tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post1717760208656710897..comments2024-03-26T00:09:13.941-07:00Comments on Dungeon of Signs: Map ExperimentUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-6522342465234329092014-04-04T18:20:29.213-07:002014-04-04T18:20:29.213-07:00As a more general thing I think mysterious hints o...As a more general thing I think mysterious hints of a past are about all one should provide in a published product, unless it's a past that is specific and locked into the locale. I wrote something about it once, but basically the gist is that players see only the evocative, creepy tip of an iceberg, and I don't think it's especially useful to tell GMs what the rest of the iceberg is as background story is because we've each got our game world and will bend the module to it anyhow. Best to make the bending easy.Gus Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872819206286105195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-80995744223997017032014-04-04T18:16:55.961-07:002014-04-04T18:16:55.961-07:00Glad you enjoyed it - suprised but glad! Suprised...Glad you enjoyed it - suprised but glad! Suprised as this was an experimental sort of thing put together by the fellow at Pilgram's Guide to the Zeitgeist and each room was written by a different author without any idea what it was going into - Tenkar did the still room, Pat Wetmore the Well, Jack Shear the demon - well everyone's name is up there, but the idea was to get some others (I think myself, Matt J. and Dyson) to each draw a map. I don't know if any other maps were drawn. I drew the map and edited it into the vaguest semblance of a coherent location. Glad it was remotely playable. I think I added the dead guy on the stairs, mostly because I thought there needed to be more treasure, and some evidence of gluttons. I kind of figured he had a heart attack from being a big slob and eating too much roast manticore, but slipped on icy stairs is better.Gus Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872819206286105195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-18349939930308081802014-04-04T15:03:10.197-07:002014-04-04T15:03:10.197-07:00I ran this story by a group of new players (using ...I ran this story by a group of new players (using my D&D-ish rules). I felt the rooms lacked a certain background 'glue' story. This also had its advantages though. The players had the profound feeling that there was so much more to this dungeon than they had thought of, which I happily reinforced.<br /><br />The pool filled with black mist really mindfucked the players. They went back to the nearby village to buy a sheep, sacrificed it to appease any evil spirits in that haunted ruin, and threw the bleeding carcass into the pool to see what would happen. The priest of Trithereon might experience some consequences of the heresy which he condoned in the near future. The PC that eventually got down into the pool turned black, but didn't find out until he removed his helmet a whole lot later. <br /><br />The ice demon would do nearly anything to be freed, so he willingly explained about Lem and his feasts of exotic creatures, allowing the players to get some sense of purpose to the ruins. The secret stairwell was covered in ice, so the PCs needed to roll dexerity checks to get down safely. It also made a corpse at the bottom plausible. When they were in the cellar, the cold chilled them, so they had to roll saving throws (paralysis) or temporarily lose dexterity points. No big deal, who needs dexterity right? Until they realised they needed to get back up those stairs before being near the demon froze them to death.<br /><br />The ice demon casually mentioned that some of the corpses in the cellar probably weren't entirely dead yet, posing another fun dilemma for the players, and giving the demon leverage because the PCs needed him to keep those damn things frozen.<br /><br />I loved the way how things were just a little dangerous, but not plain deadly, although the glass dragon nearly wiped them all out.<br /><br />They didn't discover the Kexoke until after they had spent the night there.<br /><br />This short game succeeded in getting the players were extremely paranoid.<br />Thanks for putting this online!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14177486186419708684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-18901282367790113952013-01-28T19:27:35.733-08:002013-01-28T19:27:35.733-08:00This is absolutely lovely, Gustie. I think I'm...This is absolutely lovely, Gustie. I think I'm going to place this in the forest of my D&D&LB campaign. Since so much of that campaign is based on the idea of the world being unknown and terrifying to human-things, this will serve as a sufficiently mysterious and creepy local. <br /><br />If you ever do this again, I insist you let me know. I'd love to participate in something like this. LShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15495083228566425216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-9672614182270286482013-01-28T08:08:21.025-08:002013-01-28T08:08:21.025-08:00Glad you're liking my stuff. Your maps are exc...Glad you're liking my stuff. Your maps are excellent by the way - I like a) the broken up hatching/use of sand textures b) your chasm technique is well worth stealing.<br /><br />Red Demon does owe something to Ogre and to other giant Sci-fi tanks - I suspect there's an actual Continental Seige Unit sunk into the livid fens and crawling with froghemoths/cybernecromancy. Perhaps worth drawing out sometime.Gus Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872819206286105195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-22436611913900088632013-01-27T19:56:15.843-08:002013-01-27T19:56:15.843-08:00I just want to say, your maps are absolutely gorge...I just want to say, your maps are absolutely gorgeous!!! I love the way you put so much art into them, my personal favorite is "The Red Demon in the Swamp" it reminds me of "Ogre" the Steve Jackson game. Great stuff, I linked your blog on mine, <br /><br />http://stonewerks.wordpress.com/<br /><br />I hope you are cool with that, keep up the great work!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-48450954756681272392013-01-27T16:00:45.080-08:002013-01-27T16:00:45.080-08:00I like this quite a bit. The Ice ravens are a nice...I like this quite a bit. The Ice ravens are a nice touch. Aoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00145284080419502886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-12277140457378785692013-01-27T14:03:34.433-08:002013-01-27T14:03:34.433-08:00excellent work gustie, this just was one of those ...excellent work gustie, this just was one of those random thoughts i had from when the mappers where talking about all doing the same map on g+, it was just a few emails, but turned out nice, look for moreAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164338064534438655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-92039301352195895982013-01-27T01:46:53.723-08:002013-01-27T01:46:53.723-08:00Good stuff. Gonna use this in my WFRP game if I g...Good stuff. Gonna use this in my WFRP game if I get the chance. I especially like the sensory descriptions at the beginning of each room.<br /><br />Note a couple typos: "Area 7" is labelled "Area 1", "Stinger" is misspelled "Stringer"Billyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16717291964764757651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-40440562779821372492013-01-26T19:09:30.002-08:002013-01-26T19:09:30.002-08:00Wowzers!!... this is great! Never knew of the proj...Wowzers!!... this is great! Never knew of the project, but would like to be included if ever you do another. A superb map and excellent writeup!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com