Knights & Knaves Alehouse

AxeMental wrote:How many words/pages per dungeon submission sounds about right? Something like Dungeon Magazine?

I think 4-6 pages would be good.

rredmond wrote:Over at Unseen Servant we've been building a town, in workshop kind of way here:
http://www.unseenservant.us/forum/viewforum.php?f=67

They are small pieces of what will be a larger town. Perhaps we can unveil something like that throughout the issues. Folks I've talked to over there have been keen on it. Got some other ideas too, but I figure this would be the easiest because it's a project already in the works, and we could use as much or as little as we like to help with the issues layout.

I went over and had a look. Quite like how there is a rumour table about the people in each location. I think including several of the locations in each issue is a good idea.

Haven't had much of a chance to do anything in anger regarding my topic. Have played with some different design ideas with pen and paper during my commute. This might be better done as a blog touching on a design element from week to week and finally arriving at something workable as an article. Just really struggling to find the time.

There's a bunch of different vectors, some necessary, some to be shelved. I've identified many of the design patterns to implement them sanely but won't go into them here.

- multi-system capable (same architecture, different libraries for AD&D, CoC, etc)
- cross-system conversion (arguable if necessary or desirable, but kinda cool if you could run a WFRP character in someone's B/X game at a moment's notice... and map B/X gains back to WFRP stats)
- character management e.g.
. character stored in a backend database
. taking ranger/paladin oath breaks in stride (I.e. character "prints" as a fighter if a specification isn't met)
. level drain
- ... And so on.

I've done nothing at all on my project. I've finally finished the layout for Footprints #18, though.

Well, I'm willing to work on the magazine until it's finished. But, yeah, can't do much without submissions.

PapersAndPaychecks wrote:I've done nothing at all on my project. I've finally finished the layout for Footprints #18, though.

Yes, you did.

Stat blocks in OSRIC? If so, where is the link that has Scot's monster stat block files updated from 1e -> OSRIC?

Here is an example of an OSRIC stat block:-

4 trolls (hp: 35, 33, 32, 28).

Lame! I hate digging through my book bag to look up a troll's AC, or to find out the specifics on its regeneration. I like a short stat block that includes movement, AC, hit points, Hit Dice, etc. Illusionist casts color spray at the troll. Shit, where is that book again?—better look up the troll's HD!

Screw that, I like it all right there, quick and easy, at my fingertips. Perhaps you see your method as economical, but for actual game play, I find it highly convenient to have more pertinent details at the ready. OK, I'm done ranting. Carry on, my wayward son.

Ghul wrote:Lame! I hate digging through my book bag to look up a troll's AC, or to find out the specifics on its regeneration. I like a short stat block that includes movement, AC, hit points, Hit Dice, etc. Illusionist casts color spray at the troll. Shit, where is that book again?—better look up the troll's HD!

Screw that, I like it all right there, quick and easy, at my fingertips. Perhaps you see your method as economical, but for actual game play, I find it highly convenient to have more pertinent details at the ready. OK, I'm done ranting. Carry on, my wayward son.

Agreed. He's wrong. Too many raps on the head with re-created polearms.

Exactly so, everyone knows an OSRIC statistic block looks like this:

4 Trolls

Listing pregenerated hit points is just a waste of space!

Yeah, until the critter gets hits by something you don't really need to know how many HP it has. When the blade goes in, roll those d8's. (exception made for particularly healthy/sickly/named/special specimens which have a story reason why their HP's are set at a precise value).

Ghul wrote:Lame! I hate digging through my book bag to look up a troll's AC, or to find out the specifics on its regeneration. I like a short stat block that includes movement, AC, hit points, Hit Dice, etc. Illusionist casts color spray at the troll. Shit, where is that book again?—better look up the troll's HD!

Screw that, I like it all right there, quick and easy, at my fingertips. Perhaps you see your method as economical, but for actual game play, I find it highly convenient to have more pertinent details at the ready. OK, I'm done ranting. Carry on, my wayward son.

Using that method it's not necessary to distinguish between OSRIC trolls, S&W trolls, Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea trolls, Labyrinth Lord trolls, and BFRPG trolls. I espouse it not because it's quick and easy for the writer, but because it's ecumenical as to system.

PapersAndPaychecks wrote:it's ecumenical as to system.

I had not even considered that, but you are right. Professional modules/adventures with nice little statblocks for common creatures/adversaries all aligned and neat are only present in products designed for a single rules system, which limits their costumer potential.

Fair enough, PnP. See, when I think K&KA Magazine, I naturally think 1e, I think OSRIC.

OK. If I can work it out with my work schedule, and if I can actually include the AC of the motherfucking troll which should be there in the first place, all the while trusting in the ability of a thinking DM to switch whatever he wants to switch, I'm in.

IMO: I greatly prefer it statted out. When it comes to monsters, ecumenism is such a minor concern for me. Please give me HP, HD, AC, #AT, Dam, special attacks; don’t make me look it up in a book. As long as the AC is descending (or dual), I don’t mind pitting AD&D PCs against a LL troll, or an AS&SH troll, or whatever.