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| Beyond the Gates of Sorrow |
This issue serves to introduce the Twelve
Kingdoms, a divided northern region to the northwest of Erillion, cut off
from the rest of human civilisation. Two hex map sheets describe the five
larger, four medium-sized, and numerous smaller islands ruled by rival petty
kingdoms, and ravaged by incessant warfare. Ruined castles, faerie-haunted
forests, barren coasts and cold mountain ranges await those who adventure here;
druids, reclusive eccentrics, jealous wizards’ orders and mysterious
monasteries complicate the network of temporary alliances. This is a land fit
for exploration, plunder... or will that be conquest? Let the players decide,
and live with the consequences!
The titular adventure, Beyond the Gates of
Sorrow, takes the company to a small archipelago on the borders of the
Kingdoms. Uninhabited and barely sustainable to sustain life, there is
nevertheless much danger here. Can a shipwrecked party find a means of escape
from their predicament? Or can another find a person or item of special
significance while racing against a rival group of explorers? 19 wilderness and
18 dungeon locations describe the archipelago’s dangers and occasional treasures
in this scenario for levels 2-4.
Echoes #09 also includes a larger dungeon adventure,
The Vaults of Volokarnos. Originally published as a stand-alone
introductory module for the Casemates and Companies RPG, and now converted
to the B/X lineage of old-school games, the Vaults are specifically designed
for beginning characters, and potentially players who are new to old-school
gaming in general. A fully stocked dungeon level awaits with 52 keyed reas, and
more orcs than you can shake a stick at. Explore a dungeon complex that had
once served as a catacomb system, thermal bath, touristic attraction... at the
same time. Find out what the orcs are up to, what lies in burial vaults yet unconquered,
and what the patricians of the nearby town do not want you to know... and where
character sheets and followers are concerned, bring spares. It shall not hurt.
In addition to the Vaults, the issue also describes
the isle republic of Arak Brannia. This two-page setting can serve as
the background for the Vaults of Volokarnos, or a springboard for further
adventures on the northern coastlands of the declining Kassadian Empire...
The print version of the fanzine is available from
my Bigcartel store; the PDF
edition will be published through DriveThruRPG with a few months’ delay. As
always, customers who buy the print edition will receive the PDF version free
of charge.
Double hex map
Nice! I think the big keyed hexmaps are some of the features in Echoes.
ReplyDeleteI am curious, what is the Hungarian convention regarding XP from magic treasure?
*best features
DeleteAccording to the Casemates and Companies rulebook, gaining or selling magical treasure does NOT provide XP.
DeleteAnd you don't get any XP for acquiring or selling a magical item in Melan's own Sword & Magic, either. However, S&M awards XP for carousing and spending money in a frivolous and useless manner. You could get XP commensurate with a magic item's financial value by getting rid of it in a similar way, at least Melan has allowed it to happen in his games in the past.
DeleteSword & Magic might need a new abbreviation in English...
We could follow the lead of the Hungarian abbreviation and go with SaM!
DeleteCan’t wait for the PDF version. I have them all. Just got to use the mysterious manor from issue 1 with my Thursday crew. We are in the City State of the Invincible Overlord, and they rolled on a random jobs table that had a nobleman hire them to clear orcs from squatting on an estate they want to re-occupy. It was a perfect fit. I put it just north of the Eorlbane river. The party parlayed with Rudlug, and had a wrestling match with him to prove they were on the level. He agreed to let them meet his smuggler boss… if they can get rid of whatever spooky stuff in the cellars that is scaring his superstitious henchmen.
ReplyDeleteI digress. I love your stuff, and I am eagerly looking for ways to work it all into our Tuesday/Thursday open table Wilderlands sandbox campaign.
Now, with the publication of Volokarnos, we have the opportunity to start an all-Melan campaign even if we start our players at 1st level!
ReplyDeleteThe title sounds like a doom metal album. And the cover looks the part too!
ReplyDeleteI'm preparing the Gates of Sorrow as a campaign starter. I have to admit that I'm not quite used to the sideview dungeon layout offered in Hartell's Keep (though I find it pretty appealing). How do you guys handle this? Do you keep it as a somewhat abstracted form of visualization aid or do you create additional bird's eye floorplans for selected dungeon rooms for more detailed table play or emerging combat?
ReplyDeleteWe usually stick to abstraction - navigating a sideways dungeon is more about connections and navigating a vertical environment than exact measurements. If it comes to that, I'll sketch out a specific room, but we rarely do it.
DeleteThanks for that will save me some overpreparation!
DeleteAllow me a follow-up question in regard to the monetary aspect of the zine conventions: I understand that while the treasure score is lower than in 1e modules, caroused coin:XP Ratio is multiplied by five. How is the handling of other game relevant investments (e.g. trainer, spell components, construction, hirelings) intended? Are prices for those divided by five as well or are those simply meant to be used less frequently? I would further assume that trainer cost for leveling up are left out due to the fact that XP money hast to be wasted?