to wondering, do you want Room Numbers to be shown?

First off, if you see this project through, you will have my thanks -- it's a major undertaking, and player-friendly maps will be a great tool no matter which way you fall on this issue.

Personally, I favor leaving the numbers in for one reason: my experience playing through large dungeons is that it gets hard to remember where you've been, even with a map. After the fifteenth mostly empty room that has some fiendish darkmantles in it, I'm going to need numbers -- as a player or as a DM.

This is especially true in the case of unidentified magical treasure, and to a lesser extent, treasure in general. For example: "Okay, I stab the orc with that weird dagger we found." Which weird dagger? "Oh, the one from A27, where the pile of dead bodies was." From note-taking to ease of play, that's a great tool to have.

I think the immense utility of that shorthand -- of being able to say, "That's room A15" -- outweighs the fact that players will be able to make informed guesses about their progress and the presence of secret doors, etc. A group that doesn't want their PCs to act on that player knowledge will play accordingly, numbers or no.

 

[CrimsonScribe]

It's really not that hard to do when you have the right tools. It's taking me a couple of hours to complete a region. In fact I've completed Region A already (with the room numbers) and I'm going to email Jim to see if I need to do anything regarding copyright before submitting them to Arholly's fan site.

 

[haiiro]

In fact I've completed Region A already (with the room numbers) and I'm going to email Jim to see if I need to do anything regarding copyright before submitting them to Arholly's fan site.

Sweet. You might even finish it in time for my first session.

Don't forget to post here when you upload it to Arholly's site!

 

[CrimsonScribe]

Sweet. You might even finish it in time for my first session.

Don't forget to post here when you upload it to Arholly's site!

Oh, I'll be doing that. Though this is contingent on AEG's approval etc.

 

[Bestopheles]

sweet. User friendly player maps would be very nice.

Jason