[XRP] Just what is in A Magical Society: Beast Builder anyway?

[jgbrowning]

Send me your e-mail address at josephbrowning@exp.citymax.com. I'll start a folder of e-mail addresses and when the PDF/book hits the shelves I'll send out an e-mail.

Glad you're looking forward to it.

joe b.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Well, I've got some good news and some bad news about A Magical Society: Beast Builder.

First the bad news: We've laid the book out and found that it's only around 234 pages. This means we either need to write more to make 256 or take out a bit to make 224.

Oh, pooh!

I was looking forward to the CR Estimator. It would have been worth the extra $1.50 (for the PDF) to have that. Oh well... Any chance of that appendix showing up as a demo or a smaller product?

The Auld Grump, fairly consistent about estimating his CRs too low, or overcompensating and setting them too high...

 

[jgbrowning]

Oh, pooh!

I was looking forward to the CR Estimator. It would have been worth the extra $1.50 (for the PDF) to have that. Oh well... Any chance of that appendix showing up as a demo or a smaller product?

The Auld Grump, fairly consistent about estimating his CRs too low, or overcompensating and setting them too high...

If you want a CR estimator, go with Grim Tales. It's a bit more expensive than the $1.5 but it is automated. You'll find that automation is a big boon with the system. I like the CR estimator so much I wanted to include it but something had to give and unfortunately it was that.

The link to Grim Tales Creature Creation PDF. You won't be dissapointed.

joe b.

 

[DMH]

I am getting this regardless, but how useful is it for making alien races?

 

[jgbrowning]

I am getting this regardless, but how useful is it for making alien races?

Environment and Stats wise it will be very good. Social-wise (ie. as related to the social customs and mores) it will be somewhat useful but not as much. We're actually toying with the idea of a Society Builder right now as the second next A Magical Society Book. The next one's going to be about trade and the Silk Road.

joe b.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

If you want a CR estimator, go with Grim Tales. It's a bit more expensive than the $1.5 but it is automated. You'll find that automation is a big boon with the system. I like the CR estimator so much I wanted to include it but something had to give and unfortunately it was that.

The link to Grim Tales Creature Creation PDF. You won't be dissapointed.

joe b.

*Shrug* The problem is that I am not all that interested in Grim Tales, I do not need a varient system, so I am not likely to get it. Beast Builder is something that I am interested in and am getting, so the recommendation does me no good.

The Auld Grump

 

[jgbrowning]

*Shrug* The problem is that I am not all that interested in Grim Tales, I do not need a varient system, so I am not likely to get it. Beast Builder is something that I am interested in and am getting, so the recommendation does me no good.

The Auld Grump

The CR estimator that was going to be in BB is basically the same one as presented in GT. I like Wulf's system well enough that I thought it should be included in a monster building book. But since we had page issues, we decided to cut out OGC material as opposed to new material. GT's CR estimator does a good job getting you on track before you start playtesting. And the fact that BadAxe has automated it makes it even that more useful.

I hope that clears things up.

joe b.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

The CR estimator that was going to be in BB is basically the same one as presented in GT. I like Wulf's system well enough that I thought it should be included in a monster building book. But since we had page issues, we decided to cut out OGC material as opposed to new material. GT's CR estimator does a good job getting you on track before you start playtesting. And the fact that BadAxe has automated it makes it even that more useful.

I hope that clears things up.

joe b.

I am not (exactly) trying to argue, but it is attached to a product that I am not (currently) interested in. If it were available separately I would be interested. (If Wulf wants to take that as a hint...)

So nothing against the system. Just that if I buy a product I want to be able to use the majority of the product. At this point I am interested in the CR estimator for GT, and a bit by the separately available Mass Combat, but not in the bulk of the system.

Though I will admit that having the spreadsheet included is nifty.

The Auld Grump

 

[mythusmage]

Concepts are more general ideas-the overarching concept of the monster. For an ogre it would be something like "a smallish giant that bashes things." An aboleth would be "a strange aquatic creature that turns others into slaves and uses it's powers to manipulate/deceive others." Generally, concepts are the monster idea while function is how it performs that idea.

I think most any monster concept can be boiled down to, "Something to harrass the PCs with."

Of course, when designing a monster my first concern is not how the players are going to deal with it, but how it fits into its environment. So for me niche is concept. How an animal fits into the local environment determines abilities and behaviors, and so shapes how it interacts with the PCs.

That's right, I'm a cruel, evil person who does not think the PCs are the center of the universe.

 

[JoeCrow]

The next one's going to be about trade and the Silk Road.

Schweet! That oughtta rock on toast.