tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post5200597694492433013..comments2024-03-28T08:50:57.015+01:00Comments on Beyond Fomalhaut: [BLOG] Beyond ErillionMelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-51879330328662423312022-01-23T23:55:17.742+01:002022-01-23T23:55:17.742+01:00Thanks for the writeup - it is excellent to see a ...Thanks for the writeup - it is excellent to see a campaign take shape from small pieces of information, and connections start to emerge as the players become active in the setting. Working as intended! I will read those play reports as well. Love the quandary with the dragon.<br /><br />WRT your questions:<br />The Monks of Barzog are followers of Kurlakum (see the hex key for 1908 in Echoes #03). Barzog may be the name of a place, a founder, a demon, or something else - your idea for a "dual god" is very fitting.<br /><br />G1 was supposed to go between 1907 and 2007 (next to the cave mouth; there is a module there that has not been released yet); G2 near Ice Lake (1905), and G3 around 1306-1307 (there is a module there, also, centred on mountain trails and hidden valleys). They played no central role in our campaign, they were just present. <br /><br />A few more modules came from the Advanced Adventures line: The Witch Mounds, The Warrens of Zagash, and one or two more I am forgetting. Through some incredible turns of chance, none of them were actually featured in play! (Forgotten Grottoes of the Sea Kings, however, has played a prominent role in the Twelve Kingdoms.)<br /><br />And this is the case with other places, some of which I planned to write, but didn't, because there was no need for it. Tol Grashmak is definitely one of these, and the catacombs of Barzak Bragoth as well. What I really did remove were a few of the campaign-specific plotlines. The residue is left there as something to think about, and replace with your own ideas!<br /><br />I am not sure there will be more Erillion-related articles in Echoes, or as standalone modules, but this remaining stuff may see the light as some sort of hardcover collection.Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-54583102190245171972022-01-22T19:53:31.387+01:002022-01-22T19:53:31.387+01:00And now the questions!
What is the relation betwe...And now the questions!<br /><br />What is the relation between Barzog and Kurlakum? There are clerics of both of them but only Kaurlakum gets a writeup among the gods. But there's also a monastery of Barzog that's inhabited by Kurlakum's worshippers. What's that about? So far I'm treating them as two aspects of the same god – namely, each one of them is one of the seven misfortunes who are worshipped as a godly conglomerate, I guess.<br /><br />I'd also be interested to hear what modules you considered placing into Erillion. In the article you mention:<br /><br />- Barrowmaze for Barzag Bragoth. I'm doing this, it's a great fit.<br />- Citadel of Fire was used for “The Mage Tower”<br />- The giant modules. There are fairly easy to spot in the hexcrawl, or at least the Hill Giants one is – the hex is somewhere in the north-east mountains IIRC. I haven't looked closely for the other ones.<br /><br />Did you have other plans? Sometimes when reading the hexes, it seems like you had a specific module in mind but cut any mentions of it before publication (for obvious reasons). For example, I'm looking at Tol Grashmak here and it feels like something specific should be there.<br /><br />Of course, I know there's no canon I can place anything anywhere (and I will). I'll also most probably not use your selection anyway because the story will never get there. But I'm still curious.Jiří "Markus" Petrůhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17888038430387964093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-2285253884387818772022-01-22T19:45:38.850+01:002022-01-22T19:45:38.850+01:00Here's my writeups. It's in Czech, transla...Here's my writeups. It's in Czech, translated via the magic of Google Translate into English, which is quit dreadful but enough to get the gist of it:<br /><br />https://zpatky-wordpress-com.translate.goog/tag/er/?_x_tr_sl=cs&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB&_x_tr_pto=wappJiří "Markus" Petrůhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17888038430387964093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-13347603886095919132022-01-22T19:44:18.184+01:002022-01-22T19:44:18.184+01:00Hi Melan. I've started an Erillion campaign of...Hi Melan. I've started an Erillion campaign of my own. First a quick summary for those interested, then a couple of questions.<br /><br />I've started them in Huberic, just as you did. They were hired to find a lost merchant (kidnapped by the bandits and sold to Truglag in Beware the Beekeeper). They peaked into the singing caverns but after losing one character to a stone statue in the very first room (random encounter!), the decided to avoid this place. Instead they're heading to the mountains to investigate rumors of goblins robbing a ruined Yolanthus Kar monastery (for which I'm using the OSR classic Tomb od the Iron God) – my idea is to use this monastery as a secret entrance to the Barzag Bragoth valley, which will, of course, contain Barrowmaze as intended. <br /><br />On the way, I've placed the NGR module A Thousand Dead Babies. I'm reskinning the modules do fit Erillion – this adventure assumed a conflict between Christianity and pagans; after reskin, we have a conflict between the missionaries of Gladuor and cultists of Kurlakum the Seven Misfortunes. A third faction of remaining adherents of druidism is also shaping up. It'll be fun to see where this is heading.<br /><br />Of course, this being A Thousand Dead Babies, they are now saddled with a cursed basked that produces a baby every day. So they'll probably abandon all current plans and try to get rid of it somehow. <br /><br />Two funny coincidences:<br />- I used Gladuor on a random whim for the temple in Huberic. I've then reused him as a substitute for Christianity in the 1000 dead babies. Today, I've noticed there is a 6th level cleric (= knows remove curse) of Gladuor in Baklin! So I guess they may be heading there. I love finding coincidental links like this.<br />- This cleric, however, seems to be living as a guest with Fantagor the Kassadian. Who happens to be the NPC who've I picked – on a whim – as the quest giver for the initial "find the lost merchant quest". To they'll need help from a guy who lives with another guy, whose quest they ignored. A total coincidence but a great one!<br /><br />Of course, they may try to seek a different solution. I hear there's a wishing well on an island somewhere north east. And of course, they still can't leave the mountain valley they're currently in because they promised a red dragon (random encounter) they'd bring him an unicorn to eat, and the dragon won't let them out without one. (Here, I'm imagining them sneaking off through the secret route to Barzag Bragoth but who knows)<br /><br />What I'm trying to say here, in many words:<br /><br />I'm enjoying your work, thanks a lot! It's packed of little tidbits which I'm using more or less randomly but so far it works as a great puzzle and I enjoy finding the underlying complexity and links.Jiří "Markus" Petrůhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17888038430387964093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-59801773795094653922021-09-04T01:32:42.674+02:002021-09-04T01:32:42.674+02:00I read over the Erillion summary in Echoes, and I&...I read over the Erillion summary in Echoes, and I'm confused why the knights bring the dead to the Wraith Queen's tomb? It seems like they would do the opposite if they fear that she will rise soon.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10988755674575933713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-22550683532189443532021-07-31T09:58:50.696+02:002021-07-31T09:58:50.696+02:00This is a great summary and valuable insights, tha...This is a great summary and valuable insights, thanks for writing it up! I'll certainly use it when I prepare my own set of procedures. :)Jiří "Markus" Petrůhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17888038430387964093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-17211107252300605792021-07-30T19:47:01.758+02:002021-07-30T19:47:01.758+02:00In a general sense, my advice for wilderness sandb...In a general sense, my advice for wilderness sandbox games is to keep things simple, and layer on/combine a few simple subsystems. You will note that my weather rules are a simple 1d6 roll, not a meteorological simulation. The same goes for the rest - it is the interaction of simple systems, the wilderness key, and character action that creates complexity, not the rules. A lot of advice overcomplicates hex-crawling (e.g. Justin Alexander's article series), and creates expectations which cannot be reasonably met by non-obsessives.<br /><br />I have a "hex-crawling made simple" blog post that's about 2/3 written, just unfinished. I'll see what I can do about completing it.Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-5506169439682679502021-07-30T19:37:54.058+02:002021-07-30T19:37:54.058+02:00The main differences of assumption are as follows:...The main differences of assumption are as follows:<br />1) Monetary treasure is approximately 1/5 of the BtB default, which has an effect on experience points (you can just use a *5 multiplier), treasure logistics (this aspect of play is largely eliminated), and character expenses (money becomes a LOT more tight - adventurers are often poor). Treasure values in Echoes volumes are already cut by default. The match is not 100% since I have developed my own treasure tables, but the difference is not enormous.<br />2) Treasure XP is gained not through acquisition, but squandering it in hedonistic excess. This means anything that is wasteful, and has no direct benefit for the character. Lavish feasts, grand religious rituals, sponsoring games and similar means of wasting huge amounts of money are part of the game.<br />3) The gods' involvement is more direct than most D&D games. Sacrifices and minor boons (oracles, one-use spells, sometimes minor powers) are an expected part of being a Cleric or a divine champion (i.e. a non-Cleric devotee of the god).<br />4) Bledsawian level demographics: lots of classed, low-level NPCs, very few high-level ones. E.g. if I looked it up in my notes, I could name *every* 9th+ level character on the Isle of Erillion. They are rare.<br />5) Alternative level drain (we do not use when we play B/X or OD&D-based systems).<br /><br />We did not use the henchman rules in this campaign; they were only for B/X games. (But could be used if you wanted to - I'd up the payment a little.)<br /><br />The hex-crawl procedures are more or less accurately outlined in Helvéczia (but the subsystems are a bit difference to account for systemic differences). Also see Echoes #03, the article on Erillion. I religiously use the 1d6 weather roll every day, and pay attention to the passage of time.<br /><br />I have a large set of outdoors encounter tables I have been using for 15 years. In fact, I updated them just this week - this was long overdue! These may be published in the future, but you can use the tables in the Dungeon Master Guide's Appendix C without a hassle. All of Erillion is Temperate Uninhabited/Wilderness, except town hexes. My tables are based on the DMG system with changes and alterations, but they are roughly comparable. (Although for humanoids and men, my "No. Appearing" stats are for smaller war parties, not the whole tribe/army.)Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-80895480176385105742021-07-30T17:18:27.105+02:002021-07-30T17:18:27.105+02:00As I'm going through the past issues of Echoes...As I'm going through the past issues of Echoes, I'm contemplating of using Ellirion as the basis of my first proper sandbox/hexcrawl campaign. Thanks for this post, Melan, and the tips for other modules to to place there.<br /><br />I'm wondering, though... what (house)rules do you use? I'm assuming you use OSRIC but I'd love to hear about house rules and changes that you employ, especially those which have a large impact on the structure of the campaign. Do you have a writeup somewhere?<br /><br />I've noticed some bits here and there, like your henchman rules (Echoes, reprinted in Xyntillan), and alternative level drain (in Knock!, though presumably elsewhere too).<br /><br />Your "zine conventions" also mention that monetary treasure is rare, and you award 5 times the XP amount from GP for carousing. This is intriguing... can you share more about this GP/XP economy? Does this mean that your modules contain less GP and that if you use other people's modules (say from B/X... or Barrowmaze), you cut the trasure values?<br /><br />Also, do you have any hexcrawl procedures?<br /><br />Also, also, did you have your own random encounter tables for the world?<br /><br />Sorry for all the questions. As I'm preparing to leave dungeons and try my hands at sandboxing, I'm trying to compile my own set of procedures and I'm looking for stuff to steal.Jiří "Markus" Petrůhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17888038430387964093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-20118153170413510942021-07-30T17:16:43.701+02:002021-07-30T17:16:43.701+02:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jiří "Markus" Petrůhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17888038430387964093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-8080113294464929632019-11-08T03:56:59.358+01:002019-11-08T03:56:59.358+01:00==Insulating characters is a temptation, but in th...==Insulating characters is a temptation, but in the end, even my most story-minded player (posting here as Volja) had to realise it takes something away from the game which is only there if the stakes are always real and the dice are rolled scrupulously and openly.<br /><br />You are absolutely right. I have *never* met a player who would tolerate being patronised by being protected in a rigged game. I am they kind of DM who will huff and puff with disgust when I roll 'badly' and the players achieve success. The world I confront the players with is obscene, horrible, dangerous, they are always on their tip-toes. There are ways of dispiriting, disappointing, diminishing, mocking players without destroying their characters. Because I am so vigorous a critic, the players have *never* realised they are protected. <br /><br />In all honesty, as someone who understands probability mathematically, if I asked any DM to justify the sequence of probabilities that lead to a character death they, in many cases, would not be able to in a realistic way rather than a game way. Kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11165997449776226774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-63047971931002011492019-11-04T22:30:10.828+01:002019-11-04T22:30:10.828+01:00- Zulgyan- ZulgyanZulgyanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16548281925791286277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-48865992319352067092019-11-04T22:26:39.140+01:002019-11-04T22:26:39.140+01:00Wonderful recount of the campaign. So much to lear...Wonderful recount of the campaign. So much to learn here. Zulgyanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16548281925791286277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-10699806405161455482019-11-03T09:59:40.523+01:002019-11-03T09:59:40.523+01:00We default to third as our starting level in most ...We default to third as our starting level in most campaigns (although not OD&D), and I believe this is the standard Gary also adopted in his later years. Third-level characters are competent, well-rounded individuals who can take a few hits, but still have to be careful about their actions. It sidesteps the level 1-2 meatgrinder, which is also enjoyable, but different from what I was looking for here. (This is also the reason henchmen did not feature prominently.)<br /><br />Bumping this up to level six in the later stages of the campaign was intended to avoid major power disparities. As long as the difference is two or maybe three levels, I am fine, but more than that is getting too much. It is not entirely realistic (and my "you meet him on the road" approach to introducing new characters is even less so), but it works. It must also be noted that this is in the context of a game where <i>raise dead</i> was not available, fallen PCs were buried with their valuables, and all new characters started with the standard package of basic class equipment and 2d6*10 gp worth of stuff.<br /><br />Insulating characters is a temptation, but in the end, even my most story-minded player (posting here as Volja) had to realise it takes <i>something</i> away from the game which is only there if the stakes are always real and the dice are rolled scrupulously and openly. The 3rd level starting point is not a bad buffer, however. In OD&D, we use the helmet rule (but only for PCs).Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-71681014705659324732019-11-03T09:43:20.332+01:002019-11-03T09:43:20.332+01:00Yeah. As I have said before, there is only a thin ...Yeah. As I have said before, there is only a thin line separating Batman and Bateman, but that line matters.Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-78331934170510602452019-10-28T22:50:07.907+01:002019-10-28T22:50:07.907+01:00This is good wholesome fare. I recognise your D&am...This is good wholesome fare. I recognise your D&D instincts and find it easy to understand what you are about. You are lucky you can convince so many people to play D&D.<br /><br />I will say though that allowing players to carry on in situ with (new) characters of similar rank after a death is not far from the method of insulating player characters, without them knowing. I have tried both and prefer the latter for two reasons:<br /><br />i) the player tends to enjoy playing within a narrow band of character with any depth - even if he does start up a 'fresh' character.<br />ii) the loss of groundedness of the player character in terms of associations, conversations, aspirations, grudges, the loss of historical depth is unbearable to me as a DM.<br /><br />To retain the necessary fear inherent in true risk for the players I encourage the early (low-level 3rd) adoption of hirelings (men at arms, etc) and the henchman who has no immunity. Again, players are never made aware their primary characters will not be killed, excepting stupidity.<br /><br /> Kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11165997449776226774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-8696637219344167882019-10-23T15:24:27.754+02:002019-10-23T15:24:27.754+02:00This sounds absolutely brilliant. I love you obse...This sounds absolutely brilliant. I love you observations about the unexplored (and undeveloped) areas adding ambiance and mystery to the world over time, and particularly how you walked the line between the civilized (vanilla) and fantastic elements. I am very intrigue to see what you did with enchanted forests.<br /><br />I must say, my own long running campaign (and attempts at world development barely a session ahead of the party's predicted direction) sounds like it resulted in a very similar experience and end-product. Surely this is not coincidence. The (1e?) campaign is a thing of beauty.<br /><br />Lastly, you statement "Modern D&D loses a lot from its long-term dimension due to the abundance of player resources, and sometimes, even old-school D&D feels overly generous when it comes to replacing spells and hit points." really hits the nail on the head for me. You have a keen eye for observations.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing.squeenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975523149573452984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-11994560745832345422019-10-21T00:30:13.499+02:002019-10-21T00:30:13.499+02:00My character didn't die in the last couple of ...My character didn't die in the last couple of rounds of the last fight of the last session of the campaign. An absolute first for me in Melan's games.Headless Horse Archer (Premier)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07295139979427782123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-20551452202273309982019-10-20T19:37:40.456+02:002019-10-20T19:37:40.456+02:00It's games like these that keep us pulling up ...It's games like these that keep us pulling up chairs time and again. Tremendous fun!EOTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17514955150414369244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-59506150341291783992019-10-20T17:49:15.246+02:002019-10-20T17:49:15.246+02:00Well I intended Buck to be cool by being way beyon...Well I intended Buck to be cool by being way beyond any inhibition, someone like Frank Booth of Blue Velvet fame, but he turned out to be more like his other source of inspiration ("my name is Buck and I'm here to f***"). Looks like losing any inhibition isn't the free ticket to instant coolness, just to being a repulsive asshole. Still, Buck left his mark on the world as a monument at Orc Kill Pass, and one does not often get the opportunity to fight with one's own character against another. <br /><br />Anyway, thanks for the memories. I think I'm not overstating when I say the Heritage will stay with us for a long-long time to come.Voljahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08826776454392269862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-3888837019996699642019-10-20T15:36:10.671+02:002019-10-20T15:36:10.671+02:00Wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing that!Wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing that!maasenstodthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08901306527875471546noreply@blogger.com