tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post4520731766365472125..comments2024-03-26T00:09:13.941-07:00Comments on Dungeon of Signs: B5 - Horror on the Hill - ReviewUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-55586166528637296282023-10-09T01:17:58.732-07:002023-10-09T01:17:58.732-07:00It is good in the sense that it is memorable and n...It is good in the sense that it is memorable and not a nonsense fantasy word. The "Town of Guidonosomere" or some other nonsense typical of fantasy makes it less useful in play. Also I feel bad for St. Guido of Anderlecht ... not that my mind doesn't immediately jump to New Jersey Italian stereotypes as well.Gus Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872819206286105195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-5708128872363685552023-10-08T19:45:14.703-07:002023-10-08T19:45:14.703-07:00Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't con...Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't consider Guido's Fort a good name. I'm reminded of that line in the movie Risky Business, where the main character's friend says, "I don't believe this! I've got a trig midterm tomorrow, and I'm being chased by Guido the killer pimp!" Sets entirely the wrong tone for the scenario.Eric R. Wirsinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632409261940844934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-90094085280461204492016-05-09T21:00:43.130-07:002016-05-09T21:00:43.130-07:00I don't actually give out many magic items, bu...I don't actually give out many magic items, but when I do I try to make them have both a a description and a special use. "+X" magic weapons are fine, and I do provide them upon occasion, but it seems to me that they become disposable as soon as something with more +'s shows up so that description is wasted on many players. I like to give magic weapons a little something that makes them hard to judge against each-other. Of course playing OD&D with it's very limited bonuses helps this as there's a flatish power curve.Gus Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872819206286105195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-11124072017110211772016-05-08T07:06:07.914-07:002016-05-08T07:06:07.914-07:00This is one of my most favourite adventures and I ...This is one of my most favourite adventures and I heartily agree with Gus's description of it as having a 'sandbox' feel. I love the idea of the factions, and when I ran it I changed the berserkers into more hobgoblins, with them having another access point between the first and second cave levels. <br /><br />I felt like the hobgoblins' planned attack on the fort was the key to the adventure and made it the reason for the PC's mission and worked to make the fort more interesting. For the treasures, I personally never like generic magic items and think while it's fine for them to be +1 or whatever, they need description and mystery. Grishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00382488113634099748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-35940023699236776832014-05-21T12:24:42.781-07:002014-05-21T12:24:42.781-07:00I am playing this with my kids right now, we are r...I am playing this with my kids right now, we are running it with Savage Worlds though, and I've used many of the suggestions from this review concerning the factionsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15697850167132380776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-189025295845840012014-03-17T22:33:41.068-07:002014-03-17T22:33:41.068-07:00I have to laugh that you chose to review this modu...I have to laugh that you chose to review this module in 2014...I've been thinking about it for a time and have just decided to resurrect the adventure for our online con Jackercon III (an online con created for/by fans of Happy Jacks RPG podcast). We definitely encourage a bit of sarcastic wit in that circle. This con's theme is TPK Goodness! And I will always remember this adventure as my real adversarial GM moment. There are so few published B series modules with red dragons in them (and with such an iconic image on the box)! When my players killed this thing in two rounds I actually had "the Red Dragon's Brother" leap out from the shadows and killed them all. Not my proudest moment...but I do fondly remember this module. Thanks for the review!<br /><br />https://plus.google.com/events/cho9m0r84pmvj8fsnvkv9qdecooCurthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185502375932369964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-28221821137313728912014-01-23T13:41:54.884-08:002014-01-23T13:41:54.884-08:00For me the worst part of this module is the out-of...For me the worst part of this module is the out-of-place battle arena and its corpses. I mean, I was eager to get the war dogs into party hands, but... weird, right?!<br /><br />I'm working on a reskin of this for Crumbling Epoch, complete with redoing the maps. It's been a while since I worked on it, but I think what I've got so far is really cool. I'm mashing it up with Jack Shear's Devilmount as a background.<br /><br />http://fictivefantasies.wordpress.com/2013/06/13/conquering-niles-hill/<br />http://fictivefantasies.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/bestiary-for-niles-hill/<br /><br />Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06463222600747737190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-81018756530121244402014-01-22T13:27:23.001-08:002014-01-22T13:27:23.001-08:00You are absolutely right, there should be build up...You are absolutely right, there should be build up to it. With the recent Hobbit film and all I think revamped version of this module could make good intro isntead of being curious relic of bygone, a lost opportunity for intro module.Jonashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11838302056850766272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-13265324342322205602014-01-22T10:08:35.648-08:002014-01-22T10:08:35.648-08:00Brendan - I expect some drunken master style, plum...Brendan - I expect some drunken master style, plum brandy based monkeyshines in Grimssgate now.<br /><br />Jonas - Indeed the dragon is great as a concept, but B5 doesn't treat it with the respect it deserves or properly build the thing up. There's no hint until it's like "bam surprise Dragon!"<br /><br />David Larkins - Personally I'd avoid +X items, with the B/X stat bonuses equipment pluses just make things more absurd. I do think putting in weapons that harm magical creatures, but lack explicit pluses is great and armor with odd effects (like I'd include some things that give flame resistance in B5) is fine. B5 just goes crazy with magic items, and worse they're boring. Magic should be are and awe inspiring. Healing I am torn about - I generally allow full healing between sessions and play short sessions so I limit it to a degree, but a marathon B5 game might require a bit more.Gus Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872819206286105195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-2080636986885431322014-01-22T09:56:32.538-08:002014-01-22T09:56:32.538-08:00"...more professional (though oddly less appe..."...more professional (though oddly less appealing) art." Speak for yourself! ;D<br /><br />I really like the idea of having "common" magic items like healing potions and +1 swords getting rebranded as not so much magic. The healing mead is great, and I could see having +1 items being represented as elf-made or somesuch. I also really like the idea of Guido's Fort being built around an ancient ruin or site.<br /><br />This is a module I've wanted to run for some time. This post is a great starting point for revising it and making it a bit more interesting.David Larkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04133630988557116729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-526714263696930192014-01-21T23:25:37.395-08:002014-01-21T23:25:37.395-08:00I really liked this module simply because it is in...I really liked this module simply because it is introductionary adventure that has red dragon in it. When you pick up a game named Dungeons & Dragons that has on it's box cover a vikingy warrior charging at enormous dragon it sort of builds expectations.Jonashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11838302056850766272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-33669257624616018792014-01-21T19:39:59.876-08:002014-01-21T19:39:59.876-08:00Drunken healing honey mead; I like it. -2 general ...Drunken healing honey mead; I like it. -2 general physical penalty excepting con checks maybe?Necropraxishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12716340801054739658noreply@blogger.com