Director of Game Development
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Only browsed things so far, but one bit I did read all of was Daigle's fiction-piece. 5 stars. Loved the idea of a barbarian learning to write, and seeing the process of it in the prose.
Thank you, sir! It was a reflection of my editing experience in a weird convoluted way.
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Only browsed things so far, but one bit I did read all of was Daigle's fiction-piece. 5 stars. Loved the idea of a barbarian learning to write, and seeing the process of it in the prose.Thank you, sir! It was a reflection of my editing experience in a weird convoluted way.
Speaking of Wayfinder and editing, thanks to Adam for doing a great job editing my Battle Scion article!!!
Okay, I'm really digging Kevin Murphy's "The Harrower's Song." I've been sitting here singing the first few cantos. I think it's a testament to some great word choice that I was able to pick out a workable rhythm and notes in the first few lines.
so he can have a published cover art creditSo, #2 doesn't count?? :P
I specifically want to thank Ashton for coming through with some great "last minute" art for us, too. If you walked away with the two issues...well, you deserve them.
Just....avoid the bronzing thing, dude.
Pretty amazing, indeed! What's your secret? :P
Pretty amazing, indeed! What's your secret? :Pso he can have a published cover art creditSo, #2 doesn't count?? :P
I specifically want to thank Ashton for coming through with some great "last minute" art for us, too. If you walked away with the two issues...well, you deserve them.
Just....avoid the bronzing thing, dude.
I think it's a combination of nicotine, Maker's Mark, and insomnia. :P
It was probably the best so far, nice job shadowborn(plug) it was a very cool story as long as we don't ever have to face that blasted thing...but I have a feeling....I read most of it on the drive home, It was well done and no I was not driving :). But all in all it was a very good read.
I think it's a combination of nicotine, Maker's Mark, and insomnia. :P
I prefer caffeine, Jack Daniel's, and chosen sleep deprivation, but to each their own.
Great issue. I had a lot of fun working on the blacksmith and pridespawn art for the Monstrous Pride Weal or Woe article. Can't wait to unleash my inner Ulfen for issue 6.
I want to thank William Dodds for his excellent illustration of my marwor swarm. It was way better than I envisioned it!
And a really Huge thanks to Chad A. Dulac for the awesome art for my very first Wayfinder article!
The whole thing is gorgeous - I love how Wayfinder always looks different (cover changes and all) - keeps it fresh.
im getting a bad file, cant seem to open it.
Very nice, sadly my name is misspelled!
Great issue!
I'm just sad that my buddy Gworeth's monster drawings didn't come out as clear as his originals. So I've bugged him about going back to colouring them digitally, as he's done in previous issues.
Also looking forward to some Nordic goodness in the next issue! :-D
Congratulations too on the Anthology, I didn't realize you guys did that either, where were those pieces originally posted or when did you do the open submission for it?
The Anthology was put together by Ted/Zuxius, from the submissions to the Pathfinder Chronicler contest last year, judged by James Sutter I believe. He's probably still taking donations for it too by the way, to cover the printing costs. Also there is a new contest already underway.
If you've downloaded it again and it still doesn't work, you might try a different PDF reader (or reinstalling the one you have).im getting a bad file, cant seem to open it.
Had to reinstall my reader, thanks....lol
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Director of Game Development
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Hey folks, if you get the time, I bet all these hard-working contributors and artists would love to see some reviews or feedback. It makes a world of difference to some folks and really encourages those people taking the first plunge into sharing their writing and art in public. So, if you get a second, let 'em know what you think. Thanks.
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My love for The Staring Contest fiction is that it covers ground that the core rules leave open for exploration. How does a Witch related to her Familiar, and, through it, to her Patron? Is she even really aware, on a conscious level, anything about her Patron, or is it a presence that, as the fiction suggests, the Familiar knows more about (and experiences more directly) than she does? Going in a different route, has she met some avatar or aspect of this Patron, perhaps even been tutored in the ways of witchcraft by some shadowy figure? Are there animals out there, with a bit of Patron behind their eyes, watching children with potential, waiting for their talents to mature and call upon them as Familiar?
I like that; the witch doesn't choose a familiar, the familiar chooses a witch.
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Only browsed things so far, but one bit I did read all of was Daigle's fiction-piece. 5 stars. Loved the idea of a barbarian learning to write, and seeing the process of it in the prose.
Thank you, sir! It was a reflection of my editing experience in a weird convoluted way.
Have you ever read 'Flowers For Algernon', Adam?
Don't want to spoil it for anyone that hasn't, but the way the author shows the changes in the protagonist, via their vocabulary and grammar, is clever, or so I thought, as a kid.
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Director of Game Development
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Have you ever read 'Flowers For Algernon', Adam?
I have, and I admit I hadn't thought of the connection until you brought it up. It's been ages.
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Hey folks, if you get the time, I bet all these hard-working contributors and artists would love to see some reviews or feedback. It makes a world of difference to some folks and really encourages those people taking the first plunge into sharing their writing and art in public. So, if you get a second, let 'em know what you think. Thanks.
Well said!
Bring on the reviews!!! :)
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I like that; the witch doesn't choose a familiar, the familiar chooses a witch.That was some of my thinking.
But of course, in the case of cats, they are always the ones making the choice. ;)
I was recently reading some stuff about cats, like how wild cats don't make the traditional 'meow' sound, and that in studies of cat-owners, the 'meow' sound triggers the same centers of the brain as a baby's crying, filling some people with an urgent need to do something. After being 'domesticated,' cats apparently came up with a specific vocalization to *manipulate people into doing what they wanted.*
And then there's the 'barking cat' video, which doesn't help the species reputation for shenanigans... :)
As for the witch story, it would have worked just as well from the perspective of a raven or a fox or a viper (all critters with sinister / sly reputations), but gone in a creepier / alien direction if the witch had a centipede or a spider for a familiar, and perhaps been harder to take seriously if her familiar had been a pig or a toad...
... it would have worked just as well from the perspective of a raven or a fox or a viper (all critters with sinister / sly reputations), but gone in a creepier / alien direction if the witch had a centipede or a spider for a familiar ...
Perhaps a human centipede?
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Bring on the reviews!!! :)
Random thoughts (and if I didn't mention your stuff, that doesn't mean that I didn't like it, just that I didn't have any meaningful commentary on it...);
I so envy people who can make maps. The map of the House and Forge of Abinor on p. 5 is very cool.
Nwah's artwork on p. 14 is awesome. I haven't seen much of his color work, but the red on the paladin's banner really pops. Gosh, those are some pretty unsimilar twin sisters! Totally fits the nature of Gyronna, 'though. A funky sort of redemption story that involves the paladin falling willingly (for choosing to 'associate with an evil person'), to save her sister / reconcile their family and the two of them sort of averaging out in the neutral-ish area, could be interesting. The all-new adventures of Mia and Hanna, ex-Paladin and ex-Cleric!
In the Realm Building article by Blake Davis, Charles Evans and Thomas le Blanc, the New Buildings and Hex Improvements are cool, but the Expanded Rules for Cathedrals *rocks.* I really like this addition, and love that you guys went as far as adding one for Hanspur, a local 'small deity.'
Ask a Shoanti needs to remain a feature forever. It gives me fond memories of Stan!'s 'Ask Cromarg' feature from The Game Mechanics site, which was always a hoot.
The Bestiary had an interesting assortment of critters. I like the idea behind the Basilim, as it kind of flows logically from a setting where people can be petrified, and yet not 'die' from it. The Blisterfoot fills the niche of the old school 'fire lizard,' which is a classic. The Obour is pretty neat, capturing both an older type of vampiric legend, and tying it into the standard D&D vampire. The Marwor Swarm very much fits the Cinderlands, and the backstory involving the swarms being fragments of a legendary larger creature has great potential. As with the froghemoth/tadhemoth concept, I like the idea of the Skitterbird being a variation (or perhaps alternate growth stage, or radically different dimorphic gender) of ankheg.
Jess Door's Whispering Herald is really one of the best applications of the Prestige Class mechanic, to make something setting-specific. Only in Golarion would there be a niche for an orcish bard in service to an undead tyrant. That's pretty cool, and nicely thematic. Undying Rage, in particular, is totally on-theme.
Love the vibrant colors on the artwork on p. 60. I'm a fan of artwork of spellcasters that isn't the ubiquitious 1) white-haired old man or 2) scantily-clad bodacious woman. The Runescarred Bloodline itself, from Thom McQueen, is intriguing, with a much more specific theme than 'snake stuff' or 'elemental fire.' That's kinda neat, although, being less generic, perhaps limits its appeal. I could see it being well-suited to the former residents of Thassilon (particularly the Shoanti), or to Kellids, even if the dude in the artwork has more of a Varisian look about him.
Jumping the Tracks has some good advice from Carl Rossi. I tend to run games this way myself, but it's nice to see it written down. If the party doesn't follow the 'adventure this way' sign you planted in the road, and goes in another direction, just shrug and put adventure (perhaps even the same exact adventure, reflavored, if necessary) in the direction they did choose to go. Not everyone is going to agree with that, but it's a useful tool for a newer GM, who might get frustrated when the players go left, instead of right. As long as they get to where they are going, all is well.
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The Realm Building article was a treat to edit and put together—I really love seeing all the new options people have come up with for their kingdoms!
I so envy people who can make maps. The map of the House and Forge of Abinor on p. 5 is very cool.
Cool. I liked how it came out, too. I'm guessing Todd Westcot punched that one up? I'm not sure who Tim used for cartography on that piece.
Ask a Shoanti needs to remain a feature forever. It gives me fond memories of Stan!'s 'Ask Cromarg' feature from The Game Mechanics site, which was always a hoot.
Although Stan! was an original Game Mechanic, I believe Cromagh was/is a character of JD Wiker and he wrote much of the advice from that mercenary half-orc. Mike's Ask-a-Shoanti advice columns reminded me of the same thing. Also, I don't know if you're aware, but JD has kicked The Game Mechanics back into operation. He's been focusing on converting older products to Pathfinder RPG. I helped out on some of that recently. And I'm looking forward anything new he cranks out.
--Neil
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As for the witch story, it would have worked just as well from the perspective of a raven or a fox or a viper (all critters with sinister / sly reputations), but gone in a creepier / alien direction if the witch had a centipede or a spider for a familiar, and perhaps been harder to take seriously if her familiar had been a pig or a toad...
Hey!
Us hogs don't get no respect.
I'm tellin' my big brother on you!
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Mike's Ask-a-Shoanti advice columns reminded me of the same thing. Also, I don't know if you're aware, but JD has kicked The Game Mechanics back into operation. He's been focusing on converting older products to Pathfinder RPG. I helped out on some of that recently. And I'm looking forward anything new he cranks out.
--Neil
Ooh, good to know! (Stan's just so much more chatty, I forgot he wasn't a one-man show... Sorry J.D!)
I loved Temple Quarter (and Thieves Quarter as well), and can't wait to see Arcane Quarter, etc.
*
As for the pig-nonsense, all I got to say is.... bacon. Yum.
I loved Temple Quarter (and Thieves Quarter as well), and can't wait to see Arcane Quarter, etc.
Yep. I specifically worked on converting Temple Quarter and Arcane Quarter for them. (They already had Thieves' Quarter done). I'm not sure when they'll be re-released, though. JD's got a day-job, after all, which keeps him quite busy, I think.
I enjoyed Terror at Churlwood’s Edge.
I enjoyed Terror at Churlwood’s Edge.
Glad to hear it. =)
There are some great articles in this issue. I'll be badgering my Kingmaker GM to use some of the material from "Realm Building" for our little kingdom of Stevalos. I would definitely include the NPCs from Christoph Gimmler's "Weal or Woe" article in an adventure set in that area. Perhaps the PCs, in pursuit of Heinous Hanna, end up in Michael Lane's "Freedom Town" for the final confrontation.
As to the fiction, I really liked "The Littlest Bellflower." Dawn Fischer managed to capture the feel of Kaer Maga so well in such a short piece. Also, I've got a thing for plucky characters. Probably because I don't write them well; they always end up annoying.
I enjoyed Terror at Churlwood’s Edge.Glad to hear it. =)
There are some great articles in this issue. I'll be badgering my Kingmaker GM to use some of the material from "Realm Building" for our little kingdom of Stevalos. I would definitely include the NPCs from Christoph Gimmler's "Weal or Woe" article in an adventure set in that area. Perhaps the PCs, in pursuit of Heinous Hanna, end up in Michael Lane's "Freedom Town" for the final confrontation.
As to the fiction, I really liked "The Littlest Bellflower." Dawn Fischer managed to capture the feel of Kaer Maga so well in such a short piece. Also, I've got a thing for plucky characters. Probably because I don't write them well; they always end up annoying.
Thanks Shadowborn! I also want to thank The Eldritch Mr. "Shiny" for dusting off the cobwebs without altering the feel of my story.
I plan to read everyone else's stuff in the magazine just as soon as I can pry it out of the hands of my friends.
Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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I so envy people who can make maps. The map of the House and Forge of Abinor on p. 5 is very cool.Cool. I liked how it came out, too. I'm guessing Todd Westcot punched that one up? I'm not sure who Tim used for cartography on that piece.
--Neil
That map was the work of Joshua Bennett....not Benet. That error in spelling will be corrected soon.
;-)
That map was the work of Joshua Bennett...
Good to know. He does good work! I particularly liked the little 3-D representation of the buildings in the upper corner. I tend to think in 3-dimensional terms when I'm doing my maps. I just can't convey it very well. And sticking to 2-D is far more necessary for the tactical maps needed at the gaming table.
Greetings, fellow travellers.
Nwah's artwork on p. 14 is awesome. I haven't seen much of his color work, but the red on the paladin's banner really pops. Gosh, those are some pretty unsimilar twin sisters! Totally fits the nature of Gyronna, 'though. A funky sort of redemption story that involves the paladin falling willingly (for choosing to 'associate with an evil person'), to save her sister / reconcile their family and the two of them sort of averaging out in the neutral-ish area, could be interesting.
Thanks for the kind words!
I also liked the images for "my" twins as well. Thanks, N'wah!
The redemption story was actually something which I had thought to squeeze into that piece of work, but 1500 words are written down fast! I am also running a KM group and they have yet to face those two.
The all-new adventures of Mia and Hanna, ex-Paladin and ex-Cleric!
One piece of fiction per issue, right?
Ruyan.
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I'm glad to see so many people have been enjoying the issue!
It was great to see Part 3 of my serial story in print, and I hope people have been enjoying In Hell's Embrace so far. I recently submitted Part 4 (the final part!) to Wayfinder 6, so hopefully we'll all get to see the story finished in the pages of Wayfinder :)
On top of that, if folks have feedback, let me know! I'm eager to hear what folks think of the serial so far.
Anyone get a chance to check out my poetry? Thoughts?
Love the vibrant colors on the artwork on p. 60. I'm a fan of artwork of spellcasters that isn't the ubiquitious 1) white-haired old man or 2) scantily-clad bodacious woman. The Runescarred Bloodline itself, from Thomas McQueen, is intriguing, with a much more specific theme than 'snake stuff' or 'elemental fire.' That's kinda neat, although, being less generic, perhaps limits its appeal. I could see it being well-suited to the former residents of Thassilon (particularly the Shoanti), or to Kellids, even if the dude in the artwork has more of a Varisian look about him.
Hey Set - thanks for the review, can't believe I didn't see it before. Shoanti/Kellid were definitely the main role-play focus of the bloodline, along with Varisians in Ustalav (which I'll be playing shortly actually). The latter is something of a double-whammy, historically speaking, making up for the more direct Shoanti history.
For anyone interested in the Runescarred bloodline who uses Hero Lab, I just finished coding it for use there, downloadable .
You can just open the file from Tools-Launch Editor, but I think the file should go in the "Hero Lab/data/pathfinder" folder (which for me is under "C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Application Data").
I have been reading back issues of Wayfinder that I just could not find the time to get to. I must admit that I was greatly saddened to find that "The Greenhorns" series was not continued in Wayfinder 5 (or 6 or 7). :(
I was really enjoying the story. I was skipping issues ahead to find out what happens next, then the story just... vanished. I am sure that the authors have just become more busy with their other products:
Neil Spicer with Legendary Games
Jonathan McAnulty with Rite Publishing
I would love to see these characters come back.
-Aaron
Interesting.
"The Greenhorns" was always Trevor's brainchild. He set the tone and the style for the storytelling. And, originally, he just asked Jonathan and I to give him feedback on the story. I think I suggested widening the perceptions of the Pathfinder journals so the other characters got to provide their points-of-view of the same situation recorded in their journals. That's what led to each of us adopting the personalities of the rest of the adventuring group.
Trevor = the minotaur
Neil = the Calistrian
Jonathan = the dwarf and gnome
We had a lot of fun with the series. Trevor always set the stage with the minotaur's view of things and then Jonathan and I would give our own "takes" on it via our characters, too. In the end, Trevor brought the series to closure.
I have toyed with the idea of doing another fiction piece involving Ashallah someday. And, I'm also planning to do a fiction piece for Wayfinder #8, but I'm not sure these characters fit the nautical theme that much. Now that I think about it, though, the Calistrian still might. She's from Abasalom, after all. So, she should be well-versed in sea travel.
But who knows? I'd want Trevor's permission to carry forward with any of those characters if I did something independently. And, in my mind, "The Greenhorns" was always Trevor's story to tell. Jonathan and I were just playing in his sandbox.