I am working with the creator and author while trying to get in contact with the publisher to see about making part 2-3 happen while refining part 1.
Mairkurion {tm}(Pathfinder Adventure Path, Tales, Battles Case Subscriber)
Steve is my hero, having redeemed himself from the "AE required" debacle. ;)
Seriously, I'm thrilled to hear that. I was actually coming back here to post a question, though.
Q: On page 32, in the Appendix A diagram on the cosmological wheel, it looks like there are seven realms (planes) instead of six. The extra plane seems to be the "Tainted" realm. Am I missing something?
Actually there are only six realms of the Wheel of Life, however, at the center of the Wheel, you'll notice "Yurei Ghost Purgatory". For most spirits traveling the wheel, this purgatory is a transitory place, the ether that lies between the various realms of the wheel - its not really a true realm in of itself.
When a resident of Kaidan (or anyone present on Kaidan) dies they enter this temporary purgatory for a limited time (1 week, give or take) before they move on to a proper "plane" of the wheel, while appropriate burial rites and final wishes are handled by the living. Once complete they go to the next destination based on amount of accrued karma points.
However, if you die alone in the wilderness and not buried, not given proper burial rites, or if you died with extreme emotion, your spirit could become trapped in this purgatory - at which point you are now a Yurei ghost (undead). In kind of/sort of way this is a seventh realm, but within the construct of the Wheel of Life, purgatory again is an "in between/temporary place" kind of a plane of shadow/astral plane concept.
In the next adventure: Dim Spirit, The Gift: Part 2 - Karma tables and other mechanics issues regarding the wheel will be provided and much more readily used in game play, rather than loosely explained as it is in The Gift: Part 1.
GP
Mairkurion {tm}(Pathfinder Adventure Path, Tales, Battles Case Subscriber)
Woo-hoo! Thanks, GP.
So, does that mean "Tainted" remains to be explained in the next part?
No. And I'm the "creator/author" that Steve is mentioning here.
Mechanically it will be expanded, as the Gift Part 1 was more a baby-step intro to the setting, with mostly fluff and barely any real mechanics mentioned. The Gift, Part 1: is more an introduction to the setting and getting the story in the right direction. Really, all the action as well as the "meat" of the adventure begins in Part 2, which was the plan while I worked with the original publisher - but Kaidan has always been my project, not the previous publisher in any way.
There won't be a replacement Part 1 (I don't think so, anyway) and I don't begrudge sharing my profits with the original publisher (for Part 1 only), but everything will flow properly in the subsequent works. IMO - Part 1 needed some more editing before it was released.
If any major changes were to occur, I'd say those who purchased the original Part 1, would get free upgrades.
Kaidan: The Gift, Part 1 is available in the Paizo Store.
Edit: the Tainted Realm (one of the six) is between Hell and the Animal Realm, and in the class system is represented by: Yakuza, Bards, Geisha and prostitutes - its been explained in the original and always part of Part 1.
The six spheres shown are representations of the six realms of the Wheel of Life construct (a construct cosmology created by an evil being at the founding of the Empire of Kaidan).
Nobility, Samurai, Commoner, Animal, Tainted and Hell - as well as the ethereal, transitory "realm" of the Yurei Ghost Purgatory at the center of this wheel.
Now I think the point of confusion here is that Animal is "higher" on the wheel than the Tainted Realm, and "below" the Commoner Realm. Understand that the "animal realm" is NOT about dogs and kitty cats, rather all sentient non-human life that exists outside the control of the Imperial Court / Shogunate government. Thus Korobokuru, the Half-Oni, Spirit Folk and Hengeyokai (animal barbarian shape-changers) are all of the Animal Realm. In many ways, the Animal Realm consists of the Commoners that fall outside imperial control. Also forgot to mention, that human barbarians are also of the Animal Realm, as they fall outside the empire, in the wilderness areas.
The order of the realms of the Wheel of Life are based on Buddhist thought, where the point of "enlightenment" is to escape this endless cycle of reincarnations that consist of the Wheel of Life. This is the order as determined by Buddhism - though in that religion, the realms of the Wheel are states of mind, whereas in Kaidan they are hard-wired manifested social classes of the Kaidan Caste system. So the Tainted Realm as explained in the above post is represented by the Hinin caste - which as mentioned are the Yakuza, Gakushi Bards, Geisha, Kabuki and prostitutes. The Tainted Realm is the lowest caste in Kaidan society.
The Hell Realm is the only other "planar" existence in Kaidan, represented by the Yomi Underworld - its not part of the Caste System.
All remaining explanation I leave to the publication itself.
Thank you for the clarification, GP! I knew you were the creator/author, but I just had to be certain. I haven't bought yet and was suggested to it by Mairk, so in the next couple days, I'm going to check it out. :D
Mairkurion {tm}(Pathfinder Adventure Path, Tales, Battles Case Subscriber)
Thanks, GP! I love the castes/planes stuff.
You mentioned Zen and Taoism as background elements to religion in Kaidan. I'm curious if Shinto has/will play into that background as you continue?
The Oracle class going into Kaidan is essentially a Shinto priestess or Miko (temple maiden) as I am naming that class. Miko rely on Ojigami - ancestral spirit as her divine source. Male priests called Shoten also work using Ojigami divine source.
What details do we have with regards to the second part? I've been waiting on introducing this into my game until I know if the second part is going to continue directly from the end of the first.
Serendipity - yes, the Gift: Part 2 - Dim Spirit, begins where the PCs were left off arriving in Tsue-jo to deliver the gift...
GP
Okay great, thanks for the swift response. I think I'm going to go ahead and run part one and see if I can resolve any discrepancies when part two comes out.
Dim Spirit is almost completely written, however negotiations between D5 and Rite Publishing is dragging along. I've been notified that towards the end of April things should be wrapped up. I won't/can't release the second adventure until the negotiations are complete, however.
Legal issues is the problem, but its progressing along just the same. If things follow as they appear, it will be sometime in May for release.
I wish it could go faster, but it is moving along.
GP
Mairkurion {tm}(Pathfinder Adventure Path, Tales, Battles Case Subscriber)
No problem, GP. Great to get an update: it actually sounds like things are going well. Hope you enjoyed the haiku.
Note: Andy Champagne and Dementia 5 Publishing will be removed from these cover designs, replaced with Rite Publishing (once negotiations are complete.)
Hopefully, I can eventually get to these publications sooner, rather than later.
The Gift - is an introductory mini-campaign of three modules, of which, the first one has been released (linked at the top of this thread.) Once negotiations are complete, The Gift: Part 2 - Dim Spirit should be released fairly quickly. Followed by The Gift: Part 3 - yet untitled.
The Gift, was intended as an introduction into the setting, for those not ready to commit to a Japanese themed game, rather an exotic place for players in Golarian or other standard setting to visit and learn about Kaidan.
If I can get enough interest, the fourth release is the main setting handbook that will include new classes, new flavors for base classes, new prestige classes, new feats, new spells, background information on the setting for the GM -- creation mythos, historic timeline, the kami (gods), PC Death/Reincarnation/Death Spirit Transfer, karma points, honor, description of each province, major NPCs, the imperial court, the Shogunate, and finally 50 monsters for the bestiary.
If I can generate enough interest - my next goal is to create a complete Adventure Path featuring Kaidanese character party (rather than Gaijin outsiders as in The Gift) with a potential of going 1st - 20th level, or at least equivalent level progression to a Paizo AP. This storyline is currently under development.
I also have plans to create and release free Gazeteers for each of the main islands, the imperial capital and perhaps a few other notable places. If interest prevails more adventures, both one-offs and additional APs could be introduced down the line.
Believe me, Kaidan Booster has been putting a bug in my ear. I had a copy of Oriental Adventures Rokugan in my hands the other day at a used book store, but put it down because I couldn't get into it. I'd like to check out an Asian setting that I can appreciate ... as well as what I've read thus far concerning your unique cosmology. I'm just hoping you get your publisher issues straightened out sooner rather than later. :)
Just an update folks. You might notice that The Gift is nolonger in the Paizo store. That's because it is in the process of changes. I finally own Kaidan 100% again and its nolonger a co-publication with Dementia 5 Publishing - it will be an imprint under Rite Publishing. Give me one more month or so The Gift is undergoing changes - tweaks, improved mechanics and new author (expect one of the staff writers from Kobold Quarterly to rewrite my authorship "hackery" for something more professional).
Steve of Rite Publishing is wrapping up a couple Open Design Projects, then we'll go nuts in getting The Gift ready for re-release. With Part 2 - Dim Spirit close behind.
Incidently, unless I can get a list of all purchasers from D5, I don't necessarily know who's purchased this module to send them a free update of The Gift: Part 1, but I definitely want to do that.
So the deal is done. I want to thank the continued patience in the transfer of Kaidan, from the previous publisher to the next step. Thank you all. Have just a bit more patience, newer, bigger things will be happening to the production.
Awesome! Steve must've pulled in some 11th hour magic because I've been aware that the negotiations with D5 had been frustrating, to say the least. Looking forward to your update so I can finally chip in my two bits. Your strongest supporter on here (i.e. Kaidan Booster) will be giddy. :P
Its probably going to be 60 days before anything major happens
All praise Goes to GP I had nothing to do with his gaining clear ownership he did that on his own, and he will retain that with Rite Publishing simply being an Imprint, and I am still in the process of recruiting a supporting author for GP as I have all of our primary authors tied up in one project or another for at least 60 days.
This is great news, indeed. Well done, GP. I bet Paizo can get you a list of person's who previously published. I'm real excited that The Gift will be improved and Dim Spirit will be released. Also, I'm really glad you're going with Rite Publishing. GP wins. RP wins. Kaidan Booster wins. Woo-hoo!
Just an update folks. You might notice that The Gift is nolonger in the Paizo store. That's because it is in the process of changes. I finally own Kaidan 100% again and its nolonger a co-publication with Dementia 5 Publishing - it will be an imprint under Rite Publishing. Give me one more month or so The Gift is undergoing changes - tweaks, improved mechanics and new author (expect one of the staff writers from Kobold Quarterly to rewrite my authorship "hackery" for something more professional).
Steve of Rite Publishing is wrapping up a couple Open Design Projects, then we'll go nuts in getting The Gift ready for re-release. With Part 2 - Dim Spirit close behind.
Incidently, unless I can get a list of all purchasers from D5, I don't necessarily know who's purchased this module to send them a free update of The Gift: Part 1, but I definitely want to do that.
So the deal is done. I want to thank the continued patience in the transfer of Kaidan, from the previous publisher to the next step. Thank you all. Have just a bit more patience, newer, bigger things will be happening to the production.
GP
When Rite Publishing uploads the new version, I can twiddle some secret knobs to make sure everybody who purchased it from Dementia 5 will get hooked up with the new version. (Steven, please leave me a note reminding me to do that when you upload the new version—there's a good chance I'll remember, but a poke doesn't hurt!)
Recent Posts
