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

[BlueBlackRed]

If I understand correctly, Jim Pinto is no longer with AEG, and from the looks of his post he was not aware that WLD had not been submitted.

And I'm guessing that AEG hasn't sent a replacment spokesperson to ENWorld to assist us with our questions and such with the WLD.

So thank you Jim for spending some of your your post-AEG free time here.

 

[DaveMage]

And I'm guessing that AEG hasn't sent a replacment spokesperson to ENWorld to assist us with our questions and such with the WLD.

So thank you Jim for spending some of your your post-AEG free time here.

I think it was awsome for jim pinto and some of the WLD authors to spend time here.

AEG has turned out wome wonderful products, IMO, but, unfortunately, thier promotional ability leaves a bit to be desired.

They have one of the least-updated websites of any of the popular d20 companies, and don't do any advertising of their new products on the EN World forums. Granted, EN World isn't the be-all and end-all of RPGs, but it's certainly the most popular D&D/d20 fansite around.

I wish they'd tell us more about what was coming. I've heard rumors that the Accordlands books will be out in the Fall, but who knows? We know the World's Largest City is in production, but as to release date, no one's talking.

I guess it's mostly disappointing since the products are generally so good. (If they sucked, who'd care? )

 

[jim pinto]

yeah

that makes sense.

because without copies of that book in front of them, i'm sure the enworld "academy" couldn't remember it was released.

<rolls eyes>

i'll tell you what, i've never heard of any of those adventures on the nominees list.

it doesn't matter.

largest gaming book ever... city won't top it.

no one is going to get close for years... nearly a million words.

ennie or no... the tome rocks!

so there!!

 

[Blustar]

Hey Guys,
Great thread and I finally broke down and bought the WLD....cool. I haven't read through the entire thread, I'm on page 10 right now, but are there any Dungeon towns or cities where the PC's can spend hard earned cash and sell/buy stuff? I know the whole premise of the prison and they can't leave but it's one aspect of the game that my players have always enjoyed. Has anyone addressed this in the thread?
I was thinking of having them find a magic item that allowed them to gate out of the Dungeon twice per map region. (Is this too lenient?) I haven't read through the whole book yet so maybe there is a town in the Dungeon somewhere? A place where because of prevailing circumstances opposing forces see as "neutral grounds" and violence is met with swift reprisals. Like Sigil maybe? Anyways hopefully you guys see where I'm going with this. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks,

Alex

 

[DaveMage]

Hey Guys,
Great thread and I finally broke down and bought the WLD....cool. I haven't read through the entire thread, I'm on page 10 right now, but are there any Dungeon towns or cities where the PC's can spend hard earned cash and sell/buy stuff? I know the whole premise of the prison and they can't leave but it's one aspect of the game that my players have always enjoyed. Has anyone addressed this in the thread?
I was thinking of having them find a magic item that allowed them to gate out of the Dungeon twice per map region. (Is this too lenient?) I haven't read through the whole book yet so maybe there is a town in the Dungeon somewhere? A place where because of prevailing circumstances opposing forces see as "neutral grounds" and violence is met with swift reprisals. Like Sigil maybe? Anyways hopefully you guys see where I'm going with this. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks,

Alex

Welcome to the boards!

It goes against some of the metaplot, but one possibility I would suggest is using the Lantern Archons to transport the group out now and again. However, make the party pay a price. Something as mundane as gems or as different as, perhaps, the head of a fiend.

Also, not every Lantern Archon will do it. PCs will have to negotiate and may even be laughed at, depending on the archon.

 

[JoeBlank]

yeah

that makes sense.

because without copies of that book in front of them, i'm sure the enworld "academy" couldn't remember it was released.

<rolls eyes>

i'll tell you what, i've never heard of any of those adventures on the nominees list.

it doesn't matter.

largest gaming book ever... city won't top it.

no one is going to get close for years... nearly a million words.

ennie or no... the tome rocks!

so there!!

Jim, I certainly agree with you that WLD rocks, and is one of the greatest undertakings in D&D history. I honestly bought it as a novelty, and was thrilled to discover that it is a great adventure, well-written and well-organized. Now I'm running it, and having a blast.

It sounds like there is some bad blood between yourself and EN World, of which I am unaware. That aside, you can't blame the ENnies judges for not considering a product that was not submitted. If I understand the process, 5 judges (who live in 5 different locations) each review the submitted products and then confer to come up with the nominations. So each judge would need a copy of WLD to consider.

Some publishers choose not to participate, for reasons of their own. WotC does not submit anything for consideration, for example. The judges work hard enough without being required to double check and be certain that every worthy product in every category was submitted.

If AEG made a decision not to submit, then I was just wondering why the did so. I suspect it was actually an oversight on their part. As others have mentioned, AEG puts out some great products, but they do not seem overly active at promoting them. Especially not on EN World. Again, perhaps this comes from whatever issues you seem to have with EN World.

Anyway, thanks for a great book, and for your help and additional information on this thread and elsewhere. You have gone above and beyond the call to make WLD an even better experience.

 

[jim pinto]

Anyway, thanks for a great book, and for your help and additional information on this thread and elsewhere. You have gone above and beyond the call to make WLD an even better experience.

Please do not misinterpret my tone.

AEG is in charge of AEG. For whatever reason AEG wasn't up for any Origins awards, either. This may be for a number of reason, but its a sign that organizers of 3rd party activities in this industry aren't very attentive.

While I worked for AEG, there were many times I did not express my opinion about a decision in the industry because that comment, would in turn, reflect on AEG.

This is no longer the case.

Those who know me, know I'm opinionated AND I have the ability to back up my point of view. I am not some 14-year old flamer, ranting about how six-sided dice are unfair against eight-siders.

Role-playing is a fan's hobby. In the last 5 years it has grown to a size it has not seen since the early 80s (it will actually never be that big again). Fans and their wallets and dedication determine the course of this industry. Not elitists who don't game anymore.

There are too many choices, too many distractions, and too many other things to spend our money and time on. The level d20 has sunk too in the last 2 years is pretty much where its going to stay (until 4th edition recessitates it or buries it).

Okay. That being said, I find it a little convenient, that neither the origins academy or the ennies gave a nod to the LARGEST BOOK IN GAMING HISTORY.

I'm not asking for a free victory for myself and the other writers. If it's not the best, it's not the best.

This is not sour grapes.

Hell. What if it WERE nominated and someone BEAT it. How good would that guy feel?

This is like forgetting to put "Russian Ark" on the best Foreign Films list for the academy awards, because the didn't fill out their paperwork properly. Everyone that knows foreign films, knows Russian Ark. You don't get to be a wet t-shirt judge if you don't know boobies.

Head in the sand thinking is endemic of an industry that is passive aggressive and scared of ruffling feathers. Morrus and crew "forgetting" about an 840-page adventure that sold (quantity deleted) copies, which I guarantee is more than all five of those listed combined, is rather... well inebriated.

It takes an enormous set of blinders to throw a dart at that big of a target and still miss.

Am I upset?

Actually, no.

Am I suprised?

Most certainly.

Am I really surprised?

Ha. Well. No. Not when measured against game industry antics, no.

Am I sorry I wasted everyone's time on this board talking about it?

Most certainly.

This is not the creative jim pinto that worked so hard on this book, forgetting to eat or sleep. This isn't the gamer jim pinto that would love to sit down at gencon and game with everyone of you guys and talk about our best "adventures." This isn't the martyr jim pinto that worked in gaming for 8 1/2 years, killing himself for a wage that you could make at starbucks. This isn't the fun-loving jim pinto that wishes gaming were an independent pursuit and not a commodity.

This is the jim pinto that just can't stand watching people wag their tails and expect the dog to wag with it. Morrus' and Psion's and the rest of the team's opinions of my book are just that... opinions. I'll debate the strengths and weaknesses of this product all week, if they want.

But the fans say otherwise.

And for the record, Joe, and everyone else who bought the book. It thrills my broken hand to know that everyone is enjoying this product. And I hope the other writers and team members that contributed understand that this thread and the previous WLD thread are the two most viewed discussion threads in the history of enworld.

 

[jim pinto]

Welcome to the boards!

It goes against some of the metaplot, but one possibility I would suggest is using the Lantern Archons to transport the group out now and again. However, make the party pay a price. Something as mundane as gems or as different as, perhaps, the head of a fiend.

Also, not every Lantern Archon will do it. PCs will have to negotiate and may even be laughed at, depending on the archon.

there's room to make traders out of the minotaurs, elves, and duegar in regions F, H, and D respectively.

this requires some leaps in logic and/or creation of runners who carry the goods to be traded from one place to the next. this would also allow elves to escape from H more easily.

but an action "market" where goods can be purchased seems unrealistic except in H

otherwise, the lantern archons COULD, but probably would only allow one at a time to leave... holding the rest as "collateral"

 

[Blustar]

there's room to make traders out of the minotaurs, elves, and duegar in regions F, H, and D respectively.

this requires some leaps in logic and/or creation of runners who carry the goods to be traded from one place to the next. this would also allow elves to escape from H more easily.

but an action "market" where goods can be purchased seems unrealistic except in H

otherwise, the lantern archons COULD, but probably would only allow one at a time to leave... holding the rest as "collateral"

Hey thanks for the response and I think I have this under control now but I've been trying to figure out the meta-plot and I have some questions...

1. Did Longtail know that he would be trapped in the Celestial's prison (WLD) ? Or did he figure after he raised his army he would win his way out?

2. The dungeon was originally built before Orcs,Minotaurs, goblins, etc. even existed right?
So, how did so many humanoids get in? Was there a mad rush after the first tear in the dungeon to plunder riches or gain nefarious allies? After a wave of invasion was it warded a second time by Celestials?

3. Was the Dungeon deep in the earth and "raised" closer to the surface because of the earthquakes? I don't understand why the Derro are digging(because of the Xill). Did the Derro digging cause the massive landslide effectively close off portions of the Dungeon that were open to escape?

4. It states that there is an entrance and an exit. Why is there an exit?(if its a prison of eternity)

5. It says that while the Angels looked the other way creatures migrated to Region B. I thought the Celestials/Angels were active eons ago before the existance of creatures like minotaurs, orcs, goblins, etc...is there a timeline of activity between celestials and earthquakes and such.

6. I dont understand how the wards can still be active in some sections if the dungeon is broken open?

7.Is the whole idea that the "good" races must finish what the celestials started and somehow repair the dungeon or are they suppsoed to defeat the World Eater and defeat "evil"?

I guess my main concern/confusion is how did all these humanoids of relatively low power get into the dungeon and why? It doesn't sound like a good place even for them!!

sorry for all the questions but before I start I would like to get a firm grip on the meta-plot so I can wing-it when I have to.

thanks,

Alex

 

[Qwillion]

This has been something that has been running around in the back of my head, a timeline for the dungeon and the major events of the dungeon.

I started working on it and then got sidetraked with making an epic section of the dungeon. Maybe with some help I can post what I have here latter and other people can add to it.